Aurgasm

jazz // noir // lust

Is to give your heart or have it taken all of life? Nothing else seems relevant in Nicole Simone’s music, and that’s something I can relate to. She loves me, she loves me not - a field of daisies ravaged by uncertainty. Her sultry persuasion can caress or carve out a heart with paralyzing euphoria and inflict stoic men with boyish war. A silky smooth trumpet coats one’s will, the gentle bass thump removes your armor, as marxophone, guitar and piano fastens temptation. Dark, moody, passionate desire, eerie and erotic - provocative songs that linger like an eternal flame, reducing your soul to brimstone ash.

Our saintly hearts.
Nicole Simone - Melt
Nicole Simone - Teach Me
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Orchestral // Jazz // Dark Ambient

Overtures creep towards you bearing ominous insight. A ravenous beast of symphonic scale lurks behind every measure; its teeth a menacing discord that devour your surroundings presence. Henryk Górecki could be leading The Cinematic Orchestra through such a place, yet the scourge of blaring horns and thunderous storms resemble unknown regions. This elegant, brooding ardor bleeds from The Netherlands as The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble; a project originating with Jason Köhnen and Gideon Kiers to recreate scores for classic movies like Nosferatu and Metropolis. Angelic offerings scarcely appear to cradle your stay, but whirlwind strings and industrial plight will have their say. Aching with beauty and purpose, Here Be Dragons is a story I do not want to unhold. A modern-day masterpiece.

Arrangements for Hallows’ eve.
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - Caravan!
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - Embers
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ambient // electronic // guitar

Wilco fans (you know who you are) will recognize Nels Cline as that band’s lead guitarist, but he’s been doing other stuff on his own (collaborating, featuring, musicating, etc.) for a little over thirty years, now — and yet, still, his solo stuff seems to remain under-appreciated. Perhaps some of it is too experimental for a big following (and I don’t mean that as any kind of affront to Wilco fans), like the opening track from Coward, his latest album; it’s called Epiphyllum, and is basically a wall of foamy, pulsating sound. The rest of the album, though, gets a little more melodic, borrowing heavily from Middle-Eastern sounds and even The Twilight Zone at one point, and rounding out nicely with Cymbidium, yet another wall of sound — but one with cracks in it, chinks of guitar and scars of bass. There are shades of Susumu Yokota and maybe Faithless, too, and overall of quiet, confident comfort. Close your eyes and let it grow.

Soothing, glowing noise
Nels Cline - Cymbidium
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punk-pop // dance

Shock waves of keyboard & drum jubilee!
Matt & Kim - Daylight
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hypnotic // folk-soul

Vocalizing together since middle school choir in Oregon might be part of what gives Emily and Theresa, of L.A.’s Warpaint, a helpful halcyon effect when becoming sound with Jenny and David. Sailing through tiny hairs standing upon your skin, a respite, uplifting pleasure occurs from within celestial bounds of their hymn. While bats with lashes are subdued, a euphonic fountain trails exhales and relics of past revive with splendor. Revealing love with truth and care, held tight then let go as each plume chord feathers your heaven, until it’s over.

Sirens sing a ghostly Motown classic.
Warpaint - Billie Holiday
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acoustic // dreamtempo

Ethereal beauty preciously tuned; sewn from misty morning drops of dew, each wee sound held secret inside. New life, new day - warm with glow under spell of flowers’ bloom; so hush their reverent chanting. Familiar Trees begin to rustle with serene approach of Sun’s affection. Soft wings flutter above why and through clouds of gathered wisdom - gazing views abound. Bumble of bees a mere murmur as nestled hearts wake to unfettered confessions in Earth’s exhale. Ryan Francesconi then records what he, Lili, Joana Newsom and others reprise.

Keys to a secret garden.
RF and Lili De La Mora - Fences
RF and Lili De La Mora - Eleven Continents
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film music // melodic contemporary

First, watch:

Lyrics that belie their melody’s beauty.
Nathan Larson - Aviva Pastoral
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norwegian composer // post-rock

Although I was introduced to the non-traditional, experimental musical approach of John Erik Kaada quite a while ago and his name was previously mentioned on Aurgasm, only now his music caught up with me. Writing a soundtrack to an imaginary film, Norwegian sound artist Kaada showcases his skills in composing haunting musical pieces made of tender melodies and wonderful textures. His entire orchestra of dramatic strings, piano, glockenspiel, glass harmonica and achingly soaring wordless chants create something strongly evocative and atmospheric.

Filled with an indescribable longing, instilling some sort of yearning.

Kaada - Smiger
Kaada - From Here On It Got Rough
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electronic // ambient // soundscape

Susumu Yokota has released a somewhat ridiculous thirty (ish) albums over the last fourteen years, mainly in Japan and mainly in the house/techno genre. Over here in Angloland, though, he’s best known for his ambient electronica that’s a chilling sort of blend of The K&D Sessions and the Myst soundtrack. It’s all layers of hum, echoing bells, and sparsely shaken beats, and blends dreamily into one, beautifully rich canvas of sounds. The tracks here are from his 2002 The Boy and the Tree; his other ambient albums are Sakura, Grinning Cat, and Magic Thread.

Eerily hypnotic.
Susumu Yokota - Grass, Tree And Stone
Susumu Yokota - The Colour of Pomegranates
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classical // experimental

Do you recall the beat of Busta Rhymes’ Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See? Now imagine a man and woman singing operatically over that beat in Italian, with a gently plucked classical guitar and accordion filling the air. If you’ve seen Volkswagen’s Big Day commercial, you’re one million miles closer to what’s in store with this adventure. So take a trip with a thrift shop warrior and hear what happens when an average Josh takes command of an 85 piece orchestra, as only part of his medium.

Evocative soundscapes with lush, orchestral backdrops.
J. Ralph - Mi Ricordo
J. Ralph - Thrift Shop Warrior (Instrumental)
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