We have long been fans of the criminally underrated and under-appreciated Water Liars, so it is a delight to discover Andrew Bryant (one half of the duo) will release a solo album A Meaningful Connection on the 9th July. If the album’s got a thesis, it’s this from Drink the Pain Away: “Saying everything is fine when everything feels fucked up is just a lie … Continue reading New Solo Album from Andrew Bryant of Water Liars
Bristol country rockers Langkamer are back with a raucous new single, The Ugliest Man In Bristol. Happily dispelling any notion of the group mellowing out during their downtime, this track brings a new fury to their unique blend of Americana and indie rock. It’s a runaway train of country punk that veers between lyrical earworms and instrumental mayhem without a moment’s rest. Listen below. Continue reading Langkamer – The Ugliest Man In Bristol
I have to confess that WordPress have changed their editor for posting content and I absolutely loathe and hate it. It absolutely takes away any ounce of enjoyment from the process and basically has been the reason for my lack of posts recently. I hear a song – think great, I’ll share it – then think I can’t face doing it right now on the … Continue reading Some Tunes (at last)
Elephant Micah, the project of songwriter-producer Joseph O’Connell, has shared the new song Return To The Abandoned Observatory, the final advance single from the band’s new album, Vague Tidings, due out on the 9th April, via Western Vinyl. Of the track—a captivating, gently crooked waltz—O’Connell says, “In this song, a group of astronomers are having their last glimpse at the night sky. It’s bittersweet. The … Continue reading Elephant Micah – Return To The Abandoned Observatory
Elephant Micah has shared a new song, the spellbinding and fiddle-laced Eastern Callers, taken from his new album, Vague Tidings, due out on the 9th April via Western Vinyl. It follows on from the gorgeous, slow-burning first single Glacier Advisors. Vague Tidings is an album of stark uncanny Americana. In style, its eight songs follow a switchback path between foggy incantations and mountain anthems. Made with … Continue reading Elephant Micah – Vague Tidings
Minor Moon, the Chicago-based cosmic Americana group led by multi-instrumentalist Sam Cantor, have an upcoming third full length album Tethers, out March 26 via Ruination Record Co. & Whatever’s Clever. Having previously shared the unhurried No Lightning Fix, the band have now offered up a second taste from the album in the shape of the simmering Under An Ocean Of Holes. So, if a healthy amount of Midwestern … Continue reading Minor Moon – Tethers
Busted Jukebox, Volume 3 from MM faves Shovels & Rope came out digitally at the end of last weekend via Dualtone. Physical copies will see a release on the 30th April. Amongst the covers on the record is this beauty – the Beach Boys’ In My Room, for which the duo are joined by the wonderful Sharon Van Etten. Absolute gem of a cover. You … Continue reading Shovels & Rope Cover The Beach Boys
Austin, Texas’s Sun June have shared Everything I Had, the last single from upcoming album Somewhere, out 5th February via Run for Cover and Keeled Scales. Beautifully meditative, muted, sparse guitars play around the vocals of Laura Cowell as she pines “Everything I had, I want it back“. It is a perfect showcase for the gentle sway of their country leaning pop songs seeped in melancholy, as … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends… Sun June
If ever there was an album that you wish didn’t need to be released then it is J.T., Steve Earle & The Dukes’ deeply affecting record of his son Justin Townes Earle’s songs together with one original, the moving Last Words. Earle said making the record “wasn’t cathartic as much as it was therapeutic. I made the record because I needed to. It’s the only way … Continue reading Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T.
Here are the annual choices of the past year’s top tuneage from the admirable Chris T Popper. 10. Protomartyr – Processed By The Boys The first song from their new album Ultimate Success Today was everything I’d been waiting for. Loud reverb with a clumping sense of doom from the ever reliable Joe Casey. He’s singing about a future so scary it can’t be that … Continue reading Chris T Popper’s Favourite Tunes of 2020
The Mad Mackerel 