Flycasual's - Best 5 of 2014

Flycasual's - Best 5 of 2014

Best of 2014 Damon Albarn EL-P Flycasual Jungle Killer Mike Royal Blood Run The Jewels Tony Allen War on Drugs Zach De La Rocha

2014 - Another Great Year For Music

This time of year always fills me with a sense of happy dread. Not only is Christmas round the corner with all the buffoonery that that entails but it's the real stress of compiling your best of the year. Never mind an eight month old baby and getting my head around a new job it was this exclusive list that was giving me sleepless nights. Many thanks as always to my fellow bloggers Old Pa, Sfw, London Scouser and Shell Hunter for providing class A material for the blog but also contributing to my soundtrack of the year. Props y'all!

Jungle - 'The Heat'

It's not very often a band comes along and completely knocks me out Frank Bruno style. These guys ticked all of my boxes since I first heard them earlier this year, they were elusive, their videos had some brilliant dance choreography and they had a retro vibe not heard since Hue and Cry in the 80's (ok maybe not them but they're definitely channeling a 80's white soul ting but light years better). Needless to say they didn't disappoint at Latitude either, the moshing (why?) kids did however. Band of the year, sound of the summer, stunning!

War On Drugs - 'Red Eyes'

On many a best ofs list and for good reason, it really doesn't get much better than this. Devastatingly brilliant, it gives me goose pimples every time. Beautiful melody, beautiful musicianship, a track perfectly put together...and then he goes "woo" and it kicks off! Almost Springsteen-esque. Oh stop gushing! We missed them at Latitude but we past the tent when this played and that was highly memorable. Thanks to Old Pa for the heads up, track of the year!

Royal Blood - 'Loose Change'

An absolute belter! That's a lot of noise coming from two guys. Watching them perform live is something else, this is only the beginning for the talented Brighton duo. A firm family favourite, 'Loose Change' is the brightest diamond from a solid debut album.


Run The Jewels - 'Close Your Eyes' feat Zach De La Rocha

Fierce, chaotic and rude, reminiscent to how I felt when I first listened to Public Enemy in the 80's. Run the Jewels is Rap's in form duo, EL-P and Killer Mike, with a VIP guest spot from Rocks very own, "I'm bloody annoyed", Zach De La Rocha (who incidentally did his verse in one take). Perfect for the middle aged dad to turn the stereo up to 11 in his Peugeot estate after the kids are safely dropped off at school/nursery. A Bombtrack fo' sho'.

Tony Allen - 'Go Back' feat Damon Albarn

It would have been hard to ignore Damon Albarn after he released his debut solo, Everyday Robots, earlier this year. Though it was a decent album with some notable standouts, it was the sobering collaboration with Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen that hit the spot.

It took lots of workin and twerkin to squeeze dem tracks into a top 20. A labour of love fo' sho' and I'm sharing it below, have a listen. Or if you're feeling a little adventurous try my B-sides for size here.....

sfw Pada 05:38 6 Komentar

Shell Hunter's - Best 5 of 2014

Shell Hunter's - Best 5 of 2014

Arctic Monkeys Best of 2014 Boy and Bear Future Islands Hot Chip Jungle Shell Hunter William Onyeabor

2014 - ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OF MUSIC

We knew it was going to be tough but its the annual task we must complete. My criteria was simple, if I love it now as much as when it first hit, it made the cut. Here are my prestigious Top 5 followed by the meticulously chosen Top 20. These songs will be frozen in time, forever shaping our memory of 2014 when we look back and listen. Farewell to those that we had to let go, and cheers to the next batch in 2015!!

Boy and Bear - 'Southern Sun'

I got an email from Spotify last week which said, "What was your most listened to song of 2014?" Oooo, I thought, I wonder if this will be any reflection on my Track Of The Year? There it was in black and white, Boy and Bear - Southern Sun. I couldn't argue with that, it really is my favourite song of 2014. I absolutely adore the feel it has, full of warm nostalgia of summer days. If only you could just bottle that!

