About a month ago we waxed lyrical about the remarkable debut album from melancholic Finnish songstress Mirel Wagner. Now we are delighted to be able to introduce another stunning Finnish discovery for you in the shape of Einar Lind. His album Introducing Einar Lind! was recorded entirely in his bedroom in Helsinki and apparently was released in February (though we cannot find it on sale anywhere … Continue reading Introducing >>> Einar Lind
Following on from our free SxSW sampler from American Songwriter earlier this week, we now have the latest in Insound’s free digital mixes. Their March offering has 13 tracks and includes Mind Spiders, Beach Fossils, Nite Jewel, Wild Nothing and Holograms amongst others. As an hors d’oeuvres we have two nice tasters from the mixtape below, or just head over here to get the whole … Continue reading MM Shorts 111: Insound’s Free March Mix
It is fair to say that we are more than a little excited about going to see the Felice Brothers next week in Birmingham – this being a rescheduled tour after the unfortunate cancellation of the original dates back at the tail end of 2011. To coincide with their European jaunt the band have made a new song available for free download from last year’s … Continue reading New Free Track From The Felice Brothers
Like the wonderful Benjamin Shaw here in the UK, observational singer-songwriter Justin Farren has a world view that is as skewed as it is idiosyncratic as it is unassuming. However, being from across the pond, his is a view coloured by his Californian upbringing and consequently we get 70 second songs about awkward palm trees growing out of concrete, glue guns and anxieties over asphalt burns from sex … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Justin Farren
It is nearly time for SxSW again, a time when my envy-meter overheats and I hate everyone who is going… However, that aside, American Songwriter have put together this tasty little free digital mix that includes Brendan Benson, Shelly Colvin, Wild Cub and Delta Spirit’s brilliant new track California amongst others. One of our picks from the the indomitable Johnny Corndawg is below, but you can … Continue reading American Songwriter SxSW Free Sampler
A new album from Joe Pug is just cause for celebration round these parts and The Great Despiser will be released on April 24th. The first taste and following on from Hymn numbers 35 and 101, which have already seen daylight on his Nation of Heat EP, is Hymn #76. It features in this preview video for the album and provides plenty of reasons to … Continue reading MM Shorts 110: First Taste of Joe Pug’s New Album
Slept in this week. Can you tell? Went to London on a (TFI) Friday to meet up with big bro. Looked at some rather amazing paintings, drank a lot of red wine, slept through my train stop and woke up somewhere as sleepy as me. Oops. Just me and a bevvied up hoodie asking me for some more drink. As if. Fortunately, and quite unbelievably … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (on Saturday): 3rd March
Despite a name that rhymes almost too perfectly with the UK’s forces sweetheart of the second world war, Lera Lynn is someone who inhabits an altogether different niche. First coming to prominence with her debut album Have You Met Lera Lynn? released in the spring of 2011, it was a record of plain speaking and cut-throat honesty that showcased her sultry voice to perfection as … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Lera Lynn
Coming via Clash Magazine, the monthly free digital samplers from Cargo Records are always an eclectic mix and a delight to download and explore. And so it is with the latest one. Featuring twelve tracks and showcasing the talents of amongst others The Men, The Wedding Present, Robert Pollard, That Fucking Tank and Caretaker. We’ve included two of our favourites below in the shape of the back … Continue reading Free Cargo Collective Digital Sampler
The warm, heartfelt folk stylings of The Great Lake Swimmers is a lovely thing to behold and the band have made available an album of stunning live songs recorded at a Royal Canadian Legion pub – dubbed The Legion Sessions. They chose this relaxed, informal setting to capture many of the new songs from latest album Lost Channels and it stands as an intimate and … Continue reading Great Lake Swimmers: Free Album Download
The Mad Mackerel 