I promised myself I’d listen to 2005′s Toujours le meme film whenever I wanted to recall the accomplishments of the downtempo movement. The album, (over)produced by Paul Nawrata aka Urbs, is so complicated that it evokes emotions far beyond where current downtempo can reach. His aesthetic sophistication is impressive, creating a new motto that less is, actually, never more. And because his effortless groove never sounds congested, we are left with not mere beats, but life stories, spanning more than one time frame.
Downtempo styled, subtle orchestral arrangements of Polish pianist and producer Andrzej Smolik conjure a sonic universe of smooth and dreamy modern pop gems. With delicate electronic whiffs of Zero 7, the beautifully crafted and sensual synthlines of “Cye” and “A Million Cheap Tricks” carry warm female vocals, a bouncy comforting feel and melodic appeal.
The Daf, Santur, and Bazantar are Middle East instruments you’ll hear alongside turntables and synthesizers in this Brooklyn-grown melange by a man called Professor Shehab. Having performed with Qaballah Steppers, Scarab, and The Baraka Orchestra, he’s no stranger to entrancing soundscapes. Alan Kushan, Bill Laswell, DXT, Mark Deutsch, and Mark Pistel of Meat Beat Manifesto lend their talents; cultivating elements of Turkish, Arabic, and Persian resonance into a unique illbient mood.
Kreidler has one of those sounds that teeters on the edge of being irritatingly experimental, but is pulled back by some solid acoustic instrumentation and a good sense of beat and build. Their debut, Weekend showcases an odd mix of chirps and clicks, along with some more conventional driving bass and lightly rocky drums. Some of it’s a bit Four Tet-ish, but it’s a little meaner with its melodies than the English artist, and the overall effect is something slightly darker.
As far as I know, Aurgasm was the first mp3 blog to introduce an mp3 player embedded on the site. Not trying to brag, just providing a little history. But now, after a few years and much thought, we’ve switched over to a new player, the Yahoo Media Player.
This new player has a playlist, floats along the page as you move, and has a bit more functionality than the old ‘n busted play button. Click around!
This little button: will appear to the left of all mp3s on the site. Click to immediately play that track.
Yahoo will be improving the experience based on your feedback, so let’s hear it! Leave a comment why you like it, why you hate it, wish it would do ___, or anything. Thanks!
Update (2008.07.24): I’ve updated to the newest version of the player.
Balkan dance music has been picking up speed in Europe, in part thanks to the Bucovina Club parties, and in New York at Mehanata Bulgarian Bar. It’s caught my ears lately as well, with blaring horns and Balkan beats discofied to crazy hype levels. Here are two floor mashers I’ve been working into my sets lately. The first comes from Mahala Rai Banda. You may recognize this tune from the Borat soundtrack, but this Felix B dub adds some crushing backbone. It’s on Gypsy Beats and Balkan Bangers out on Atlantic Jaxx. The second is a DJ Zoki blend of Serbian Trubaci and Reggaeton, a great digital dig via thebestyudjs.de.vu, featuring a slew of Euro DJ’s dabbling in Balkan sounds.
Tropically warm, upbeat and blissful; exactly what I was looking for to start 2008. Teaming up with Sebastian Arocha Morton, aka ROCAsound, and San Francisco based OM Records, Samantha James‘ debut is a soulful unison that her honeyed voice must have been made for. Embracing any surrounding with its aura; whether in a bedroom, out for a drive, or steaming up a club, Rise will sustain its essence hovering all around and inside you. A bossa nova flare from Aurgasm alum Celso Fonseca adds a wonderful touch.
A member of Habanot Nechama, versatile performer and vocalist for Kutiman’s funky tunes, MC Karolina deserves a mention for her colourful mixture of sounds. With the jolly jump-up reggae and funk infusions, fun grooves and playful lyrics, Karolina & Funset form their own conception of catchiness. Improving the mood at any time, getting the audience on their feet , “Lion” is an entirely fun experience.
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.
Distant echoes return with a subdued haze, in an audible maze that approaches your ear. Matthias Grübel’s voice sparingly appears to direct and translate, through his Phon°noir dialect, as songs often build, unfold, surprise and sometimes delight with a scattered, spackled, mysterious transformation of blips, glitches, instrumental and skyward noises that become waves and bursts, then disappear. He credits Leonard Cohen and Four Tet as influences; I agree.
Aurgasm seeks to bring you an eclectic menagerie of aural pleasures. We scout out music you've never heard and deliver only the finest. Expect music curiously different, yet simply enjoyable...
Paul Irish is a music-loving web geek in San Francisco.
You can download most music on aurgasm – right-click the song names and select Save Target As. These files will be removed at some indefinite point.
All files on aurgasm are online with permission of the copyright holder.
This music is here for evaluation purposes ONLY.
That's what I want you to do: eval-u-ate: try on this music for size, see if it fits you. If you enjoy it, learn more. Explore the artist, delve into the genre.
Take an active approach in finding music you love. Only you can find what you love. Immerse yourself in it. Buy the CD. Go to the show and meet your favorite artist afterwards. Tell them their music changed you. Support the artists whose work you adore.
Be passionate about music.
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I promised myself I’d listen to 2005′s Toujours le meme film whenever I wanted to recall the accomplishments of the downtempo movement. The album, (over)produced by Paul Nawrata aka Urbs, is so complicated that it evokes emotions far beyond where current downtempo can reach. His aesthetic sophistication is impressive, creating a new motto that less is, actually, never more. And because his effortless groove never sounds congested, we are left with not mere beats, but life stories, spanning more than one time frame. 
Downtempo styled, subtle orchestral arrangements of Polish pianist and producer Andrzej Smolik conjure a sonic universe of smooth and dreamy modern pop gems. With delicate electronic whiffs of Zero 7, the beautifully crafted and sensual synthlines of “Cye” and “A Million Cheap Tricks” carry warm female vocals, a bouncy comforting feel and melodic appeal.
The 
Kreidler has one of those sounds that teeters on the edge of being irritatingly experimental, but is pulled back by some solid acoustic instrumentation and a good sense of beat and build. Their debut, Weekend showcases an odd mix of chirps and clicks, along with some more conventional driving bass and lightly rocky drums. Some of it’s a bit Four Tet-ish, but it’s a little meaner with its melodies than the English artist, and the overall effect is something slightly darker.
will appear to the left of all mp3s on the site. Click to immediately play that track.
Tropically warm, upbeat and blissful; exactly what I was looking for to start 2008. Teaming up with Sebastian Arocha Morton, aka ROCAsound, and San Francisco based 
A member of 
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.
Distant echoes return with a subdued haze, in an audible maze that approaches your ear. Matthias Grübel’s voice sparingly appears to direct and translate, through his Phon°noir dialect, as songs often build, unfold, surprise and sometimes delight with a scattered, spackled, mysterious transformation of blips, glitches, instrumental and skyward noises that become waves and bursts, then disappear. He credits Leonard Cohen and Four Tet as influences; I agree.