We are a little embarrassed to say that we’ve sat on this for a little while and so it is a little later than we would have liked getting posted on MM. American Graveyard have been described as ‘debauched Americana’ and certainly they do sing songs about boozing, fighting, women and all other kinds of trouble. However, they do it with a skill and panache … Continue reading MM Recommends…American Graveyard
If Marcus Mumford is the Doctor, then Mark Lanegan is the Master, both being truly wonderful and original incantations of the singer/songwriter model. You get my drift? Welcome to my world. This week gives me the perfect excuse to commend another Lanegan song to TFI Friday, with the release of his latest joint collaboration with Isobel Campbell, Hawk. To my little ears, his voice is … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday
Here at MM we always have a soft spot for good new singer-songwriters and we have another one for you today. Utah Green is a troubadour and underground poet, and has just released her debut album via label The Royal Potato Family. The songs on ForTune are full of gorgeous natural imagery of mountains, rivers and valleys and injected with a bold sense of humour … Continue reading Introducing…Utah Green
White Dress are led by vocalist Arum Rae and hail from Austin, Texas – she describes her music as lounge Country and noir rock and lists Mark Lanegan as a major influence…a combination that was more than enough to pique our interest. We have been listening to their self-titled EP which can make for some wonderfully tense listening – the songs are taut and quivering with … Continue reading Introducing…White Dress
Well, the family shoal is spread far and wide this Friday 13th, with me and the two youngest visiting friends in Switzerland, and MM plus the eldest in the more tropical climes of Morocco looking for wildlife, mainly of the scaly kind. I find August quite a strange month, and possibly one of my least favourites, aside from the welcome family time. (I know there’s … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday
We received this track in our in-box from a mysterious someone who may or may not have any connection with The Dead Brothers. Either way, it is quite the most tasty cover we’ve heard in a long while, Bauhaus’s stonewall goth classic Bela Lugosi’s Dead given a poisonous yet intimate makeover incorporating the doom of Wagner’s gothic and the in-bred sound of cowshit on snakeskin … Continue reading Introducing…The Dead Brothers
After two excellent 7″ singles, Austin band TV Torso are releasing a six track 12″ vinyl only release titled Status Quo Vadis. Official release date is 31st August. We’re a little late coming to the band, but our ears were pricked when we heard the excellent, hypnotic pulse and sixties harmonies of I Can See Your Face, the b side to single Days Of Being … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…TV Torso
Here we are again. A round up of our favourite postings of the month. Twenty one outstanding songs from July plus three new ones to make the perfect mix tape. From folk to garage to stoner rock and summer pop it is all here for you. Download, burn to CD, play – groove! 1) Sharon Van Etten – Love More mp3 A slow burning, mesmerising … Continue reading MM’s Best of the Month: July
We got this in our in-box the other day: Smithsonian Folkways is excited to announce our upcoming August 3rd, release, Rising Sun Melodies, featuring the music of influential bluegrass singer/songwriter, Ola Belle Reed. One of the pioneer female musicians in bluegrass, Ola Belle had a big voice and an even bigger heart, singing her story through the music of the Appalachians. We have identified your … Continue reading Time to get traditional with Ola Belle Reed
This weekend was our first visit to Truck, an intimate and friendly music festival held on a farm near Oxford. This was their 13th such event and was blessed with sunshine throughout. Mrs Mackerel and I took the three Mackerel sprats along on both days and had a thoroughly good time whether it was learning the Poyes(? – top left) , sampling the Rotary Club’s … Continue reading The Mackerels go to Truck
The Mad Mackerel 