Future Islands - 'Seasons (Waiting On You)'

I was thrilled to hear my favourite band of 2011 were back with a new album. This track is a real grower and a perfect insight to the Future Islands' unique style. I am privileged to have seen them up close and personal a couple of times (including this year's Latitude), even buying a tshirt and having a chat with the singer Sam who brings raw dramatic emotion by the bucket load. A must see if you get a chance!

Hot Chip vs. William Onyeabor - 'Atomic Bomb'

The original version of this song really is the epitome of this year for me. It surrounds the whole of the Latitude weekend. The day before, picking up Old Pa, driving to Suffolk listening to our Latitude playlist and seeing the whole project jovially performing it on the Sunday morning. It and other songs on the album are absolutely nuts but what a great sound! Having Hot Chip giving it the treatment is the cherry (bomb) on the cake! Boom!

Jungle - 'Busy Earnin'

I have to give Flycasual schnapps for this one, he raved about Jungle all year and he couldn't have been more right. They have a totally fresh sound. I have never seen a harder working group live on stage, they were mind blowing. In the BBC6 tent at Latitude they started off with the aptly titled The Heat and did not stop. So much enthusiasm, energy and they were so tight, it was if they were one big organism. It was worth suffering the sweltering heat to see this soultastic group. I have every confidence they will keep knocking out fantastic funk filled tunes. 

Arctic Monkeys - 'Snap Out Of It'

It was very hard choosing track 5 but I had to have a bit of the 'Monkeys. They just keep doing it. I like pretty much every song they've released but there is something about this one. I cant help singing along. The clever lyrics just roll off the tongue. Its good fun and I always enjoy the observant take on relationships their songs come out with. "There is no way she could have moved on, its obviously a phase. Snap out of it." We've all been there bruv!

Enjoyed my choices? Hear the rest of my Top 20 Best of 2014 on my Spotify playlist below!

sfw Pada 04:01 5 Komentar

OLD PA's - Best 5 of 2014

OLD PA's - Best 5 of 2014

Best of 2014 Brian Jonestown Massacre Hot Chip Jungle The Delines War on Drugs William Onyeabor

2014
A great year for Music, so many contenders, now let the music speak :

 

Like a few others before, you just knew!.....now guys, how do you follow that?  

What the 'ell I just like it!

 

A slow grower, but every time I heard it, I grinned with ear pleasure. I bet she slipped up? Maybe Ray is makin' it with Jane on the Night Shift. Jeremy Kyle lie detector awaits.

 

William Onyeabor just had to get the nod but with Hot Chip onboard....orgasmic!orgasmic!

 

When it hits! it bloody well hits!, this was a thunderbolt, I never got tired of it the whole year. Easy!, my track of the year. Tension, Pain and Beauty to a dance beat! One regret!, I missed them at Latitude. Unforgivable Old Pa!

Subscribe listen to Old Pa's best tracks of 2014

sfw Pada 22:00 3 Komentar

Flycasual's Best Of Latitude 2014 - Jungle, Young Fathers, The War on Drugs

Flycasual's Best Of Latitude 2014 - Jungle, Young Fathers, The War on Drugs

Flycasual Jungle Latitude War on Drugs Young Fathers

I didn't find myself really but I did find myself surrounded by pseudo hippies in obligatory garb back from their two weeks in Goa, rich white kids doing the festival circuit on mummy and daddy's money kicking over bins and Essex women slumming it with their festival chic and expensive wellies! Not to mention a super cell storm in a leaking tent...Apart from that, a beautiful vibe and setting, incredible music and unforgettable memories with sterling company. Thanks TuneDr crew.... 

Uncomfortable viewing...

