The Official 2016 Festive Fifty - January 2017
Ho Ho Ho - here we go again. An assortment of our DJs count down through the best 50 tracks from 2016 based on listener's votes - continuing the John Peel tradition.
You can hear the full results of this classic poll repeating from Christmas Day and into January, finishing off with Andrew Morrison revealing this year's winner.
We repeat it to give everyone a chance to listen in - therefore many people will be listening long after others so please keep the results to yourself for a while.
ArtistTitleRecordingRecord LabelCatalogue No.
MomusFuck This Year   
CTMFA Song For Kylie Minogue   
The FrightnrsAll My Tears   
Plume Of FeathersNo Tabs (Dandelion Radio Session)   
The Goon SaxTelephone   
Psycho ComedyI'm Numb   
ExedraElemental (Dandelion Radio Session)   
MerchandiseShadow Of The Truth   
LiquidsI Killed Donald Trump   
Team GhostToys   
ImarhanAssossamagh   
The Early YearsFluxus   
PJ HarveyThe WheelDigital LP 'The Hope Six Demolition Project'Island RecordsNone
Artykuly RolneWeze I Granaty   
Sauna YouthThe Bridge   
Sun Kil Moon And JesuGood Morning My Love   
MJ Hibbett & The ValidatorsThe 1980's How It Was   
Mixed InfantsAugust O3   
Hissing TilesGreat Moon   
She DevilsCome   
HindsEasy   
Eureka BrownWe're All Gonna Die   
Sir Robert Orange PeelThe SpiralThe Jammy Bugger Files EP  
Andrew WeatherallConfidence ManConvenanzaRotters Golf Club 
Iggy PopParaguayPost Pop DepressionLoma Vista 
The CaretakerThings That Are Transient And BeautifulEverywhere At The End Of TimeHistory Always Favours the WinnersNone
Let's Eat GrandmaDeep Six TextbookI, GeminiTransgressive 
PixiesClassic MasherHead CarrierPixies Music 
MogwaiEtherAtomicRock ActionNone
Cate Le BonWonderfulCrab DayDrag City 
Teenage FanclubThin AirHereMerge 
Future of the LeftBack When I Was BrilliantThe Peace and Truce of the Future of the LeftPrescriptions 
The Lucid DreamBad Texan   
The WolfhoundsNow I'm A Killer   
RadioheadBurn The WitchDigital LP 'A Moon Shaped Pool'XL RecordingsNone
Arab StrapThe First Big Weekend Of 2016Digital single 'The First Big Weekend Of 2016'Chemikal UndergroundNone
EagullsVelvetDigital LP 'Ullages'Partisan Records LLC / Knitting Records Inc.None
T.O.Y.SLiquorice   
CabbageDinner Lady   
Holy FuckTom Tom   
Pussy RiotStraight Outta Vagina   
Minor VictoriesCogs   
T-Shirt WeatherMy Dad's Black Polo   
Meilyr JonesHow To Recognise A Work Of Art   
HindsSan Diego   
SavagesAdore   
The Wedding PresentBroken Bow   
RadioheadDaydreamingDigital LP 'A Moon Shaped Pool'XL RecordingsNone
The Blind ShakeBroken Racehorse   
Diane Marie KlobaRescued   
The BordellosPiss On Spotify   
The Goon SaxBoyfriend   
The WolfhoundsAcross The River Of DeathDigital LP 'United Kingdom (…Or How To Come To Terms With Your Culture)'Odd Box RecordsNone
Wolf GirlMiddlesexyDigital LP 'We Tried'Odd Box RecordsNne
PJ HarveyThe Community Of HopeDigital LP 'The Hope Six Demolition Project'Island RecordsNone
PortisheadSOSYouTube video 'SOS'NoneNone
GoatAlarmsDigital LP 'Requiem'Rocket RecordingsNone
PJ HarveyThe Ministry Of DefenceDigital LP 'The Hope Six Demolition Project'Island RecordsNone
The FallWise Ol' Man (Edit)Digital single 'Wise Ol' Man'Cherry RedNone
The Wedding PresentSanta MonicaDigital LP 'Going, Going…ScopitonesNone
David BowieLazarusDigital LP 'Blackstar'ISO Records / ColumbiaNone
David BowieBlackstarDigital LP 'Blackstar'ISO Records / ColumbiaNone
Lee Adcock - January 2017
Happy new year? Yeah, if you're like me, the proper seasons greetings is more like "good riddance, old year". Granted, despite the fascists closing ranks and shutting out the rest of the non-white population, 2016 had its perks. This show embraces both the leftovers that I've been thankful to mop up, and the feast of good tidings that lie ahead.
