Aurgasm

experimental hip-hop // abstract downtempo

Fresh rhythm. Pounding slow dropped-out grooves. His sound has a good amount of reggae influence. This is hip-hop everyone can love, if they do love real hip-hop. Perfect to get yo’ crip walk on to. Dabrye toured with Prefuse 73 a bit ago, and the two share a similar sound.
Get yo’ glad rags on and join me, thug.

Dabrye – Smoking The Edge

dance party // chill lounge

Here’s a name I’ve sure you’ve heard. Groove Armada blew up in 1999 with the release of “I See You Baby” (Shakin dat’ ass), but have been exporting quality tracks all the while. Their earlier release of Vertigo produced a chill-out sound good enough to transport your soul to the salty beach. Their more recent albums, Love Box and Doin it After Dark haven’t garnered much attention, but it’s deserved.
“Superstylin” is a dubbed-out reggae dance hit that my butt can’t not dance to. Serve up some “Description of a Fool” afterwards to see exquisite chill-out in action.
Groove Armada consistently puts out a sound that gets right to the heart of the soul-filled Northern electronic sound.

Groove Armada – Superstylin (Radio Edit)
A Tribe Called Quest – Description of a Fool (Groove Armadas Acoustic Mix)

cliq hop // abstract hip hop

I often wonder what the record label of the future looks like. Artists now can now create, record, promote and distribute their music for little or no cost. Thank you, Internet. Though I’ll admit, record labels have done a phenomenal job at curating similar talent; when you find an artist on Warp, Ninja Tune, or Stones Throw that you like, you can find other nuggets amongst their roster. Merck Records has been the same way, and it sadly closing its doors after years of delivering some amazing IDM and future beats.

One of the strongest producers from a star roster of talent
Deceptikon – Montana (feat. Cyne) (from Greater Cascadia – 2007)
Deceptikon – Sometimes You Hear It Coming (from Birds of Cascadia – 2006)
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norwegian eclectic // vocal

From bicycle spokes to banjos, wineglasses to wash brooms, and accordions to wurlitzers, there seems to be no limit as to what Lady Hukkelberg might bring to the studio. And what she brings isn’t limited to instruments – on her album Little Things, she brought in fellow Norwegian musicians from Jaga Jazzist, Kaada, Shining, and Aurgasm fave Xploding Plastix. You’ll hear vocal similarities to Emiliana Torrini, but her music has quite a bit more quirk. “Ease” works itself in with calliope and clarinet–Hanne’s friendly voice relaxes you, giving way to a synchopated sampled dreamscape. [thx Julija!]
Adorable childlike spirit beset by mad-hatter instrumentation.

Hanne Hukkelberg – Ease
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folk // ambient

Conjures inner odyssey.
Foreign Fields – Mountaintop
Foreign Fields – Anywhere But Where I Am
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future jazz // downtempo

Exquisitely produced by members of Boozoo Bajou and Trio Elétrico, Kathrina März‘s Rainwatcher elicits a soothing, intimate, laid-back and summery fun affinity. Her airy voice is fondly wrapped in a spectral muse of endearing sounds; tinged with an array of instruments to accentuate each feeling, lyric, and breath. Acoustic and steel guitars, vibraphone, piano, organ and accordion are a few of what you’ll hear; guiding gracefully as she woos and imbues your complete sensation.

Summery, bubbly and smooth.
Trinah – Sugary Pleasure
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nueva bossa nova // brazilian acoustic

Little can put your mind at ease the way that some quiet bossa nova can. Fonseca, a producer and instrumentalist who has collaborated with Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Bebel Gilberto, has been actively creating music since he was 12. He now is releasing Rive Gauche Rio by way of world music powerlabel Six Degrees. Fonseca has lately been working as one of the most desired producers in Brazil; his keen ear shows on this record – the sounds are beautiful, sensual, and slightly melancholic all at once. He duets quietly, subtly and smoothly on “Don De Fluir” in Spanish with Oscar-winning Urugyuan vocalist Jorge Drexler in typical Brazilian unhurried rhythm. As a surprise, Celso gives Damien Rice’s eerie and somber “Delicate” a new face; an interesting cross-continental cover with graceful guitar and heart-trodden percussion.
Feeling easy, warm sunshine, wading in the sea.

Celso Fonseca – Don De Fluir
Celso Fonseca – Delicate (Damien Rice cover)
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classical // experimental

Let me go where you take me – childhood’s hour of bewildering delight. Pause only for concerns lasting moments already forgotten; where radiant lights and sounds shimmer haphazard perfections into play. Harmonious adventures subsisted by slight twitter, and glitter, of prepared flitter upon piano strings; riding waves in a carousel’s jubilee. Volker Bertelmann‘s forthcoming Ferndorf (Distant Village) unlocks uncharted passages. Ivory may tiptoe along veiled paths, as violins portray swaying leaves, and barely visible electronic trees branch recognition. His memories unravel beside nourishing cellos in a summer’s gala dream.

Recalling youth with esoteric, aural morsels.
Hauschka – Heimat
Hauschka – Alma
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chanson française // singer-songwriter

Vincent Delerm revives French chanson tradition by incorporating certain retro elements with his eccentric tendencies and the feeling of melancholy. Catchy, jaunty piano driven “Il Fait Si Beau” is vibrant with enthusiasm, while “Natation Synchronisée” charms with its whimsical string arrangements, Vincent’s calm, relaxed voice. Pianist, composer and singer, Vincent possesses a good sense of humour, and his elegant songwriting style keeps the chanson compelling and modern.

Surprising blend of youthfulness and nostalgia.
Vincent Delerm – Il Fait Si Beau
Vincent Delerm – Natation Synchronisée
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indie pop // experimental

Josh Ottum, a Seattle-based musician and songwriter, has been making his tiny-bedroom-music for 4 years before composing his debut album Like The Season (2007). To put it in his own words, Like The Season is a twelve song journey into the hallways, bedrooms, dining rooms and garages of popular music. Josh’s “The Easy Way Out” evolves from sweet, coherent and easy-on-the-ears harmonies to a rhythmically driven complex production. With layered arrangements of multiple drums, repetitive piano, catchy horn lines and quirky phrasing Josh builds “The Easy Way Out” to a charmingly dynamic indie-pop song.

Whimsical songwriting, complex instrumentation.
Josh Ottum – The Easy Way Out
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