Sunday 1 February 2015

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 01/02/15 - Maurice Louca, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Gaz Coombes Au.Ra, Gretchen Peters,

Five tracks we surrendered to this week...



Flycasual:-
Maurice Louca - 'Benhayyi Al-Baghbaghan' (Salute the Parrot) (2014)


Tutankhamun's broken beard may have been hastily put back together by a pair of incompetents with Pritt Stick but there's nothing hastily put together here by Egypt's DJ Maurice Louca. I dismissed this track at first but it grew on me, particularly the gravely voice like some unearthly singer out of Jabba's Palace. But also the beat and strings which builds to a crescendo, wait for that drop! It's what all the Cairo cool cats listen to in the city's musical underground. I definitely salute the parrot!

Check Maurice at Bandcamp...or
at Nawa Recordings here.


Shell Hunter:-
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - 'Ballad Of The Mighty I' (2015)



I really don't know why I haven't featured Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds on here before. I think it's a combination of thinking the band name was a bit naff and a bit of me being a musical snob with the 'Oasis not being cool anymore' stigma. I recently read that the name is a nod to Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and also the track High Flying Bird by Jefferson Airplane. Fair enough! All the songs from the previous album have been at Noel's pretty high standard especially the fantastic 'AKA What A Life'. This track which is the second single from up coming new album Chasing Yesterday, stands out to me because I love the bass line. I heard an interview with Noel on the radio about the song and he mentioned his collaboration with the great Johnny Marr. He said the really good bits you hear are Johnny, the rubbish bits were him. Modest much!

London Scouser:-
Gaz Coombes - '20/20'



Having been a fan of Supergrass after hearing 'Caught By The Fuzz' in the Brit-Pop era of the mid 90's I was disappointed when they split. I never really got into Gaz's first solo album, but his latest offering 'Matador' is my album of the year... Okay so 2015 is only 1 month old, but I count this as my fave album of the past 12 months inclusive. Every track is a winner, and '20/20' is probably the standout. It's almost gospel like at the start and about 2 minutes in, the drumming and acoustic guitar remind me of a Radiohead track that escapes me. Is Gaz back on form ??? 'I Should Coco'


Sfw:-
Au.Ra - Morning (2014)
2015 has been a momentous year for me. Both personally and musically things have been fantastic and I just don't want the bubble to burst. I have discovered so much great music over the last month that either I have been taking too many happy pills or it's just "one of those years". Take Sydney duo Au.Ra (a.k.a), Tim Jenkins and Tom Crandle. The duo’s latest album Jane’s Lament is released in March and as a teaser they have shared a number of tracks from the project. “Morning,” “Sun,” “Pyramid,” and “Spare The Thought”. Their Indie-fuzz style is a combination of The Charlatans (I had to keep on double checking that it wasn't Tim Burgess singing!) and My Bloody Valentine.  It is a real grower and their album is on the "must listen to" list!

Old Pa's Corner:-
Gretchen Peters - When All You Got Is A Hammer (2015)
 
Nice interesting lyrics if you listen closely, suitably dark for my taste. It is by Gretchen Peters from her new album Blackbirds (2015). It is all about Vet suicide, quite a topical subject in the USA right now and rightly so too.

Listen, how would you have coped in Vietnam or Afganastan?. I know I would have been on any local I could get my hands on, just to get me thru. Thats if I turned up in the first place of course.
This Gal has been around for some time and for some reason I have not heard about her.

She's my new girlfriend. 



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TRACKS OF THE WEEK 01/02/15 - Maurice Louca, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Gaz Coombes Au.Ra, Gretchen Peters,
4/ 5
Oleh

2 comments

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5 February 2015 at 11:47

FC - I repeat what you say I salute the Parrot, I salute the Parrot....bit of a shock when the voice comes in 'tho
SH - think you a right....Oasis not cool to like anymore...i don't care this is pretty good, nice driving bass
LS - agree when it starts up very Radion H...this is surprisingly good...did not expect that!
SFW - Interesting backing....all good this week

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10 February 2015 at 15:51

SH, I have heard this many times since and it's ok. I mean it's good in a 3 out 5 way. Much preferred What a Life.

LS, good to have you back albeit briefly. This is a really good track prob my pick of the bunch. Paranoid Android....

Sfw, like the feel of this. Will check the album out.

Old Pa, wow who'd have thought there'd be such a high suicide rate with vets. Not a bad track but I think you've written better.

Sfw

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