Jungle - 'Time' (2014)

This was my most anticipated gig, mid afternoon in the sweltering BBC6 music stage. I haven't felt hysterical about an act in quite sometime and with such a distinctive sound, Jungle are without doubt my favourite band of the year. So I'm near the front and slowly it gets more and more crowded as people pile in the venue, the heat rises and somewhat appropriately, it feels like...ehm a jungle. The seven piece do not disappoint despite feverish conditions as they play an energetic set, further cementing my admiration for them. I did get irked at the 'youts' throwing themselves about the mosh pit akin to 'sweaties' at a Cradle of Filth concert, a wholly inappropriate way to behave to 'White Soul' but that probably says more about my age than anything else. Talking of 'White Soul', I jokingly said to Sfw that Jungle were this generation's Curiosity Killed the Cat or Living in a Box or even Hue and Cry, but clearly that'll be doing them a complete disservice. However they did play right after Daryl Hall and John Oats....just saying!

Mosh Pit about to kick off!?

Young Fathers - 'I Heard' (2013)

Latitude Festival Dilemma, who do I see? Damon Albarn, one of my favourite ever artists with a rich history and a diverse array of music or up and coming rappers, Young Fathers, who have been compared to Massive Attack's early days? I'm a big fan and, like Jungle, Young Fathers are a band I've really been excited about. I take the plunge and head off to the atmospheric iArena, a stage set in the middle of the woods, to see Scotland's finest. A bit hit and miss to be honest but a performance as fierce as the surrounding rain storm (which, according to Shell hunter, scuppered Damon's encore somewhat by dispersing the crowd, despite having brought on Graham Coxon as a guest). When they're good they're magnificent, ending in soulful anguish with the brilliant 'I Heard'.

I'm not weeing in there!

The War On Drugs - 'Red Eyes' (2014) Live at Latitude Festival 2014

The line up was fantastic but with so many good bands to see you're never going to catch them all. We had just seen the brilliant Future Islands and were now making the trek back from the iArena to the main stage at the Obelisk Arena to see Tame Impala, probably a 15 minute walk. A distinct sound stops us in our tracks as we pass by the BBC6 Music stage, it's the War On Drugs' 'Red Eyes', one of my favourite songs of the year ever since Old Pa featured it on a TOTW back in March and it was a stunning performance. One of the aspects of Latitude I loved was that despite the inevitability of missing out on artists, you're always going to get to see something due to the positioning of the various stages.

The iArena....Ewoks and Speederbikes just out of shot!

Subscribe/listen to our Latitude Best of playlist, as refreshing as a baby wipe shower!

sfw Pada 22:00 3 Komentar

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 15/06/14 - letthemusicplay ft. Kate Tempest, Jungle, Cloud Nothings, Isaiah Rashad, Andrew Ashong,

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 15/06/14 - letthemusicplay ft. Kate Tempest, Jungle, Cloud Nothings, Isaiah Rashad, Andrew Ashong,

Andrew Ashong Cloud Nothings Isaiah Rashad Jungle Kate Tempest letthemusicplay Tracks of the Week

Five treats that Daddy would like.....

Sfw:-
Andrew Ashong - Special (2014)
Andrew Ashong is a British-Ghanaian Soul singer-songwriter, DJ and producer from Forest Hill in South London.  His style is the laid back, soul/jazz of the 70s and he has many supporters - He won the Track of the Year gong at the Worldwide Awards which was nominated by the listeners to Gilles Peterson's radio show.  Pour yourself a drink and enjoy it is - that is what I did!

Old Pa's Corner:-
Jungle - 'Lucky I Got What I Want' (2014)
 

Flycasual featured them earlier this year so it goes to show even internal musical bliss, works quite well. Don't you think? West London duo Jungle are what is described as Electro-Soul and this is a haunting track with a big bass beat and an organ hook to die for. It is from their self titled album and I love it!

Jungle are also featuring at the Latitude Festival so I will be poping in to sample their delights.

Shell Hunter:-
letthemusicplay ft. Kate Tempest - 'Our Town' (2014)

Another poet genius will be on stage at Latitude Festival this year, highly acclaimed Kate Tempest. I didn't know her from adam until I saw her supporting Scroobius Pip at Hoxton Bar in London a few years ago. Let's just say I was absolutely blown away with her and band Sound Of Rum. This new track with London producers letthemusicplay is just excellent. Kate does what she does best, her spoken word but telling the story with real feeling. I love the way you can actually hear her smiling as she talks about the heady days of getting drunk and being in love. The backing is a total house rave up which normally wouldnt even turn my head but with Kate's clever words, its no wonder she's won awards for her poetry. Her new album Everybody Down was out in May and will be getting more than a few spins from me on the run up to the festival!

