FLYCASUAL'S Best of 2012

FLYCASUAL'S Best of 2012

Best of 2012 DIIV Fatoumata Diawara Flea M.anifest Mark Lanegan Band Plan B Rocket Juice and the Moon The Pond

It's been quite a year, from a crappy start with family health scares to the collective goodwill and euphoria surrounding the amazing Olympics/Paralympics. That was quite something, which I'm quite sure I will never experience again. It's also been musically amazing so it has been devastatingly hard to whittle it down to just 5 tracks for this post. It's bit like having to selfishly let go of some of your good friends.....

damn, I forgot to go for a wee!

Excluding 'Gangnam Style', these are my top 5 tracks in no particular order.

The Pond - 'Circle Round a Tree'

Folky Hip Hop from Folk Songstress, Kathryn Williams' side project, which hit the tickle spot for me this summer. Like chasing bees through a field of long grass on a blissful sunny day, on the way to a country pub for the promise of a cider fuelled adventure.

Rocket Juice & The Moon - 'Lolo' Feat Fatoumata Diawara and M.anifest

Marvellous Afro-Funk from another Damon Albarn fronted super group. With Mali singer Fatoumata Diawara, Ghana/US's rapper M.anifest, bassist Flea and legendary drummer Tony Allen, the band is tighter than a mermaid's brazier. More importantly however, it reminds me of a time spent with friends in Florida for a wedding earlier in the year. Perfect fo gettin' yo groove on during a cider fuelled adventure.

Diiv - 'Air Conditioning' 

This is a wonderful Krautrock inspired track from Brooklyn four piece DIIV. It knocked me out on the way home from work, nice melodious guitar drones on and you don't want it to stop...sorry officah for driving erratically, blame it on rock n roll man! Suitable for when things get a little weird during a cider fuelled adventure.



Mark Lanegan Band - 'The Gravedigger's Song'

Pounding drums, buzzsaw bass, Mark Lanegan's gruff voice, it's dark, it's menacing, it sounds a bit like Nine Inch Nails. Like reluctantly stumbling home through a graveyard on the aftermath of a cider fuelled adventure.

Plan B - 'Ill Manors' (live on Jools Holland)

Fantastic musical chaos! A wall of noise from the intimidating strings to the claustrophobic beats making you feel slightly uncomfortable. But there's nothing chaotic about the talented Ben Drew's truthful and socially conscious lyrics. The best hard hitting, no nonsense, shit kicking, political Rap since Public Enemy's heyday!

No cider fuelled adventures recommended unless it's extra strength White Lightening.

Why not have a listen to my top 20 tracks of the year?? It's nice!

sfw Pada 18:00 5 Komentar

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 13/05/12 - The Pond, Now Now, The Cribs, WalterTrout

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 13/05/12 - The Pond, Now Now, The Cribs, WalterTrout

Now Now The Cribs The Pond Tracks of the Week Walter Trout

FOUR TRACKS THAT PUT FIRE IN OUR PANTS THIS WEEK!

Flycasual:-

The Pond - Circle Round a Tree (2012)

This is just a fabulous track. I first heard this about a couple of weeks ago and was instantly captivated by it and needed to hear more. It reminds me of those old 'Trip-Hop' groups in the 90's like Morcheeba, Hoover or Lemon Jelly with it's atmospheric lo fi vibe, perfect for lazing around on a hot sunny day......so sunshine hit me damn it, it's May! It's actually the first single from The Pond's debut album, of the same name, released on May 28th, a side project from British folk singer songwriter, Kathryn Williams. Want to know more? Go over to Kathryn William's site here or skim to The Ponds site where you can also download another of their tracks, 'Bepop' for free. Much better than playing with frog spawn. Word!

Shell Hunter:-

The Cribs - 'Come On, Be A No One'

The Cribs have been around since 2004 but I only got into them after 'Men's Needs' in 2007. I liked there modern punk sound which all their singles hooked me with, but my favourite was 'They Share The Same Skies' which I totally forgot about until I heard it in a shoe shop in Las Vegas last week. I'd forgotten how good they were! It's given me the healthy push I needed to check out their new stuff. This song is the second song from their new album called In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull which was release on May 7th. The Yorkshire lads have been commended by many even Zane Lowe(who is often first to reveal their new singles) and any friend of Zane's is a friend of ours! So cool to know Johnny Marr was even their guitarist from 2008 until last year! I missed seeing them earlier this year, but will be keeping abreast of their tour dates as can you on http://www.thecribs.com/!

Sfw:-
Now Now "Threads"

  

"Perfect indie pop" comes to mind when I first heard this track by this Minneapolis-based trio and would be a band I would've probably heard of earlier if I was a reader of NME.  Their debut album has gained critical acclaim and they were named a "band to watch" at the SXSW musical festival.  I like!

Old Pa's Corner:-
Walter Trout - Lonely (2012)

The kids are screaming, the wife is screaming at you, the dog is barking, what you need is a nice bit of Blues to settle things down this Sunday morning. And this track from Walter Trout's new album 'Mondern Daze' fits the bill nicely thank you. It is classic Blues, all about despair and as the title suggests, being very very lonely. (Not much chance with all that noise around). But if you are still lonely with all that domestic mayhem, then we have a real problem on our hands. Maybe it is time to re-evaluate your life.

'Shut up Old Pa! you are talking bollocks!'. So just sit back and enjoy this excellent bluesy track, an ode to all this modern technology and media overload. Although I like this track I feel if the pace was slowed down a little it could be even better. A real slow burner.

Check out our Spotify Playlist or more Tracks of the Week here!

sfw Pada 01:12 4 Komentar