TRACKS OF THE WEEK 25-06-2017 - Kodaline, Radiohead, Mobb Deep

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 25-06-2017 - Kodaline, Radiohead, Mobb Deep

Heaven's Supergroup Kodaline Mobb Deep Radiohead Tracks of the Week

Tracks Of The Week

Instagram @alanreesb

London Scouser:-

Kodaline - 'Brother' (2017)

I've been a fan of Kodaline ever since they were first introduced to this blog by Shellhunter way back in 2012.

This track is really good and keeps them on form. The first version I heard on Spotify was the 'stripped back' version which I absolutely adore. The normal version features in the video, and I defy you to watch it and not have a year at least trying to poke it's way out of your eyelid.

SFW:-
Radiohead - 'Man of War' (2017)


Following my Radiohead-heavy friday which included listening to their OK-NOT-OK 20th anniversay release and watching their triumphant return to Glastonbury I felt I just had to feature oxfords finest. Man of War appears on OK-NOT-OK and is a anthemic Bond theme, in the live and let die mould.  It's surprising it was never included on the 1997 release, but then again the fantastic 'I promise' could easily have been included, so what do I know?

As a side note, did anyone else think that their Glasto appearance had the feel of a swansong?

Flycasual:-
Mobb Deep - 'Shook Ones' (1995)

Not a new track at all but this week cannot go by without the mention that Prodigy, one half of the Hip Hop group, Mobb Deep, died aged 42. Cause of death is as yet unconfirmed but it is thought that he suffered complications from a long time blood condition, sickle cell anemia. Mobb Deep are an NY band that always oozed swagger, Prodigy in particular and will always be remembered for their head bobbing Hip Hop anthem, Shook One Part II. RIP

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Otis Redding - My Girl/Van Morrison - Celtic Ray

Otis Redding - My Girl/Van Morrison - Celtic Ray

Van Morrison Wednesday Club

WEDNESDAY CLUB

MY GIRL

MY BEAUTIFUL VISION

OTIS REDDING - My Girl

MY GIRL

Old Ma was desperate for another child, after all Flycasual would soon be eight. The news was not good she was told her tubes were blocked and it would be almost impossible to have another child. Old Ma was of course devastated and decided to go to Nice France for a few months with her Mother in the forlorn hope they could do something there. I would visit every couple of weeks which was pretty easy for me as I worked for British Airways and received discount tickets.

She was only in France for less than a month when bingo she fell pregnant. I can't remember what the magic was performed by that French Doctor but it certainly did the trick. In fact she was expecting twins. It was detected that she had the possibility of a condition called toxamaplosis which was apparently passed on by cats and could be very dangerous. It would only be confirmed after the birth and the placenta was tested. It wasn't easy for Old Ma she was advised to rest as much as possible. Things got worse when she had pains and started to bleed. We found out that she had lost one of the twins which was devoured by the surviving twin All very creepy I thought

Old Ma came back to the U.K. to have the baby and eventually it all happened on the 6th March 1982 about one in the morning. We rushed to Hillingdon Hospital in Middlesex and few hours later I was there to see little Shellhunter popping out her head, she turned and looked at me and do you know what she said?

'mines a large glass of Pinot Grigio'. 

Shellhunter had well and truly arrived, she had arrived by the jet stream from beyond the moon.

I eventually went home and before I went to sleep I went to get  Van Morrison's  new album  'Beautiful Vision'  I had quick listen before falling asleep ready to later visit the hospital again.
When I returned both were doing fine, Shellhunter was on her second bottle of  Pinot  and beginning to slur, but I understood and forgave her, after all it was her first day. Old Ma said there was a surprise for me from Shellhunter under the mattress of her new cot. I returned home and there it was another copy of  Van Morrison's  new album. I never told them this story and this is the first time it has seen the light of day. I just did not want to spoil the moment. Now if I hear anything from that excellent album I of course think of  Pinot Grigio.  Naw! I think of my darling daughter Shellhunter the light of my life.

