The press ‘blurb’ we receive at MM can often be, as you might imagine, somewhat repetitive. The Arcade Fire and Fleet Foxes references seem still to be de rigueur as it were – whether it bears any resemblance to the music or not. Not so with JP Whipple… “Things had gone to black. The money ran out. Prospects were grim. I was (and probably still am…) … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…JP Whipple
Here is an animated video of eggs committing various murders and other violent acts to the tune of The Scintillas Say What You Like. We also have Harry George Johns’ new video for Tie Your Own Noose featuring a street preacher having a revelation of his own, and some classic space-rock psychedelia with accompanying b&w movie monsters from Ride Into The Sun. Lastly watch the video … Continue reading Videos of the Day: The Scintillas || Harry George Johns || Ride Into The Sun || Straw Bear
The Oyster Murders will be releasing Lost to the Birds as a single. Originally available on the US version of their album Winter of the Electric Sun, the song originally started out with an acoustic guitar and an ambient chorus which contained the title lyrics. They ended up taking these lyrics out of the chorus when they started singing a more upfront melody in rehearsal. … Continue reading New Single From The Oyster Murders
Chris T Popper reviews Strand of Oaks at St. Pancras Old Church, London, Friday 22nd February 2013 Apparently the oldest place of Christian worship in England (it has believed to have existed since AD 316) St Pancras Old Church in central London was a beguiling if somewhat confusing venue for a music gig. Convinced we were in the wrong place we had almost turned to … Continue reading Live Review: Strand Of Oaks
Videos to enjoy today come from Scarlett Parade and their acoustic version of the achingly beautiful Call The Waves, (then click through on the Soundcloud link to grab a download of the equally good March of the Fallen). We have rootsy Americana from Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer with a video for a stunning live version of their standout track Serotiny (May Our Music), then … Continue reading Videos of the Day: Scarlett Parade || Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer || Valerie June || Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside
Watch a brilliant video from Field Report to accompany their track I Am Not Waiting Anymore, Crushed Beak’s new video for their track Breakdown, and Esmé Patterson’s video for My Young Man featuring another MM fave in Nathaniel Rateliff. Finally we have the soaring indie-pop of Scottish six piece The Maginot Band and their new video for recent single Sombre Fayre. . . . Continue reading Videos of the Day: Field Report || Crushed Beaks || Esmé Patterson || The Maginot Band
Videos to enjoy from local folk heroes Stornoway, singer-songwriter John Smith with a track from upcoming album Great Lakes, and blues-punk par excellence from the Burning Condors with their track Honey Trap. a a Continue reading Videos of the Day: Stornoway || John Smith || Burning Condors
New York based folk/rock duo The Whispering Tree will release The Escape EP on April 16, the follow up to their excellent debut full length album of 2010, Go Call The Captain. Moody and introspective, they are offering a free download of No Love, which overflows with the imagery and storytelling that are the hallmark of the band’s sound. Continue reading MM Shorts 316: The Whispering Tree
The last few months have not been good for Harry George Johns. On his Bandcamp page a few sparse words sum it up: “Winter 2011. I had an actual breakdown. Homeless, jobless, girlfriendless; I stayed on my friends’ sofa and borrowed food and some microphones and made Post-Breakdown Blues” And so he did. Opening with Drink Myself To Sleep and closing with the stunning Hospital Blues, the scene … Continue reading MM’s 5:1 Interview No 7: Harry George Johns
Following on the widespread acclaim for last year’s Young Man In America, Anais Mitchell’s new album, Child Ballads, which she recorded with friend and collaborator Jefferson Hamer, is a collection of traditional songs from our very own British Isles. Named after their 19th century collector, Francis James Child, and already picking up some very decent reviews, it is out in March. Have a listen to the … Continue reading MM Shorts 307: Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer
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