The Sweet Hurt

March 15th, 2011 by Michelle

indie folk // singer songwriter

The Sweet Hurt, Wendy Wang’s solo project, has been around in various forms since 2003 — since then she’s released a handful of EPs, plays for what seems like a thousand different bands (including The Bird and the Bee, Priscilla Ahn and Obi Best), and last year, released her first full-length album, The Sweet Hurt LP. The album was well worth the wait; it’s winsome and strikingly honest, and highlights Wendy’s talents as a songwriter and instrumentalist. Like the name suggests, there is a quiet loveliness that pervades the entire album, highlighted by the elegant chamber pop arrangements. Take a listen to the stunning “Things Fall Apart” and the impossibly catchy “Hugs” below!

Heartbreaking and heartfelt.
The Sweet Hurt – “Things Fall Apart”
The Sweet Hurt – “Hugs”
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Leo Delibes

February 17th, 2005 by Paul Irish

1800’s classical opera // romantic ballet

Calm gliding elegant brilliance. This magnificent piece touched my ears first when I heard a brief moment of it in Carlito’s Way, but many others were familiarized with it in the 1990’s by a British Airways advertising campaign. The “Flower Duet” is from Delibes’ celebrated opera Lakmé, and in which a woman is aided into her bath by her ladyservant. Tchaikovsky was so impressed with Delibes that he rated the composer more highly than Brahms.
Heaven’s golden angels singing exclusively for you.

Delibes – “Dúo de flores” from Lakmé (1883)
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Emanon

April 12th, 2005 by Paul Irish

westcoast hiphop // bounce turntablism

Labeling this track “underground hiphop” or “real hiphop”, although completely appropriate, would be misrepresentative in this case. “Count Your Blesings” is radio-friendly. It’s production’s polished. Its sound’s got bounce. And it doesn’t feel like most other on/under the radar hiphop because.. well, it’s pop hiphop. Just a warning though, Emanon is a duo: MC Aloe Blacc keeps the rhymes sounding real and musty, while DJ Exile rolls out syncopated bassbeats that keep you shaking.
Keepin’ it real an keepin’ it hot.

Emanon – Count Your Blessings

UPDATE: DJ Exile just dropped by tell us the original reggae track sampled is Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam”. You’ve probably heard it in the stripclub scene in Belly. It’s available on this dancehall compilation.
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Lullatone

January 17th, 2009 by Michelle

bedtime beats // pajama pop // indie folk

Shawn James Seymour and Yoshimi Tomida make up the husband and wife duo, Lullatone, from Nagoya, Japan. Lullatone’s first album was comprised of lullabies written by Shawn for Yoshimi, and their freshly recorded album is a collection of new lullabies for their child, Niko. Their appropriately self-dubbed “pajama pop,” is a playful blend of whispered vocals, unique instrumentals and carefully spaced beats. For the album, The Bedtime Beat, they mixed the ambient sounds of bedtime rituals, such as splashing bathwater and gentle snoring. Notably, in the song “Goodnight Train” they used a xylophone played with a violin bow to imitate the chug-chug of a train. Conceptual but not distancing, their comforting and alluring sound is far from boring. Rather, Lullatone’s songs are delightful gems that capture the familiar essence of home.

Sweet homemade lullabies.

Lullatone – The Bathtime Beat
Lullatone – Goodnight Train
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Hafdis Huld

August 21st, 2007 by Julija

icelandic pop-folk // electro pop

The charming debut of former Gus Gus singer, Icelandic-born Hafdis Huld, is a fun jaunt of quirky contemporary pop. Her girly voice crosses between the eccentricity of Cerys Matthews and fragility of Emiliana Torrini; her songwriting’s sweet but with macabre twists; and her arrangements never bore. Hafdis’ electronic noise, instrumentation of keyboards, xylophone, and especially the surprising country sound of banjo, amount to some bizarrely catchy musical romps.

Delicious wit and great seriousness.
Hafdis Huld – Diamonds On My Belly
Hafdis Huld – Tomoko
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Trina Hamlin

July 14th, 2005 by Paul Irish

acoustic blues // harmonica folk

Hearing a musician inhale is a guilty pleasure of mine. And then hearing that oxygen toke through a reeded harmonica, like an Ashley Judd drag on a cigarette, it’s enough to make you squint those eyes in a twisted pleasure. Trina brings her game to rocking out on harmonica and tambourine in “Down To The Hollow”. It’s a full-force blues number, but the recording makes you feel like she’s riding next to you on a roadtrip down to ‘bama.
Strong, sexy, and from the soul.

Trina Hamlin – Down To The Hollow
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Muzykoterapia

October 4th, 2006 by Paul Irish

lounge jazz // downtempo // polish future jazz

What the nascent polish jazz group Muzykoterapia has already mastered is bringing the fun and dynamicism of live music to the studio, while maintaining a modicum of post-production that keeps your brain as busy as your body. In “Haunting Love”, vocalist Iza Kowalewska dominates a vamping piano, slathering on a sultry flavor while each rimshot bitchslaps your pleasure center. Raising the energy level, the MZT remix of Roman Two sets a fire in the lounge hall and expects your sweat to extinguish the flames.

On the rocks. What a fox.
Muzykoterapia – Love Haunting
Muzykoterapia – Roman Two (MZT Remix)
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Zeep

February 7th, 2008 by Julija

samba pop // equatorial funk

Mesmerizing the listeners with her vocal qualities and unique style of singing, Nina Miranda has collaborated with a variety of artists and was previously mentioned on Aurgasm for her project Shrift. Being partners in life, as well as music, inspired by the folksy, sexy and funky attitude of the 70’s, Nina and Chris Franck of Smoke City form Zeep. Borrowing some of the breezy Brazilian rhythms, mixing samba percussions and romantic bossa vibes with the gentle folk melodies, the couple records a genuinely diverse and fresh album.

Sublime with the tropical and eclectically swinging sounds.
Zeep – Sem Parar
Zeep – Keep An Eye On Love
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Piers Faccini

October 29th, 2006 by Paul Irish

singer-songwriter // urban-folk-blues

If I told you Piers’ producer also worked with Ben Harper and Jack Johnson, you might hold it against him, you might reckon you can predict his sound, or you may hear in his music an attention to detail that surprises you. Not that there’s a lot of musical elements fighting to be heard; we have Piers’ candlelight voice and his Martin 018 complemented by a sparse but perfect instrumentation. (Listen close: Ben Harper and Inara George lend backing vocals.) As luck has it, his tour is hitting New York, Boston and Philly this week; perfect aural setting for your next date. ;-)

A multicultural background that creates a simplicity of sound.
Piers Faccini – If I
Piers Faccini – Sharpening Bone
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Willy Moon

April 8th, 2013 by Sjoerd

Rock & Roll // BeatsWilly Moon b/w

If the ’50s had sampling, New Zealand export Willy Moon would be a flashback. But at the age of 23, his brash mix of rock & roll’s early days and contemporary sampling turns the clock forward to a bold new charm. Before settling into his new home of London, UK, this autodidact ditched school at 16 and shaped his raw sounds with sojourns in Valencia, Morocco, and Berlin; evolving from hip-hop and club into sonic sledgehammers having sole-blistering effect. Willy’s supercharged collage of well-known samples, combined with his unique retro vocals, makes a fiercely catchy package, and his visual style looks equally well mastered in a slick ‘Rat Pack’ refined naughtiness.

Smokin’ hot throwback beat explosions.Willy Moon – I Wanna Be Your Man
Willy Moon – Railroad Track
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