London Scouser:-

Cloud Nothings - 'I'm Not Part Of Me' (2014)

A couple of weeks ago I was going through my facebook page and in the middle of annoying people (yes my facebook friends) sharing pictures of their dinner or professing their undying love for their other half's, I saw that I was recommended a band as I follow a few bands on facebook, it said something along the lines of 'if you like Black Books & Ringo Deathstarr you'll probably like Cloud Nothings. I took the advice and have to concede I do like them. This song comes from the 3-piece band's 4th album 'Here And Nowhere Else' which was released in April. It starts with good riffage and continues with a great sing-along chorus. They are currently in the middle of a worldwide tour that sees them visiting the Far East before heading back home to the US and Canada. Then they come over to Europe for a few festivals in August. I definitely will be looking into their back catalogue on the strength of this

Flycasual:-

Isaiah Rashad - Soliloquy (2014)

Thanks to Sfw, I've been listening Isaiah Rashad's EP, Clivia Demo all week. He sent me the track, 'Soliloquy', with it's old school style boom bap beat and a piano hook that sounds like it could have been done by Cuban piano maestro, Ruben Gonzalez, it was an instant hit. I first heard of Isaiah Rashad when I was doing research for a TOTW a few weeks ago on label mate (Kendrick Lamar's Top Dawg Entertainments label), SZA, but never got round to listening to him. Sfw knows me to well as the LA based, Tennessee rapper's record is full of laid back, smoked out cuts which wouldn't go a miss on our Late Night Hip Hop playlist.

Check out Isaiah Rashad on Top Dawg Entertainment records.

Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...

sfw Pada 08:26 2 Komentar

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 12/01/14 - Jungle, U2, Echoman, Talisman, Ed Sheeran,

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 12/01/14 - Jungle, U2, Echoman, Talisman, Ed Sheeran,

Echoman Ed Sheeran Jungle Talisman Tracks of the Week U2

Five tracks that thawed the Arctic Vortex this week...

Old Pa's Corner:-

Talisman - Greetings and Salutations (2013)

Talisman are a Roots Reggae band from the Reggae Haven that is Bristol. They reformed in 2011and have just released their third album and it is their first new material since 1990 would you believe.

This is great stuff and the band are as water tight as a beavers scrotem with a great prominent bass shinning through. Greetings and Salutations is the lead track from their album  I-Surrection (2013) and for good measure I have thrown in the Dub version too.

Utterley delicious! Utterley scrumsios!.  Go on treat yourselves.

Is it me or is that great bass riff a little bit too close to Seven Nation Army....it is still bloody brilliant!  Never mind the White Stripes....would anybody like to join me in a case of Red Stripe,  chilled to perfection !! my treat!.

Flycasual:-

Jungle - 'Drops' (2013)

I could have picked any of the four tracks on Jungle's debut release, The Heat EP (buy it on Bandcamp here), it's saucy interstellar Electro Soul at it's very finest. So I went for the eerie groove of 'Drops', as it was the first song I heard from the West London duo and has, hands down, the best use of a creaking door in music, ever. I haven't felt this excited about an artist (apart from Young Fathers who are a bit similar) for awhile and I'm so looking forward to hearing more. Jungle were also nominated for the BBC sound of 2014, big ting awaits!

Chess club records

http://chessclub-records.co.uk/

Sfw:-

Ed Sheeran - I See Fire (2013)

I do not know where I was in December, but the fact I missed this was a complete school boy error. It features in 'The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug' and has got me wanting to watch the film (again). It's strange how much Ed divides opinion. Whether it is all the success he's obtained, the fact he written songs for One Direction or just pure ginger jealously. The guy has a talent that cannot be ignored...and my wife thinks he's brilliant, so I have no choice.

