Aurgasm

broken beat // future jazz // hip-hop

Breakdancing and graffiti roots converge with fashionable French writing and visual stimuli to create a contagious blend of soulful, jazzy good rhymes, laden with a hip-hop reverie that’s almost non-existent these days. Irfane Khan-Acito, Jay1 & Jerome Hadey from Strasbourg and Paris fuse an album of everyday messages people tend to share or ignore, but ultimately live through, with a positive, youthful expression.

Dancefloor grooves that inspire and ignite.
Outlines – Just A Lil Lovin
Outlines – Now That I’m Free
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post-rock // instrumental

While post-rock fans have been enjoying El Ten Eleven‘s textured, atmospheric instrumentals since their 2004 self-titled debut album, it wasn’t until I saw Helvetica, which heavily features tracks from 2007’s Every Direction is North, that I discovered this creative duo. The music meanders and crescendos, calms and invigorates, adding layer after layer to an emotional journey. You can’t help but want to go along for the ride.

Double neck bass guitar, electric drums, and effects pedaling delight.
El Ten Eleven – My Only Swerving (stream only)
El Ten Eleven – Living on Credit Blues
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electrojazz // glitch-soul

If a few piano keys can give way to glitchy sounds swirled around to accompany a soulful, jazzy, bassline bop, then strutted with a parade of atmospheric keyboards, hi-hats, and 80’s movie charm, where a melodically-luscious, poignant voice plays freely atop a heartbeat’s skyline, than you’d be listening to Little Dragon. Yukimi Nagano, by way of Swell Session, Koop, and José González, is making music with high school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Fredrik Wallin (bass) and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards). Peacefrog!

A jack-in-the-box of passionate and playful stories.
Little Dragon – Twice
Little Dragon – Constant Suprises
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neo-soul

I spent Saturday night in NYC watching the final performance of Sufjan Stevens‘ BQE at BAM, an entirely incredible experience. A full live orchestral instrumentation behind his tracks took away my breath and brought me to tears during ‘Casimir Pulaski Day’. On the bus back home, it was tough to merge back into reality. Helping smooth my transition is an artist who has an oddly unique name. But just like with Sufjan, behind that jarring moniker is quite a treat. Magda Sinit weaves her soulful vocals into finger-snap groove.

Nothing unexpected, just chilled for consumption.
Magda Sinit – Mista, Notice Me
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indie folk // acoustic

Viola player Marla Hansen appears on Sufjan Stevens and My Brightest Diamond live performances, got to play with Jay-Z and Kanye West, is a member of the string quartet Osso, and occasionally still plays classical music too. Marla likes drinking tea and writing little songs for herself and her viola. One fine day she gathered some friends together, including Sufjan, Shara Worden and Sebastian Krueger of Inlets, and eventually recorded her debut EP Wedding Day, a collection of tranquil lullabies and meditative harmonies.

Quiet songs for quiet people.
Marla Hansen – Shuffle Your Feet
Marla Hansen – Wedding Day
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classical // operatic

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 a not-so-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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french pop // intimate songwriting

Featured on Aurgasm three years ago, The Lovers transfered a catchy rumba riff into their delightful lounge track “Crick Crack”. In 2007, exploring her entrancing style, French chanteuse Daphné adopts the same riff to her delicate arrangements of “Musicamor”. Beautifully comprised of Daphné’s airy voice and Gonzales’ piano playing, “Un Homme Sous Influence” reveals such a personal sense of poetry. Daphné manages to take her listeners on a voyage of subtle emotions and sentiments, and was compared to a fairy by the French press.

Enchanting voice weaves into well-crafted compositions.
Daphné – Musicamor
Daphné – Un Homme Sous Influence
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This tidbit of news rolled in last week, so let me first say Welcome to the new readers!

And even better, they might actually consider Aurgasm in the Top 10, along with classy joints like Apartment Therapy, ArsTechnica, and BoingBoing. But probably definitely it’s just an alphabetical listing. ;-) But still, we’re honored.

And thank you to all of Aurgasm’s faithful. You guys keep this ship asail!

neo soul // r&b

From soul to funky guitar chords and bittersweet ingredients of r&b to surprising reggae twists, Asa (pronounced Asha) carries rich musical heritage and intensely spiritual strength. Asa was born in Paris and raised in Lagos, south-western Nigeria, where absorbing influences of jazz and African music, transforming it into a fresh sound, she constantly craved for singing her heart out. As her first eponymous album flows with ease, groovy rhythms and emotion, Asa projects positive values and her honest point of view on today’s realities.

Infusing with hope, melodies get under your skin.
Asa – No One Knows
Asa – Jailer
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classical // experimental

Cellos excitedly dance and play as subtle sounds find their way; like clouds taking shape in the sky, a vivacious harmony is perceived as Julia shares her Delay. She’s contributed music to Leona Naess, Devendra Banhart, Rufus Wainwright, among many others, and is currently performing with Antony and the Johnsons. If her name seems familiar elsewhere, you may remember her as an original member of Rasputina. All tracks on Delay were composed and performed by Julia, at home, in-between touring and traveling for about a year. An abundant warmth and persistence bellies this music; making most songs feel like a soundtrack in themselves.

Cellos folding like clouds rolling.
Julia Kent – Idlewild
Julia Kent – Dorval
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