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About Aurgasm

Launched two years ago, Aurgasm has developed into a destination of passionate music lovers around the globe. Its audience includes music mavens, critics, journalists, and bloggers—a highly influential audience. It has been profiled in The Boston Globe and mentioned on MSNBC.com, BoingBoing, Kottke, del.icio.us, and digg. Aurgasm specializes in everything not under the American rock umbrella—music such as: downtempo, folk, nu jazz, chanson, scandinavian, jazz, cuban, brazilian, electro, soul, jump blues, bluegrass, film score, and electronica.

About Paul Irish

A young man of twenty-five years, Paul's interest in music was initiated by his parents' rock band, playing The Standell's 'Dirty Water' in his basement. Since the mp3 format appeared on the internet, Paul has been eager to find his next favorite song.

His interests include: user experience design, emerging web trends, ecommerce, branding, maps, product design, typography, information design/overload, & sustainability.

Contact

Paul Irish
email: paul [atsign] aurgasm.us
AIM: Paullll Irish
Myspace: Paul's myspace
I listen to everything I'm sent, but I prefer music that isn't by a 'band'.

Contributors

Julija is an art student in Vilnius, Lithuania fond of wine and contemporary design. Andrew (blog) is a travelling Scot who writes and currently lives in London.

Camille

french vocal // avant-pop
A month before my Italian tipster, my gal in Lithuania led me to the talented and innovative French vocalist Camille. You probably know her from her vocals on the Nouvelle Vague album, but her solo talent is impressive. She recently released Le Fil (trans: the wire, the yarn, the string) an album done mostly a capella. This effort learned from Björk's botched attempt and delivers songs that let you enjoy the levels of voices only if you desire to. Taking on the wire metaphor, throughout the album is a sustained vocal note, like line noise, but on top are created catchy rhythms with adorable melodies.
Filling the spectrum with sounds and voices.

Camille - 1,2,3 from Les Sac Des Filles (2004)
Camille - Ta douleur from Le Fil (2005)
Camille - Au Port (music video) from Le Fil (2005)
buy this cd

Paul Irish on 3/28/2006 26 comments

26 Comments:

  • Guuzbourg said on 3/29/2006 03:47:00 AM :

    As you know, Camille released a very good live album last month. You can hear a few songs on my blog.

  • L'Onomatopeur said on 3/29/2006 05:40:00 AM :

    she is nice and very good performance on stage. She won some price at the "victoire de la musique francaise".

  • supergurg said on 3/29/2006 06:32:00 AM :

    great tunes, yet again Paul! :D

    Gurg

  • Jamie said on 3/29/2006 10:52:00 AM :

    Ta douleur is pretty awesome, it's like a funky frou frou.
    :]

  • rekha said on 3/29/2006 12:08:00 PM :

    i first heard camille on http://www.fipradio.com over a year ago. her voice is striking. haven't got the CD yet, so thanks for the MP3s!

  • Paul Irish said on 3/29/2006 01:37:00 PM :

    Guuzbourg runs a fine blog and has some mp3s of a Camille's new live CD ya'll should check out:
    http://fillessourires.blogspot.com/

  • Paul Irish said on 3/29/2006 02:02:00 PM :

    And Julija tells me about a lot more Camille videos here:
    http://www.lesacdesfans.net/Videos

  • Anonymous said on 3/30/2006 03:41:00 AM :

    I don't see anything "innovative" in camille's work. There are MUCH more interesting artists in France than camille.
    She must be "sexy" for you but the music is empty, sorry Paul.

  • Paul Irish said on 3/30/2006 08:03:00 AM :

    Well, you've definitely piqued my interest. What 'innovative' French artists can you recommend?

  • Monsieur J said on 3/31/2006 08:02:00 AM :

    Paul,

    Give a try to Holden.
    http://www.holden.fr/

    All the best

    MonsieurJ

  • Guuzbourg said on 3/31/2006 10:24:00 AM :

    Holden is a great band, but nothing new there. The way Camille uses her voice, mixes it with the sparse instrumentation, her lyrics, it's not only very pretty, it's very off-the-wall and fresh too. Camille = brilliant.

  • Noelle said on 4/01/2006 02:01:00 AM :

    I agree with the anonymous comment. Above Camille, I'd recommend Keren Ann,Coralie Clement, April March, Helena noguerra, and Anggun

  • Noelle said on 4/01/2006 02:03:00 AM :

    I forgot Francoiz Breut!

  • Runman said on 4/01/2006 06:47:00 AM :

    Brilliant, love those tracks. Camille's voice reminds me of several other singers all at once. But there's some originality to her music that's fresh, Put together, there's a nice flavour of sounds.