From the past - Container challenged Demdike Stare to a vinyl-spinning showdown at the local warehouse rave party, while Nai Br.xx outclassed them both with her fine china balancing act. Outside, Henoheno and Bloodhype are picketing for peace and equality; Shampoo are down for peace, too, but instead of picketing signs, they offer surplus glitter and fake cake. Lilith Ai and Michael Cera Palin, meanwhile, discuss gender politics and zines on the sidewalk as they hawk their respective wares to curious passersby.
Fast forward on the same scene - now Sloppy Heads are playing at the warehouse and spacing out on stage; the Bastards of Fate and Tunabunny prowl the sidelines, looking for some loose board or frayed cable that could collapse the whole gig to a heap. Peaness and Idle Bloom stare each other down in a guitar-shredding face-off on the dance floor; Alexander F eggs them on as he chugs beer at the bar. Outside, Fred Thomas swaps anecdotes and fashion tips with Tim Darcy as the two sit outside their respective vans.
ArtistTitleRecordingRecord LabelCatalogue No.
Alexander FNoble Fucking SilenceAlexander FSo Sensation 
ContainerRadiatorVegetation EPDiagonal 
Demdike StareSourcerWonderlandModern Love 
PeanessSeafoam IslandsThe 100 Club Series Vol. 3 #4Odd Box 
Idle BloomInterlude / SleeperLittle DeathsFraternity As Vanity 
BloodhypeOops I Got DrunkFriends For EqualityFox Food Records 
Lilith AiRUDE GRRRL   
Nai Br.xxAdventure TimeWasted Callaway  
Sloppy HeadsI'll Take My ChancesUseless ChancesShrimper 
The BellamysI Don't Want ToEPOdd Box 
HenohenoLichenFriends For EqualityFox Food Records 
Fred ThomasOpen Letter To ForeverChangerPolyvinyl 
Michael Cera PalinIf It Makes You Happy (Sheryl Crow cover)Live On WREK (Nov. 22, 2016)  
Suggested FriendsChickenThe 100 Club Series Vol. 3 #5Odd Box 
ShampooTexacoTerrible HeatBear Kids 
Spartan Jet-PlexHold On SteadyFriends For EqualityFox Food Records 
KriegshögGeneralGeneral 7"La Vida Es Los Mus 
Bastards of FateBook of LiesSuck Out The LightHHBTM 
Awa PouloDjulauPoulo WaraliAwesome Tapes From Africa 
Tim DarcyTall Glass of WaterSaturday NightJagjaguwar 
TunabunnyIncineratePCP Presents Alice in Wonderland JrHHBTM 
Mark Whitby - January 2017
There can't be a better way to start the year than with a new session from Diane Marie Kloba, so that's exactly how we start it. In addition to that, we continue to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Festive Fifty with tracks from the only Peel Session ever to register all four of its tracks in the chart.
Other than that, it's mainly about unearthing reasons to be optimistic about the year ahead in the shape of some terrific January 2017 releases from the likes of Suggested Friends, Stef Chura, Ummagma, Cate Le Bon and Peaness. We've also got something from the forthcoming albums from Xiu Xiu and Talisman, coming out in February and March respectively.
We also find room for some great tunes that snuck out towards the end of 2016, including something from Ukraine's Koloah, Russia's Autistic Nursing Home and show favourites The Lasso from Arizona, while this month's Peel Back... section features a brace of tunes that appeared in session for John Peel twenty and thirty years ago.
ArtistTitleRecordingRecord LabelCatalogue No.