When Flycasual was born there is a bit of a coincidence. You see it was the first TV stereo broadcast and featured none other than the man himself  Van Morrison.  Well as they say  'Too Late To Stop Now!' 

See MY BOY

 

VAN MORRISON - Celtic Ray

A track from Beautiful Vision album

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TRACKS OF THE WEEK 18-06-2017 - Willie Nile, Grizzly Bear, Jealous Of The Birds, Prophets of Rage

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 18-06-2017 - Willie Nile, Grizzly Bear, Jealous Of The Birds, Prophets of Rage

Grizzly Bear Jealous Of The Birds Prophets of Rage Tracks of the Week

Tracks Of The Week

Instagram @alanreesb

Old Pa:-

Willie Nile - Blowin in The Wind

 

If the Sex Pistols covered Dylan it just might be a little like this. Here is a live version of Blowin' In The Wind by Willie Nile. He has a new album out of all Dylan Covers. Got to listen to that as I love this OTT version of the Bobby classic. Willie looks the biz in this video.

London Scouser:-
Jealous Of The Birds - 'Russian Doll's (2016)

Ok so I'm a little late with this song, but I feel it needs sharing. Irish singer-songwriter Naomi Hamilton released her debut album (Parma Violets) last year which this features on. I love her gravelly sounding voice and the song has a great rhythm to it. It also has one of my favourite lines in a few years 'Despite how much I want to, just punch you in the face... My favourite smell on this earth, is still your pillowcase' I'll be keeping an ear out for this lady, to be sure.

SFW:-
Grizzly Bear - Mourning Sound (2017)


One of the joys of getting a new motor, is the inclusion of a DAB radio. Although I listen to it at home, being able to bring balance to my mornings/afternoons by listening to 6Music (and not having to listen to the 'My Little Pony soundtrack') gives me such a musical caffeine boost.  Then to have Grizzly Bears "Mourning Sound" getting "airplay" reminds me of the joy of hearing some your favourite bands on the Radio, which, for me, seems like a long forgotten thing!

Flycasual:-
Prophets of Rage - 'Unfuck the World' (2017)

It has been a completely shit couple of months here in the UK and the wider world for that matter, so this is possibly the most appropriate track for the way I'm feeling right now. I would love these guys to be the standard bearers for a movement to...ehm well 'unfuck the world' but it's very unlikely and anyway is anger the answer....I really think not! Saying that, I'm happy to have Tom Morello, B-Real and Chuck-D delivering aural broadside all day long! New album with original material out later this year.

PS, I tried to link their web page but there's an error on it. A right wing conspiracy?

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Jim Capaldi - Eve

Jim Capaldi - Eve

Jim Capaldi Wednesday Club

WEDNESDAY CLUB

BARCELONA AIRPORT

 

JIM CAPALDI - Eve

MORROCO Part 1

We were both looking forward to our trip to Marrakech in Morocco. It was our first visit and we would be meeting up in an all exclusive Hotel with Flycasual his wife and their two sons. We had not seen the boys for over a year and we just could not wait to see them.

We had booked a flight with Vueling from Alicante to Barcelona and would have to wait a few hours for our connection, also by Vueling, to Marrakech. That flight departed from Barcelona at 21:20 and we would arrive quite late at 21:55, there was a two hour time difference between Spain and Morocco. Everything was fine and going according to plan when suddenly the  'delay' sign appeared next to our flight.

We were not too worried at first but as time passed, worry turned to deep concern. We just could not get any information and there were no Vueling agents to be seen. Finally a departure time was given. It would be unlikely we would make the connection as it was by now touch and go. I managed at last to speak to an agent and he assured me that if we missed the flight we would be put up in a Hotel and booked on the next available flight to Marrakech. This was confirmed by a steward onboard the flight.