    As you said it would be Paul,
    ta for the message.

  • ruby mc said on 4/07/2006 09:06:00 AM :

    A gentle breeze on the clothesline of ideas and visions in my mind....

  • LoRezSky said on 4/07/2006 01:05:00 PM :

    cheered me up. un, deux, trois is music for the ledge of a high building, ma douleur for the commute home.

  • Anonymous said on 4/09/2006 04:47:00 AM :

    Great! I love this girl. Check out her videos. "C'est super", like french says.

    By the way, someone know where I can get a video version from her new cd? Or maybe another complete live video from Camille?

    And sorry 'bout my english. ;-)

  • Hannes said on 4/11/2006 11:48:00 PM :

    I've got two Albums (Le Fil and Sac des Filles) and I love'em!

  • moon said on 4/27/2006 06:07:00 PM :

    Great voice
    a woman trubador and sweet voice at same time

  • Anonymous said on 5/19/2006 11:13:00 PM :

    these songs can take you to a magical place!

  • Anonymous said on 6/16/2006 06:40:00 PM :

    I love Camille's voice it so realxing and her songs are so cool. And I know good music when i hear it and Camille is pretty good.

  • Anonymous said on 6/26/2006 10:37:00 PM :

    I first heard Camille on 'So Frenchy So Chic' 2006 which has a variety of different contemporary French sounds for anyone who wants to hear a little more French music. What I would really love is to be able to get an english translation for songs like 'pale septembre' which is so beautiful! Anyone know anywhere?

  • Anonymous said on 1/10/2007 09:09:00 PM :

    Um..geez..this sounds EXACTLY like
    the artist PRINCE.
    listen to the film soundtrack for
    Under the cherry moon.(1987)

    "do you lie"

    I mean..I acually thought prince produced this lady
    so what? well I am confused..as a usa listener thats all!

  • Anonymous said on 3/26/2007 01:05:00 AM :

    An incredible non-profit, media-based organization called Invisible Childen, used one of Camille's songs in their TRI campaign video. It is beautiful. Check it out here:

    https://secure.invisiblechildren.com/donate/mediaPlayer_tri.html

  • Anonymous said on 3/26/2007 01:07:00 AM :

    Oh, and I forgot! Check out Invisible Children and their other beautiful songs and music here:

    www.invisiblechildren.com

  • Pixieguts said on 8/25/2007 11:08:00 AM :

    Camille is in the same realm as Bjork for me. The way she uses her voice is so brilliant, almost takes you into her body. That IS sexy!! And it makes your body feel good too. Love how she does this with punk influences in the mix too. She is a great artist to me.

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Reflex Reaction: Urban? What's urban?

I want your reaction, here. Leave a comment and for any/all of the songs, write your reaction to the song – keep it brief! (Extra points if you use exactly 10 words) After a few days, I'm going to publish the most evocative/impressive/amusing comments here. Be sure to leave your name.

Prize Alert! The best comment(s) this week will win a brand-new Jarhead DVD with dogtags! (Hover your mouse over the image below to see!)

Nomisong is this week's winner! He will be getting a brand spanking new copy DVD of Jarhead with promotional dogtags! (Psst, email me, man!)
The best reactions follow:

chill hip hop // california groove
One Self - Bluebird from Children of Possibility (2005)
  • Gangsta femme Frante-style neo-soulster formula throwback from 93.~Nomisong
  • Dj Vadim follows the trend and learns to make money. ~Moka
  • digable planets on a magical pimped-out carpet ride in space. ~Jilly

    • grime // montreal bounce
    Lady Fury - Too Much Drugs in Ur System (Ghislain Poirier Remix) from Ghislain Poirier - Bounce Le Remix (2006)
  • UK-Dizzee-MIA-grime sound gets diluted across the Atlantic.~Nomisong
  • Staight up bumpy ride of aural heart palpitations.~Runman
  • A mile-wide track compressed to two feet; EQ please, producer.~Pope Easier Rhino I

    • baltimore/philly club // dancehall remixed // electro-baile
    Sizzla - I'm With The Girls (DJ ABCDEFG Remix) from Hollertronix - #3 EP (2005)
  • Urban sports car commercial soundtrack mashed with cheese pop toasting.~Nomisong
  • Clever blend of a cool old toon, a metromome, and a ribbon typewriter.~Runman
  • The boy has balls. He samples a famous song about a gay man forced to leave an non-understanding home life in a small town (Small Town Boy) and used it as the base for macho self-confident swaggering. Self-denial perhaps?~Will

    • Paul Irish on 3/14/2006 25 comments

    25 Comments:

    • Eli said on 3/15/2006 09:40:00 PM :

      One Self: snap, crackly pop: a potent and melencholy masterpiece of chill.

