Bitter:Sweet

• Genre: Downtempo

About

L.A.'s Bitter:Sweet shake up a downtempo cocktail of bossa nova, lounge jazz, '60s soundtracks, vintage French pop and just a smidgen of space-age bachelor pad music. That recipe has made them a staple on screens big and small: the duo's music has been featured everywhere from Grey's Anatomy to The Devil Wears Prada and from Law and Order to Victoria's Secret advertisements. The group came together when singer Shana Halligan responded to a Craigslist post from Kiran Shahani, formerly of the Supreme Beings of Leisure. They released their debut album, The Mating Game, in 2006 and quickly became KCRW favorites for their suave blend of swinging, '60s-driven cool and laid-back breakbeats. The following year found 21st Century hepcats like Thievery Corporation and Nicola Conte putting a clubbier spin on the material. In 2008, the duo returned with Drama. The blend of bitter and sweet remained the same, but with more emphasis on filmic strings and Parisian cafe ambiance, their tall, cool drink of pouty poise was even smoother.

- Philip Sherburne