Aurgasm

Word has it this duo met from a Craigslist ad. Now I bet you’ll be surprised of that fact when you listen. An indie rock group looking for a drummer—Craigslist, I’d expect; but this tasty concoction of classic spy film score, 50’s cha-cha, 60’s pop and modern electronica surprises. It’s the type of music you swear you’ve heard before; the production well-crafted by beatmaker Kiran Shahani, formerly of the Supreme Beings of Leisure. I’ll warn you in advance: this album will draw the passion-poised lover out of you.

From the liner notes:

The Symmetric Orchestra reflects the spirit of Mali’s new democracy since 1992— a spirit of equality, and creativity. There’s a public in Mali today that loves traditional music — griot music — but not the griot milieu. With the Symmetric, they feel free to enjoy this music without the obligations of tradition. And this gives us the freedom to present the tradition in new ways.

That quote is enough, I’m sure, to make any Cultural Studies critics reading wet themselves, and I’m going to give them a little more: TDSO is one of those deftly textured creations that evokes equal parts timeless and contemporary, diffuse and situated. Try listening to the soft chants on ‘Mamadou Diaby’ without thinking of Four Tet, and the virtuoso piano on ‘Africa Challenge’ without hearing the tango. It’s beautiful.

From her first solo album Likes… (2004), Dani Siciliano has shown that she is much more than beautiful vocals for dancefloor-oriented tunes on collaborations with Matthew Herbert. A vocalist, producer and DJ, original and witty, Dani returns with her second album Slappers (2006). Once again Herbert is sharing production duties with Dani. Yet having background in both night clubs and jazz combos, she has her own knowledge of music. Dani creates her own sound by combining the elements of house, disco, blues, pop, electronica and even a little country with an instrumentation that includes teacups, spoons and such.

The time of 60’s folk-revival shamanism may be long past, but its embodying awe of life in untapped American places carries on in the wise, mellow songs of The Court & Spark. The titular homage to Joni Mitchell speaks for itself, bringing to mind mature melodic landscapes lush with histories both cloaked and unraveled. Among the eclectic collection populating Absolutely Kosher Records, this band is by far the most creative; their mix-and-match combo of gently accented vocals, bells, tape noises, horns, slide guitar, and everything inbetween sure sounds great on balmy summer evenings.

I don’t want to be too self-congratulatory, but I have heard that David Byrne reads Aurgasm and Nic Harcourt (of KCRW) frequents mp3 blogs. But it’s really unknown what use mp3 blogs have been, or will be, to the music industry at large. Let’s assume for a moment that producers follow mp3 blogs as much as they crate dig in their search of the next great sample. Follow me down this path, will you…

uk pop ← new orleans jazz
If you didn’t already hear, Lily Allen is ‘the next big thing’. Music geeks have been pushing her, wanting her songs will blow up in the US mainstream for a while. She’s definitely got the appeal potential: crisp and fun production underneath her own gritty urban storytelling. Her track “Knock ‘Em Out” was released as a B-side, but is now getting as much attention as her released singles.
Lily Allen – Knock ‘Em Out from Alright, Still (2006)
If you’ve been with Aurgasm for a while, that opening that forms the basis for the track might sound a little familiar. In December 2004 I shared a track by New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair. Take a listen:
Professor Longhair – Big Chief (1964)

cuban mambo → chicago hip hop
Around the same time, a little more south, a Cuban vocalist by the name of La Lupe was gaining notoriety for her energetic live show and, quite franky, her near-insanity. Before joining Tito Puente’s tour, her fan-base included Pablo Picasso, Jean-Paul Sartre and novelist Ernest Hemingway, who called her act, “the art of frenzy.” Last October, I dubbed her song “Fever” as an mp3 gem in The Link List.
La Lupe – Fever (1961)
Chicago’s Rhymefest is best known for penning Kanye’s Grammy-winning single “Jesus Walks”, but you’ll hear that La Lupe track repurposed in this new single off his LP.
Rhymefest – Fever from Blue Collar (2006)

Romance ain’t my thing, but even I’m susceptible to the charms of a romantic comedy. Hard to say if its the beautiful people, happy endings, extravagant lifestyles or playful dialogue that pique my interest, but for sure, the well-crafted soundtracks that accompany these movies make them easier to love. I discovered Madeleine Peyroux in the credits of 2005’s Monster-in-Law, but her warm, Billie Holiday vocal style makes her a soundtrack favorite. The two songs below from her LP Careless Love glisten with All-American nostalgia and romance.

Just like you wouldn’t expect soul crooner Jamie Lidell on the Warp label, Fink is a peculiar addition to the Ninja Tune family. While the label is known for their dynamic electronica with hip hop and funk infused, Fink embodies the simplicity of a man sitting on a milkcrate strumming his guitar. “All Cried Out” trots at a medium pace, a steady guitar strum underneath Fink’s addictive melodies. Influenced by the harmonies of D’angelo and India Arie, he crafts vocal lines that snare you and basslines that seduce you. “Biscuits”, a proper song for an Englishman, has a bit more atmospheric accoutrements, but accomplishes just the same.

Helena Noguerra is a Belgian born successful model, acctress, singer-songwriter, singing and writing her own lyrics in French, Portuguese and English. She has worked as a radio DJ, published two novels, covered Kylie’s “I just can’t get you out of my head” in a very sensual version. While still modelling, she was meeting up with musicians, doing collaborations and also met Philippe Katerine who did most of the composing and producing of their two rather different projects. Azul (2003) is mostly bossa nova influenced with subtle electronic touches while Née dans la nature (2004) follows French chanteuse tradition.

This post will be the first time I’ve featured an artist twice on Aurgasm, but I do it without shame. I introduced Hanne last October, along with her beautiful track Ease. This time, Hanne covers the Pixies track ‘Break My Body‘, trading stage-shaking instrumentation for bedroom intimacy, brash demands for a somber plea. Leading with a tender bassline, a flute peeks around the corner, drawing your attention to the concrete steps where Hanne delivers her words. Brushed percussion and a squeezebox provide a warm coat for Hanne’s cold delivery.

I met Dennis Rollins last summer at the Edinburgh Fringe, after catching his phenomenal live show at the Baby Belly, deep in the South Bridge vaults. He has a beautiful enthusiasm about him, a real exuberance that gives away his love for what he does– and it comes out in his music, too, which is all smiles and energetic riffs. But he does soft and tender, too, and his cover of ‘Fast Car’ is as calm and thoughtful as you might expect.