PeanessSame PlaceDownload SingleOdd Box 
Xiu XiuGet UpCD 'Forget'Polyvinyl 
Sorie KondiCongosaDownload Album 'The Freetown Tapes 2006-2016'Strut 
Pissed JeansThe Bar Is LowCD 'Why Love Now'Sub Pop 
KoloahBreathCD 'Back On Track'Hyberboloid 
Diane Marie KlobaFoggy RoadExclusive TrackNone 
The FallCruiser's Creek (Peel Session)CD Box Set 'The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004'BBC 
TalismanTalkin' RevolutionCD 'Don't Play With Fyah'Sugar Shack 
Cate Le BonRock PoolCD EP 'Rock Pool'Drag City 
The Lasso1Download Album 'Lofihifi'None 
Diane Marie KlobaMarked MapExclusive TrackNone 
PhoebePig FarmDownload EP 'Phoebe'Abnormal Broadcasting 
The FallCouldn't Get Ahead (Peel Session)CD Box Set 'The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004'BBC 
Mighty MightyBuilt Like A Car12" EP 'Built Like A Car'Chapter 22 
Dream City Film ClubSituation DesperateCD 'Dream City Film Club'Beggars Banquet 
Diane Marie KlobaPlayground Of StarsExclusive TrackNone 
American Anymen & LiseHCD EP 'Oui'None 
Stef ChuraSlow MotionCD 'Messes'Urinal Cake 
The FallSpoilt Victorian Child (Peel Session)CD Box Set 'The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004'BBC 
Anna Homler & Steve MoshierEe CheCD 'Breadwoman & Other Tales'RVNG International 
Autistic Nursing Home?????? (Track 8)Download Album '??????'None 
Suggested FriendsChickenDownload SingleOdd Box 
UmmagmaWinter Tale (A.R. Kane Mix 69 Style)Download SingleNone 
Los CampesinosBroke Up In AmaranteCD 'Sick Scenes'Wichita 
ChuckDon't You Want It (Dandelion Radio Session)Download EP 'Dandelion Radio Sessions'Audio Antihero 
Diane Marie KlobaRubber SolesExclusive TrackNone 
The FallGut Of The QuantifierCD Box Set 'The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004'BBC 
The Proper OrnamentsMemoriesCD 'Foxhole'Tough Love 
Pete Jackson - January 2017
New Year's Resolution from Pete is - more sessions in 2017 (2016 won't be difficult to beat with a total of zero). So, we start as we mean to go on with a session from one of 2016's top finds, Orange Bomb.
There's some cuts from amazing new albums by Jumble Hole Clough, Red Star Martyrs and Xantene, some retrospective action from Turkey's Baba Zulu and a 1970s exploitation movie soundtrack by Don Gere, the return of show favourites Dusty Mush and Sendelica, and the longest track to ever appear on the show so far courtesy of XAM Duo.
ArtistTitleRecordingRecord LabelCatalogue No.
Jumble Hole CloughThe Open University Presents 'Ressurection For Beginners'   
SendelicaNight Flights (Instrumental Tabla Remix)   
Orange BombThe Garden (Dandelion Radio Session)   
Orange BombThe Duke Of Kent (Dandelion Radio Session)   
New ApostlesRevenge   
Dusty MushFaux Sabotage   
XanteneMotorische   
BrokebackThe Stroller's Memorial   
Jumble Hole CloughSchools Prgoramme No. 1101 - Lissajous Curves   
Orange BombCouncil House Boy (Dandelion Radio Session)   
XAM DuoI Extend My Arms Pt I & II   
Violent PacifistsBleed   
Red Star MartyrsSuede Head   
BiznagaJovenes Oculto   
Orange BombLifetime Drunk (Dandelion Radio Session)   
Baba ZuluAsiklarin Sözü Kalir   
Tantrum DesirePump (Drumsound And Bassline Smith Remix)   
Jumble Hole CloughTributes Pour In For Co-Founder Of Shropshire Model Railway Club   
Us And ThemNext Time Around   
XpanseExtent   
Dusty MushBizarre Bizarre   
Don GereWerewolves On Wheels (Main Theme)   
Orange BombThe Best Place I've Ever Been (Dandelion Radio Session)   
Red Star Martyrs ft. Don Goliath & TallisHeathen Change Your Ways   
Rocker - January 2017
We welcome in 2017 with a packed three hour show. No sessions this month, but we do have new tracks from The Baby Seals; Tinsel Heart; Jade Imagine; The Jesus & Mary Chain; The Charlie Tipper Conspiracy vs Helen McCookerybook; Neurotic Fiction; Drahla; The Proper Ornaments; Shit Present; Real Numbers; The Drain On The Balcony; The Nightingales; The Bellamys; Chemtrails; The Blue Aeroplanes; Slowcoaches; The Pooches and many more.
There's a final track from Allo Darlin', Emmy The Great covers Leonard Cohen, there's also a new track from former Dandelion Radio DJ Marcelle. Whirling Hall Of Knives and former Superchunk singer-guitarist Mac McCaughen both welcome in the new year after their respective fashions.
