Gotye, the Belgian-Australian singer, and Esperanza Spalding, the American vocalist and bassist, are media phenomena: Gotye posted a video that went viral on Twitter, making him an instant star. The slim, young woman with afro and a string bass generated immediate interest. But audiences wanted more and both artists delivered. Gotye creates magical songs with samples of music bits found by the wayside. Esperanza assembles her own music world from the many sounds she has heard. Both serve up an aural feast that one does not get just any day.

Beat Blaser