Brown Bird’s 2009 album The Devil Dancing was an unheralded, under-rated classic bursting with sparse, haunted folk tunes, outlaw country and gypsy riots. In the brilliant and menacing Wrong Black Mare was a tune that turned up in plenty of the MM contributors end of year best of lists. So cue much rejoicing and metaphorical high fives when we discovered Brown Bird had a new 4 track … Continue reading New from Brown Bird…MM Rejoices
Here is Rotten To The Core from the Builders & The Butchers latest excellent effort, Dead Reckoning. It is the song that is, to us here at MM at least, the rollicking, hollering centrepiece of the record. The song that calls to mind the blood and thunder preachers in dusty pulpits, the hellfires and the brimstone, and the intense fury of both the righteous and … Continue reading More from the Builders & The Butchers
Rowdy London five-piece The Amusements have released debut digital single The Trip – with loud-as-fuck guitars punctuated with a catchy keyboard riff you can strut to – the track packs a crippling punch to the senses in its short 1.56 running time. The tune is firmly rooted in its influences from 60s-psych garage to early 80s hardcore, with singer Luke Barshack’s erratic, growling vocals recalling … Continue reading Introducing…The Amusements
Back in June last year we posted about Alegrias, an exceptional album from Howe Gelb with his Band of Gypsies that was recorded atop a Cordoba roof in the Andalucía sun. Originally only available in Spain, where the record enjoyed considerable success due in part to the wondrous contribution from Flamenco guitar virtuoso Raimundo Amador, Fire Records will be releasing the album in the USA in May. … Continue reading Howe Gelb & A Band Of Gypsies to release Alegrias in the USA
They may look like shy bookish types, but the ten librarians of the baroque indie pop group Michael J Epstein Memorial Library know how to make some noise. Their songs are sweet with tinges of darkness and bring to mind Magnetic Fields and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Michael J Epstein Memorial Library’s, Volume One, which is full of cleverly written tunes taken from … Continue reading Introducing…Michael J Epstein Memorial Library
Check out the new video for the new Two Wounded Birds track called All We Wanna Do being released on limited edition 7″ vinyl and digital download, April 18th via Moshi Moshi. a Visit their MySpace here and grab the brilliant free track from their previous EP below. Download Two Wounded Birds – Night Patrol mp3 (from Keep Dreaming Baby EP) Continue reading New Video from Two Wounded Birds
Coming Home is a solo outing from Denmark’s Maggie Bjorklund, released via the excellent Bloodshot Records. The album is a wonderful mix of instrumentals and collaborations with other artists such as Rachel Flotard, Jon Auer and best of all, Mrs Mackerel’s fave, the gravel voiced crooner Mark Lanegan. Meanwhile more Mrs M faves in the shape of Joey Burns and John Convertino of Calexico provide … Continue reading Introducing…Maggie Bjorklund
For anyone who has been with MM since the early days you may recall our affection for a band from Montreal called My People Sleeping. They were one of the first bands we posted about, and their brilliant song Seahorse ranked highly in our top ten of 2008. Sadly the band is no more, but former member James Irwin will be releasing a solo album on May … Continue reading Introducing…James Irwin
Melbourne Australia’s Boomgates could be called a garage rock supergroup including as they do members of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, The Twerps and Dick Diver. They have a new 7″ coming on the 19th April on SmartGuy Records – their second outing to date. The two-song platter is limited to 500 copies and is pressed on black vinyl. Check it out below as well as … Continue reading Introducing…Boomgates
Through The Floor is the second single to be released from Crystal Stilts hotly anticipated second album In Love With Oblivion. Taking a more conventionally “pop” tack than Shake The Shackles, Through The Floor is a two-and-a-half minute thrill ride reminiscent of late Velvet Underground or perhaps some of those legendary early Creation label singles. Watch the explosion of colours in the video and download … Continue reading Crystal Stilts New Single & Video
The Mad Mackerel 