There's new electronica from The Micronaut; Atlantik; Reinhard Voigt; Skream and Burial; while Kidnap Kid gives a new take on a Moby classic.
This month's "Peel's Big 45" is played in memory of Rick Parfitt, who sadly passed away last month, while this month's Educating Elizabeth record is from the recent comeback album of one of Missy Elliott's proteges finally reaching her potential as a great soul singer.
As well as little know facts we also bring you a little known fact: The Blue Aeroplanes track "Dead Tree! Dead Tree!" is about an actual dead tree, in Victoria Park, Bristol, UK.
ArtistTitleRecordingRecord LabelCatalogue No.
King CrimsonThe Court Of The Crimson King (Edit)LP - 'In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson)'IslandILPS 9111
Status QuoNightride7"Vertigo6059 114
Mac McCaughanHappy New Year (Prince Can't Die Again)Download Single  
Whirling Hall Of KnivesMMXVIRIPDownload Single  
The Jesus And Mary ChainAmputationDownload SingleADA / Warner Music 
The PoochesI Don't Eat CakeDownload LP - 'The Pooches'Lame-O Records 
Tinsel HeartWasted Yet SadEP - 'Hey Boyfriend!'  
DJ MarcelleTo The Right10" Single - 'In The Wrong Direction'Jahmoni MusicJMM 203
Allo Darlin'Wanderlust7"Fortuna Pop! / Hangover LoungeHL008
Bill Botting And The Two Drink MinimumsGracelandLP - 'Better Friends'WIAIWYA / Fika 
The Higher StateThe Worst Of Their TreasonLP - 'Volume 27'13 O'Clock Records13OC-023
Reinhard VoigtThe Singing Saw12" - 'Kontraste'KompaktKompakt 351
Shit PresentSick Of Me12" EP - 'Misery & Disaster'Specialist Subject 
BurialNightmarket12" - 'Young Death'HyperdubHDB100
The Baby SealsNipple HairDownload  
Emmy The GreatAnthem (Live)Download  
Real NumbersWordless WonderLP - 'Wordless Wonder'Slumberland RecordsSLR 223
AtlantikSnö12"Feines TierFeinestier005
FoldSomething GivesCD Single  
Fresh SnowThe Softest SectorDownload Compilation - '#More In Common'Hope Not Hate 
Blue AeroplanesDead Tree! Dead Tree!LP - 'Welcome, Stranger'  
Neurotic FictionMediatorSingleArt Is Hard Records 
DrahlaFictional DecisionDownload Single  
The Manhattan Love SuicidesLook Who's Coming To Town (Please Let It Snow)7"Snowflakes Christmas Singles ClubSnowflake13-2016
The NightingalesBooze And Broads And Beauty10" Mini-LP - 'Become Not Becoming'  
TalismanShe Look Like DubLP - 'Don't Play With Fyah'Sugar Shack RecordsFOD114V
Sky Between LeavesO.B.E. (Out Of Body Experience)10" EP - 'Klein Blues'Bandshell / Horus Music 
The MicronautTriangelLP - 'Forms'AckerACKERLP 005
The Proper OrnamantsCremated (Blown Away)LP - 'Foxhole'SlumberlandSLR 224
The Drain On The BalconyHappy ThinkingCDLP - 'Golden Hour Of'Local UndergroundLU052
ChemtrailsBurnt ShadowsDownload Compilation - 'PNKSLM Family Album 2016'PNKSLM Records 
Lady WrayDo It AgainLP - 'Queen Alone'Big Crown RecordsBC016LP
The Holiday CrowdAnything AnythingLP - 'The Holiday Crowd'ShelflifeLIFE135
SkreamYou Know, Right?12"Crosstown RebelsCRM170
Slowcoaches54LP - 'Nothing Gives'Leisure & DistrictLDLP006
The BellamysDrum MachineCassette EPOdd Box 
Jade ImagineStay Awake7"Milk! Records 
TerryDon't Say SorryLP - 'Terry HQ'  
MobyNatural Blues (Kidnap Kid Remix)DownloadBirds That FlyBTF12
The WolfhoundsMy Legendary Childhood2LP - 'Untied Kingdom (...or how to come to terms with your culture)'Odd Box Records 
Helen McCookerybook & Charlie TipperMaybe Next YearCDEP - 'Femme Fatale'Breaking Down RecordingsBreak 021
Hank Levine & His OrchestraImage (part 1)7”His Master's Voice45-POP 947
Sean Hocking - January 2017
Welcome to the Ring of Fire January show. Another year and lots of new music as well as some undiscovered gems from the last 12 months that bypassed me.
