New Album From Blackout Beach

Carey Mercer’s Blackout Beach project will release a new album, Fuck Death via Dead Oceans on November 15th (14th in the UK). His description of the record is most illuminating. “The record is a sibling to the last Blackout Beach record, Skin of Evil. But the longing in Fuck Death is not romantic; these are deserter’s songs, coward’s songs. I am all for reassessing cowardice. … Continue reading New Album From Blackout Beach

The End of The Road Festival: A Review

It is true to say that our first visit to the End of the Road Festival last year was without doubt the best music event (bar SxSW) we had ever attended. A superb line-up, brilliant layout, and festival goers who were there for the music rather than the ‘experience’ ensured three days of superb entertainment. It meant we bought tickets immediately they went on sale … Continue reading The End of The Road Festival: A Review

Free End of the Road Festival Mix

Today Barry-Sean and I head off, pop up tents in tow, to the marvellous End of the Road festival in lovely Dorset. Once again sold out, last year’s inaugural trip turned into the best festival visit we’ve ever had, and we’re looking forward to more of the same over the next few days. Even the weather forecast is good! Once again we have a huge … Continue reading Free End of the Road Festival Mix

Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: August 2011

Our usual round up of the very best of our August posts and some new tracks too. Dip in – every one a winner as they say. Download The Cabin Dogs – High Falls mp3 (from Midnight Trail) Invites you to kick off your boots, pour a stiff one and sit on the porch to watch the sun go down – a song for when you’re busy … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: August 2011

Gobble Gobble Become Born Gold

Noisy noise-pop duo Gobble Gobble have reincarnated as Born Gold, but have retained their dizzying, disorientating take on the world with digital samples, choppy guitars and distortion all to the fore. This is previous GG track, the anthemic Wrinklecarver given the BG treatment. Or something like that…from new album Bodysongs. Pre-order from Insound here. Download Born Gold – Wrinklecarver mp3 (from Bodysongs) Continue reading Gobble Gobble Become Born Gold

Mad Mackerel Recommends…Rat Columns

Rat Columns are releasing a 7″ containing four songs of dark, ill- fitting pop wanderings and mangled noises. Or is it four tracks of innocence, melancholy, and melody with a satisfying pop finish? Listen to Darkness and download I Wonder – then decide for yourself. The single is out on a pressing of 500 copies only, available to order from label Smart Guy Records a Download Rat … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Rat Columns

Hot Head Show Release Debut Album

We’ve been sat on this for a little while trying to work out how best to describe it, and while we’ve not found a definitive answer to that conundrum, it was no good reason to not post about Hot Head Show. The trio are experimental certainly, but that’s like simply saying the sun is quite warm. They are hugely unsettling one moment and sweetly melodic … Continue reading Hot Head Show Release Debut Album

Beak> Cover Pink Floyd For Mojo

Mojo magazine has a free cover disc this month revisiting and re-imagining some classic Pink Floyd in the shape of Return To Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here Again. They asked a range of contemporary artists to celebrate the forthcoming Pink Floyd album reissues by re-recording the tracks for the CD and also an exclusive version of the record that comes in a limited … Continue reading Beak> Cover Pink Floyd For Mojo

Mad Mackerel’s Regular Round Up

The tunes are coming thick and fast again at the moment and keeping up is proving almost impossible. Here are a few of the tracks from the web and our inbox that have caught our ears over the past few days. First up Okkervil River who are riding high on the critical acclaim for the release of their latest full-length album I Am Very Far. … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Regular Round Up