FLYCASUAL'S Best of 2012

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!