      Lady Fury: One quote: "Yeah the whole world knows you got herpes."

      Sizzla: This stunk (imho). Too techno for rap, too rap for techno, and too boring for my harddrive :)

    • alex said on 3/15/2006 11:51:00 PM :

      MO fire, sizzla spends so much time wi da girls, you'd think he could role a smokin joint. booty bass, shake that ass bitch--- now there's a song beggin to be remixed

    • Runman said on 3/16/2006 03:17:00 AM :

      One Self: Neenah Cherry trips the light fantastic with the sultans of swing.

      Lady Fury: Staight up bumpy ride of aural heart palpitations.

      Sizzla: Clever blend of a cool old toon, a metromome, and a ribbon typewriter.

    • Claire said on 3/16/2006 10:05:00 AM :

      one self: on the sidewalk at sunrise, in six-inch heels and smeared mascara, smiling after one of those nights

      lady fury: ass-shakin showcase

      sizzla: DJ Anti-Bass Caught Delivering Everyday Flow Garbage

    • cJw said on 3/16/2006 10:12:00 AM :

      bluebird: crackly is a good thing...? definitely a chillish tune; kinda diggit.

      too much drugs: count me out; I prefer beginnings/ends; loop is bland.

      with the girls: dancy, moving, just unique enough but with trite lyrics. (also in danger of teh boring looping)

    • lorezsky said on 3/16/2006 02:49:00 PM :

      oh, dear. you always get a toy when the quality of the cereal sinks. the definite nadir of your otherwise consistently fantastic postings. please, please, please (cue in JB wringing hands) do not proceed on the path of error. repent, redeem, repost.

    • Paul Irish said on 3/16/2006 03:15:00 PM :

      Lorezsky, I knew posting this that its not nearly as accessible as the other stuff I put up. Also, the target audience for this kind of music is pretty narrow, I admit. But I, myself, am a huge fan of it, hence my own enthusiasm. Thanks for your comment - I'll be thinking of it in my future posts.

    • joeydaglasses said on 3/16/2006 07:32:00 PM :

      Lorezsky, thats pretty harsh. in my opinion, this truely shows the opposite. it show, how much Paul and this site, is WIDE ASS OPEN. i commend him on this move.

    • bsquared said on 3/16/2006 08:45:00 PM :

      "Bluebird" - MC 900 FT Jesus made baby with Lil' Kim

    • Paul Irish said on 3/16/2006 09:14:00 PM :

      haha. thanks, joey. :-)

    • Jilly said on 3/17/2006 04:24:00 PM :

      one self - "bluebird":

      digable planets on a magical pimped-out carpet ride in space.

      lady fury - "too much drugs in your system"

      "shut the hell up, you hyper demon-child! i can't think."

      sizzla - "i'm with the girls"

      beyonce-booty-popping real fast with a fat blunt in my hand.

      (the hyphenated words, i consider one word lol)

    • Moka said on 3/17/2006 04:56:00 PM :

      One self: Dj Vadim follows the trend and learns to make money.

      Lady Fury: Sleep saviour for driving safely back home after last call.

      Sizzla: mix the best of two worlds: dancehall rhytm, electro synths.

    • fums said on 3/17/2006 10:49:00 PM :

      One self: Salt n' Pepa 'Heven or Hell' with modern subject and feminin voice. Cool.

    • siebe said on 3/19/2006 07:34:00 AM :

      What is Urban? I wrote an essay last year, unfortunately in Dutch, but perhaps some readers are able to figure it out. Here it is:

      http://www.siebethissen.net/Kunst_en_Theorie/2005_Wat_is_Urban_Culture_(My_Adidas).htm

    • jimbobwoof said on 3/19/2006 02:31:00 PM :

      One Self - da bling
      Grime - durrrrrr, just plain blong
      baltimore/philly club - tell me why?

    • orbital sentry said on 3/19/2006 11:41:00 PM :

      Oneself- mid-90's flow dubbed over mid-80's porn funk gets introduced to innovation.

      I smell a wedding!

    • nomisong said on 3/20/2006 01:46:00 AM :

      Let the 10 word poetry styles begin:

      One Self - Gangsta femme Frante-style neo-soulster formula throwback from 93.

      Lady Fury - UK-Dizzee-MIA-grime sound gets diluted across the Atlantic.

      Sizzla - Urban sports car commercial soundtrack mashed with cheese pop toasting.