The flight landed in Barcelona and we collected our baggage very quickly and rushed to the check in. As we suspected we were too late for the connection. We then headed for the Vueling desk in the hope of a connection tomorrow and for them to fix us with a hotel. You must be joking they did not want to know. The best they could do was booking us on the next available flight in two days time and this we would have to pay for. This was not our fault the Vueling plane was late but they just did not care. Their attitude was, too bad. We had booked a return flight Alicante to Barcelona and a separate flight but with the same airline Barcelona to Morroco. We were returning from Morocco to Barcelona by a different airline.

Now take note of this when you book travel in the future. If I had booked the flight from Alicante to Morocco, with Barcelona being a transit point, Vueling would have been responsible
for the delay and would have paid for hotel and new flight. It seems odd and unfair but that is the way it is. So beware.

We found out there was a flight by Royal Air Maroc tomorrow and rushed a considerable way to their desk. In the meantime OldMa went to the information desk to find out about Hotels. The flight would cost us an Extra 360 euros. Old Ma also was told there was Ryanaire flight early the next morning but we would have to go to another terminal. By this time it was getting late and the other Terminal was one big hassle with our cases etc. and Barcelona airport is very big and demanded a lot of walking. Old Ma is 74 years old and suffers from stress and this was all beginning to take its toll on her. We eventually got to the other Terminal only to be told that the Ryanaire flight was in two days time. We were continually getting information with people telling us basically what we want to hear. But it was continual lies.

The long treck back to Terminal 1 and Royal Air Maroc. That by this time has closed its desk. We found from the information desk that there was some airport business rooms where we could stay but were quite expensive. By this time Old Ma was finished, totally exhausted as was I. We were completely stressed out. We headed for theses rooms, more walking for my poor Old Ma who by now was near to tears. Theses rooms were full and they had nothing left. We returned to a bar cafe and ordered a welcome beer and to assess the situation we found ourselves in because of a delay by Vueling.

We had to find a hotel and my phone was playing up. Luckily Flycasual who was getting up in a couple of hours to get a flight from Gatwick to meet us in Marrakech managed to find a hotel at a cost of 180 euros for the night. I finished my beer had another and headed for a taxi to take us to the hotel.

PART 2 Next week, can it get any worse?

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TRACKS OF THE WEEK 04-06-2017 - Sink Ya Teeth, Winter Aid, The Besnard Lakes

TRACKS OF THE WEEK 04-06-2017 - Sink Ya Teeth, Winter Aid, The Besnard Lakes

Sink Ya Teeth The Besnard Lakes Tracks of the Week Winter Aid

Tracks Of The Week

Instagram @alanreesb

Flycasual:-

Sink Ya Teeth - 'If You See Me' (2017)

Someone get some mash for this banger! Straight in to my list of the best tracks of the year, it was an instant tummy tickler. The minimalist downtempo vibe, the 'Break for Love' (or the 'If Only I Could' type beat, depending which you heard first) spoken vocals and the sustained keyboards, I love all that. This is the first single from the Norwich 2 piece and I can't wait to hear more. Video is pretty good, my kind of party.......at some point in my life. 

London Scouser:-

The Besnard Lakes - 'The Divine Wind' (2017)

At first I thought this was a 'Black Books' track based on the dreamy intro. After a quick check I saw it was in fact The Besnard Lakes, a band who were first featured here on the blog by Shellhunter way back in 2013 with 'People Of The Sticks' This track builds and builds into an amazing ending that leaves me with goosebumps. It was released in March as part of a 2 track EP called 'The Besnard Lakes Are The Divine Wind'

SFW:-
Winter Aid - 'Where the Night Goes' (2017)


This is new to me and has the intensity of an Arcade Fire track - who are one of their influences. Winter Aid is the musical name for the songs by Dubliner, Shane Cullot and appears on his debut album 'The Murmur of the Land'.  It is his first major release since 2013’s slow-burner online hit The Wisp Sings EP (which has garnered 8 million streams and counting). Available via Bluestack Records and can be bought via the Winter Aid Bandcamp page. Do it!

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