After a trawl of many other end of year lists, I can bring you music like new Chinese band the Future Orients, Chino Amobi who has taken a look at Eno and decided that it's time that ambient music is updated for a blacker more 21st century audience taking its cues from R'n'B and trap producers.
Also, yet again Burial hits the nail on the head with his latest opus, Nightmarket. How he manages to capture the feel of south London always surprises me.
Being of a certain vintage it is always a little tough to keep up with the latest 12"s designed for the dance floor so I'm glad 2016 end of year lists alerted me to the Roy of the Rovers 12" and the fabulous Acid Lancashire by Chevron.
Bands I'll be investigating more in 2017 are Scotland's Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab who remind me in spirit of the glorious Aliens and my other favorite band of the moment The Liquids from Bloomington, Illinois who for me are the most punk thing I've heard this century.
With the Tories falling at every Brexit step and the glorified real estate agent taking up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a couple of weeks, I predict we are going to in for a good year of new and exciting music in 2017.
ArtistTitleRecordingRecord LabelCatalogue No.
Roy of the RaversSuper Strength Pills!   
Joey NebulousTaylor Swift   
Goat GirlScum   
Chino AmobiLondon II   
Future OrientsRunning Digi   
RezzettYayla   
Dr Cosmo's Tape LabCity And The Stars   
WhiteStep Up   
Cocaine PissPUSSY   
LiquidsBrandon's In Jail   
ChevronAcid Lancashire   
North Sea Radio OrchestraHeavy Weather   
Omar SouleymanWarni Warni   
Ernestus, Mark vs ObadikahApril Dub   
Lung DartTuvalu   
Avalon EmersonChurch of SoMa   
KAGDiana Ross   
Roy Of The RaversEmotinium   
BurialNightmarket   
Beatrice DillonCurl   
Future OrientsMotto   
Unknown ArtistThe Blaster   
ASCrust   
OreaBiguine Inferno   
Festive Fifty Retrospective Part 2 - January 2017
A look back over the forty years of the Festive Fifty.
Mark Whitby, Lee Adcock, Pete Jackson and Rocker go through the years and each pick out a few tracks - and not just the ones from the very top.
Part 1 was in December and here is Part 2.
ArtistTitleRecordingRecord LabelCatalogue No.
Aphex TwinGirl Boy Song   
TigerThe Race   
SpiritualizedLadies & Gentlemen You Are Floating In Space   
Evolution Control CommitteeCopyright Violation For The Nation   
ClinicCement Mixer   
Atari Teenage RiotRevolution Action   
Elastica With Mark E SmithHow He Wrote Elastica Man   
Cuban BoysCognoscenti vs Intelligentsia   
SterolabFrench Disco   
My Bloody ValentineSoon   
PJ HarveyMess We're In   
BroadcastCome On Let's Go   
GreenskeepersLow and Sweet   
Ikara ColtOne Note   
Boom Bip and Dose OneMannequin Hand Trap Door   
mckluskyTo Hell With Good Intentions   
Grandmaster GarethDr Dre Buys A Pint Of Mint   
Melt-BananaShield Your Eyes, A Beast In The Well Of Your Hand   
ShitmatThere's No Business Like Propa' Rungleclotted Mashup Bizznizz   
StevelessBored   
Architecture in HelsinkiDo The Whirlpool   
AutonsSnakes In The Mirror   
BattlesAtlas   
Pete GreenEverything I Do Is Gonna Be Sparkly   
The Lovely EggsI Like Birds But I Like Other Animals Too   
Half Man Half BiscuitTook Problem Chimp To Ideal Home Show   
The BrowniesCougar   
Fuck ButtonsSurf Solar   
Best CoastCrazy For You   
GindrinkerBob Grainger: Sexual Pervert   
The Venopian SolitudeMother Nature And Father-Man Made   
BurialStreet Halo   
The ChasmsDer Eingriff Schulze   
Allo Darlin'Tallulah   
The WolfhoundsCheer Up   
The Spook SchoolI'll Be Honest   
FlowersYoung   
Pussy RiotI Can't Breathe   
The Manhattan Love SuicidesThe Blood Club