    • WhirledGirl said on 3/20/2006 05:58:00 AM :

      urban my butt.

    • cork-host said on 3/20/2006 10:34:00 AM :

      Sizzla - "I'm with the Girls".
      The boy has balls. He samples a famous song about a gay man forced to leave an non-understanding home life in a small town (Small Town Boy) and used it as the base for macho self-confident swaggering. Self-denial perhaps?

    • cork-host said on 3/20/2006 11:24:00 AM :

      One Self - Bluebird.
      Almost timeless. I can hear 20s jazz combined with 70s guitar and noughties urban. This is afterglow music, from whatever you're after. Or the music cue for the camera to pan away from the couple falling in to the bed. A little clichéd but some clichés are worth keeping.

    • cork-host said on 3/20/2006 12:14:00 PM :

      Lady Fury - Too Much Drugs...
      UK grime in sound and accents. My Lady, I think you have a problem : Timing.

      You combine a little Lady Sov with a bit of the Streets. Your wordsmithing is good. Your storytelling is good. You chose a cold Germanic sounding techno sample that's unforgiving, which in your case is bad.

      It's sounds slightly too fast for you. It sounds like you are missing your cues by tenths of second or even less, but you end the line too late.

      The technology to correct this is available. Either go for it again or try different backing. You can do better than this. It's the old school report card. "Must try harder".

    • Garrincha said on 3/21/2006 04:40:00 AM :

      One Self : Can we kick it ? Yes we can. We can kick it wicked. It's just that sometimes we need to be reminded that we can...

    • thomas said on 3/21/2006 06:57:00 PM :

      Songs to wear pants to.

    • Pope Easier Rhino I said on 3/21/2006 11:30:00 PM :

      One Self - Slinky-fabulous, although I can't decide whether the whole thing's pitch-shifted.

      Lady Fury - A mile-wide track compressed to two feet; EQ please, producer.

      Sizzla - I shudder to think what it sounded like before remixing.

      P.S. If human-interface design was taffy, blogger's comment-leaving mechanism wouldn't have to worry about getting fillings, let's put it that way. I don't know how many times I've tried to post this.

    • Runman said on 3/28/2006 09:17:00 PM :

      Hey Paul, I'm needing another aurgasm fix.
      I keep on knocking, but there's been no one home now for 2 weeks.

    Post a Comment

    Psapp

    glitchy folk // experimental indie
    "It's surely the most poignant songwriting ever to be underscored by toy animals and kitchen utensils". The pleasure of listening to Psapp (pronounced sap) is how the two, Carim Clasmann and Galia Durant, develop songs with beautiful melodies accompanied by a tasteful touch of found sounds. After their 2004 release on the amazing Leaf label, Psapp took off with appearances all over the net and landing the Grey's Anatomy theme song. In May, they'll be releasing their second LP, entitled Only Thing I Ever Wanted, a strong collection of tracks that sneak fun into great songwriting. While you wait for that record to drop, pick up Tiger, My Friend if you don't already have it. You need it.
    Songs with little noises poking out.

    Psapp - The Words from Only Thing I Ever Wanted (2006)
    Psapp - Tiger, My Friend from Tiger, My Friend (2004)
    Psapp - About Fun (video) from Tiger, My Friend (2004)
    buy this cd

    Paul Irish on 3/11/2006 14 comments

    14 Comments:

    • Jason said on 3/12/2006 05:25:00 PM :

      Hey Paul, Psapp sound like the child of "The Books" and Matthew Herbert and Greg Davis and "1 Mile North". I love the click-hop, laptop-acoustic sound. It's hard to achieve a human voice and touch with this kind of music, but these guys seem to have hit on something rich and personal.

      Thanks for posting a band I was totally ignorant of. That's why I visit Aurgasm!

      Jason (formerly Blogalive...)

    • Anonymous said on 3/13/2006 05:56:00 AM :

      Just wanted to second Jason's comment. I've been lurking for a long time but I always appreciate your selections.

    • Runman said on 3/13/2006 11:42:00 AM :

      I thought 'The Words' sounded just a tad demented, but 'Tiger my Friend' is a great track, love Galia's voice. Good post Paul, as Jason above said, it's why we come here.

    • anthony said on 3/13/2006 04:09:00 PM :

      Paul- thanks for posting "Tiger my Friend"; it was the perfect soundtrack to 2006's first spring rain.

    • Lita said on 3/14/2006 02:08:00 AM :

      Indeed, it does very much sound like The Books, but with more Vocals.

    • toshi said on 3/15/2006 02:36:00 PM :

      I just wanted to comment that I really enjoyed the video. The song wouldn't have made much sense without it, either...