Shell Hunter:-

U2 - 'Ordinary Love' (2013)

Just when you think U2 have had their day, they come back with this absolute treasure. It was written to honour Nelson Mandela for the recent biopic Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and it was seeing early cuts of this film that inspired them to write it. It could be rightfully set to win a Golden Globe for Best Original Song this year and shows that these guys have still got what it takes to create a classic, with the production help of good old Danger Mouse. That'll teach me to write a band off!

London Scouser:-
Echoman - 'Zero Gravity' (2013)

 

3 guys get together with the aim of making some music to feature in an ad campaign for Skoda. The resulting song inspired them to form a band, and that's 'Echoman'. I was at the cinema this week when I heard this song, I immediately liked it and scrambled to get my phone out so I could Shazam it. I wonder if they will be able to follow this up with more great tunes....

Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...

sfw Pada 04:22 7 Komentar

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 12/01/14 - Jungle, U2, Echoman, Talisman, Ed Sheeran,

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 12/01/14 - Jungle, U2, Echoman, Talisman, Ed Sheeran,

Echoman Ed Sheeran Jungle Talisman Tracks of the Week U2

Five tracks that thawed the Arctic Vortex this week...

Old Pa's Corner:-

Talisman - Greetings and Salutations (2013)

Talisman are a Roots Reggae band from the Reggae Haven that is Bristol. They reformed in 2011and have just released their third album and it is their first new material since 1990 would you believe.

This is great stuff and the band are as water tight as a beavers scrotem with a great prominent bass shinning through. Greetings and Salutations is the lead track from their album  I-Surrection (2013) and for good measure I have thrown in the Dub version too.

Utterley delicious! Utterley scrumsios!.  Go on treat yourselves.

Is it me or is that great bass riff a little bit too close to Seven Nation Army....it is still bloody brilliant!  Never mind the White Stripes....would anybody like to join me in a case of Red Stripe,  chilled to perfection !! my treat!.

Flycasual:-

Jungle - 'Drops' (2013)

I could have picked any of the four tracks on Jungle's debut release, The Heat EP (buy it on Bandcamp here), it's saucy interstellar Electro Soul at it's very finest. So I went for the eerie groove of 'Drops', as it was the first song I heard from the West London duo and has, hands down, the best use of a creaking door in music, ever. I haven't felt this excited about an artist (apart from Young Fathers who are a bit similar) for awhile and I'm so looking forward to hearing more. Jungle were also nominated for the BBC sound of 2014, big ting awaits!

Chess club records

http://chessclub-records.co.uk/

Sfw:-

Ed Sheeran - I See Fire (2013)

I do not know where I was in December, but the fact I missed this was a complete school boy error. It features in 'The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug' and has got me wanting to watch the film (again). It's strange how much Ed divides opinion. Whether it is all the success he's obtained, the fact he written songs for One Direction or just pure ginger jealously. The guy has a talent that cannot be ignored...and my wife thinks he's brilliant, so I have no choice.

Shell Hunter:-

U2 - 'Ordinary Love' (2013)

Just when you think U2 have had their day, they come back with this absolute treasure. It was written to honour Nelson Mandela for the recent biopic Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and it was seeing early cuts of this film that inspired them to write it. It could be rightfully set to win a Golden Globe for Best Original Song this year and shows that these guys have still got what it takes to create a classic, with the production help of good old Danger Mouse. That'll teach me to write a band off!

London Scouser:-
Echoman - 'Zero Gravity' (2013)

 

3 guys get together with the aim of making some music to feature in an ad campaign for Skoda. The resulting song inspired them to form a band, and that's 'Echoman'. I was at the cinema this week when I heard this song, I immediately liked it and scrambled to get my phone out so I could Shazam it. I wonder if they will be able to follow this up with more great tunes....

Listen or even better, subscribe to our tracks of the week playlist here...

sfw Pada 04:22 7 Komentar