Wednesday Means Seven Of The Best: Do Believe The Hype?

Here are a few streams of some of the latest singles and tracks to be creating a buzz round these parts. Worth the hype or not…you decide! This is Anthem from King Tuff’s self titled album – full-on glam rock revival anyone? Order the record and/or grab yourself a free download of Bad Thing from SubPop here. a This is Husbands by Savages, part of … Continue reading Wednesday Means Seven Of The Best: Do Believe The Hype?

The Handsome Family: Live Review

The Handsome Family || Bullingdon Arms, Oxford || May 25th 2012 You never quite know what you’re going to get at a Handsome Family gig. The venue was an old familiar haunt, quite cataclysmically changed from yesteryear – and not in an altogether good way. (Though thankfully, the Back Room of the Bully now has air con, which on a sweltering Friday evening in May … Continue reading The Handsome Family: Live Review

The Inner Flame: A Tribute To Rainer Ptacek

Fire Records are reissuing the complete works of Rainer Ptacek, the much beloved slide guitarist from Tucson, Arizona, who originated Giant Sand’s sound from the band’s inception, as well as creating many remarkable recordings as a solo artist and with his own band, Das Combo, before succumbing to brain cancer on November 12 1997. The reissues start with The Inner Flame, a compilation of accomplished … Continue reading The Inner Flame: A Tribute To Rainer Ptacek

MM Shorts 164: Free Album from Bison

The latest free offering via Noisetrade is Bison’s superb album of rootsy, backyard folk, Quill. Released last year, it is expansive with haunting melodies and complex arrangements – think The Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes, The Civil Wars and the Decemberists for reference points. They call it mountain chamber music apparently. Grab the whole album for free via Noisetrade just by clicking here. Download Bison – Switzerland … Continue reading MM Shorts 164: Free Album from Bison

Mojo’s Free Yellow Submarine Covers Disk

This month, Mojo magazine once again revisits a classic album with the help of some of today’s best artists. The Yellow Submarine film was released on July 17, 1968 and the Beatles soundtrack album followed six months later. In 1999, the Yellow Submarine Songtrack, a collection of music from that era, was released and it is this track listing that has mainly driven Yellow Submarine … Continue reading Mojo’s Free Yellow Submarine Covers Disk

Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (25th May)

Yes, Spring has finally sprung. The soporific effect of heat and a spin of Sigur Ros from Steve Lamaq, saw me shut my eyes quicker than you can say “99 cornet, please”. It was only 4.45pm too. It took the premier cat to launch himself from a great height, skimming past my outstretched legs on the sofa, to force open one eye. Nevermind, earlier I … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (25th May)

Mega Round Up Time

Here is a collection of tracks that have found their way into our in-box or on to our iTunes one way or another recently, and which deserve far more time and effort spent on them than we are currently able to give. Plenty to soundtrack your Friday with. Brooklyn’s indie pop three-piece Violens have just released their second LP, True, on Slumberland Records. The album’s … Continue reading Mega Round Up Time

Introducing >>> The Broken Needles

Australian band The Broken Needles debut album, Terra Nullius, is a ghost story about escaping from their grim, desolate hometown in North Queensland. It is a journey through the seedy seaside caravan parks, salt flats, flood plains, cyclone damage and sordid characters that dot the landscape, and it is delivered with a mix of country balladry and spit ‘n’ snarl punk rock that is a little like Tom Waits fronting the Mekons. It is everything … Continue reading Introducing >>> The Broken Needles

Dubious Ranger Release Found Recordings From The Panda Valley Mining Company c.1931

We’ve already posted about Dubious Ranger’s new album Found Recordings From The Panda Valley Mining Company c.1931, and the record was officially released earlier this week. It is a wonderfully diverse and eclectic mix of tunes and influences that never once crowds out or overwhelms the top-notch songwriting that sits proudly at the heart of this album. To celebrate, here is a third track from it, the gloriously … Continue reading Dubious Ranger Release Found Recordings From The Panda Valley Mining Company c.1931