    • Garrincha said on 3/21/2006 04:42:00 AM :

      Same here. I found the songs OK, but I loved the video.

    • Alain said on 3/24/2006 06:03:00 PM :

      Very nice songs. "The Words" immediately made me think of Matthew Herbet and Dani Siciliano's "Around the House" album (highly recommended BTW, house music with an experimental touch).

    • Anonymous said on 3/31/2006 07:10:00 AM :

      the words is really great! but can you also get 'cosy in a rocket'?

    • Paul Irish said on 3/31/2006 09:12:00 AM :

      Glad you like it Anon. But, sorry, I don't take requests.
      That song is on the Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack

    • 4indie said on 5/08/2006 09:29:00 PM :

      PSAPP had their video premiere this week on mtvU…check it out: http://www.mtvu.com/music/video_premiere/psapp

    • Kai said on 6/08/2006 02:13:00 AM :

      Are your links still working? I can't download the songs. Cheers Paul!

    • Sumod said on 6/11/2006 04:12:00 AM :

      Links are lost. Could you please repost the tracks?

      Thanks

    • Paul Irish said on 6/11/2006 09:14:00 PM :

      reposted. enjoy.

    Post a Comment

    Porcupine Tree

    acoustic art rock // post-rock
    Samples of the videotape from the leader of the famed Heaven's Gate cult is not something you'd expect to hear in a rock song. But this song (with the extraordinarily long song title) strikes you as something entirely new but yet simultaneously recognizable. The lead melody, introduced by the deliberate guitar work and continued by vocalist Steven Wilson, feels timeless in its familiarity. This track knows time and treats it masterfully–strolling patiently but then hop-scotching around your ears with a dynamic arrangement. Now, I rarely repeat songs immediately, but here it's a neccesity. [Thx to Jason]
    Taking as long as it needs to transfix your ears.

    Porcupine Tree - Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled
    buy this cd

    Paul Irish on 3/08/2006 13 comments

    13 Comments:

    • Marc D. Brooks said on 3/08/2006 10:31:00 PM :

      whoa totally didnt expect that

    • supergurg said on 3/09/2006 12:08:00 AM :

      wow - nice tune :)

    • SenorCardgage said on 3/09/2006 01:21:00 AM :

      At first I didn't really like it, but then the wacko started talking, and it really started to kick a little. Overall, I say, "The fish was delish and it made quite a dish."

    • Tim Huegdon said on 3/09/2006 04:02:00 AM :

      Absolutely fantastic!

      A song that proudly wears it's influences along with it's innovations - there's definately a little Pink Floyd in there...

      I love it. Am off to buy the album. Cheers Paul.

    • Chris said on 3/09/2006 05:55:00 AM :

      Don't buy this album... yet! It will be re-released later this year, so you don't have to pay the high prices on amazon or ebay. But meanwhile, I recommend you buy some other albums by PT, especially In Absentia or Deadwing. This is how rock music should sound these days! Steven Wilson is a genius, and if you get the chance to see them live, don't hesitate... go!!!

    • lorezsky said on 3/09/2006 04:37:00 PM :

      totally agree. not much before, but as soon as the guy starts talking this thing is cooking.

    • Shawn said on 3/10/2006 06:39:00 PM :

      Was expecting something totally different!

    • Runman said on 3/13/2006 11:54:00 AM :

      Just 2 words...Bloody good.
      Thanks Paul.

    • Paul Irish said on 3/13/2006 01:00:00 PM :

      Hey Runman. You can actually thank Jason from Blogalive for that track.. he pushed me on it. Really glad he did.

    • Anonymous said on 3/14/2006 11:52:00 PM :

      Been a fan of them since '97-'98 - band was, originally just the one guy, Steven Wilson, eventually assembled a band, including a member from Japan (Richard Barbieri). Steven's had his hand in multiple other things - check out his website - www.swhq.com
      Cheers!

    • thomas said on 4/10/2006 01:28:00 PM :

      the picture you used is from flickr. The user is antimethod. you should at least link to him if you use his stuff.

      http://flickr.com/photos/antimethod/

    • Paul Irish said on 4/10/2006 03:13:00 PM :

      I mentioned I stole it from him if you hover over the image. Admittedly though, I didn't link.

    • Peter X Anthony said on 4/15/2006 11:07:00 PM :

      Reminds me a bit of JETHRO TULL...
      Awesome! I love all your stuff.You guys rock!

      Will stay tuned.
      Cheers.


      Peter X Anthony
      Rock & Rolls Bastard Son

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