Last week Jagjaguwar announced the first details of Small Black’s first full-length album New Chain due out Oct. 26 in the U.S. and Oct. 25 in the U.K. They have now released the first single Photojournalist for download. The song begins with a lilting sliding beat before dropping into a gorgeous moment of ambient wash. As the lyrics kick in with lead singer Josh Kolenik … Continue reading Small Black release first track from New Chain
If we’re being honest, until recently the appeal of Ariel Pink had passed us by somewhat…call us heathens or all manner of other things, but we couldn’t quite fathom the exulted status and unequivocal praise they seemed to garner from every quarter. However, we have overcome our prejudices to become big fans of the Before Today album and particularly Revolution’s A Lie which is one … Continue reading New Tracks from Ariel Pink
We received an e-mail from a band called Psychobuildings. They are a three piece from Brooklyn and look pretty cool. We liked the cover art a lot, and we like the song, Terror Management a whole lot too. It is a welcome addition to the ever popular chilled, synth-led lo-fi stable, and is also a welcome addition to that summer playlist as the sun melts … Continue reading Introducing…Psychobuildings
The latest monthly sampler from Insound is now available. It is a collaboration with NYC’s Seaport Music promoting their free summer shows. The mix features Avi Buffalo, Best Coast, Bear In Heaven, Zola Jesus, Woven Bones and plenty more besides. In other words, the usual good stuff. And all for free if you sign up with an e-mail address. As always, only available for a … Continue reading Latest Free Insound Sampler Available
Here is our regular monthly round up of 25 of the best tracks posted on Mad Mackerel in the past month, and three new gems too. That’s a more than decent mixtape sorted even if we were crap in the World Cup! The Futurebirds – Battle For Rome mp3 Glorious, up-tempo alt-country gem that recalls Neil Young at his finest Puro Instinct – California Shakedown … Continue reading MM’s Best Of The Month: June
Von Haze play a dark-tinged, sultry psychedelia that has echoes of the goth giants of yesteryear such as The Cure, but also has its feet planted firmly in the current, also calling to mind indie darlings such as XX. Swirling, gloomy synths, staccato drum beats and minimal downbeat vocals are all married together to create an atmosphere of foreboding and drug-induced fatalism. Rather like the … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Von Haze
The Vicious Guns are a Canadian duo featuring Jennie Vicious (vocals, bass) & Richey Vicious (guitar, vocals). Their music is characterized by lead female vocals, male harmonies, and impeccably clean, overdriven guitar tones against a backdrop of synthetic drums and samples. The two are influenced by a mutual love for political punk, glam, brit pop, and new wave. If you’re a fan of The Jesus … Continue reading Introducing…The Vicious Guns
We may be late in coming across Buffetlibre and Amnesty International Catalunya’s Peace Project, but that’s no reason not to give it a bit more publicity. Basically, for a donation of anything upwards of five Euro’s (that’s about £4 or $6) you get to download 180 tracks from artists all around the world. It covers all the continents and features artists from more than fifty … Continue reading Buffetlibre & Amnesty’s Peace Project – 180 tracks for not very much
Here is our usual end of the month round up of the very best tracks posted on Mad Mackerel, with a couple of new ones too. A perfect mixtape for May. Wilderness of Manitoba – Hermit mp3 Intimate and gorgeous, with haunting guitar lines and beautiful harmonies. Buffalo Moon – Beach Boy mp3 Summery pop, beach references, breezy beats and sweet lounge vocals. Sun Kil … Continue reading MM’s Best Of The Month: May
Being laid up on a week’s bed rest means at we’ve at least managed to finally get our longstanding idea for a blog/website for wannabe writers up and running. Roundthecampfire.wordpress.com is a new idea where we regularly give you a couple of titles, and you use that stimulus and your imagination to write something. You can write whatever you like, in any genre and any … Continue reading Check out our new site…for writers
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