Efren’s bold blend of Americana, rock and folk with psych overtones has long been a favourite on MM since we discovered their Always A Bleeder EP back in 2010. Since then we have had the great pleasure of acquainting ourselves with their debut album Rise On Up And Melt which saw a release last summer and now they are back with a new album Write … Continue reading New Album From Efren
We have waxed lyrical a few times on MM about the sometimes fractured and ghostly and other times expansive and distorted Americana of Damon Moon & The Whispering Drifters. In fact, Lungs, Dirt, & Dreams is proving to be a real favourite of ours this year. Good news then that we can bring you another track from it, this time it is the solitary slow wind … Continue reading MM Shorts 167: Another From Damon Moon
Here are three excellent and completely free label samplers that are well worth getting your grubby mitts on. The first comes from the wonderful Saddle Creek label and their thirteen track Summer Sampler 2012 includes offerings from The Mynabirds, Cursive, Tim Kasher, Bright Eyes and Maria Taylor. The second is from Jeffery Drag Records and is a collection of ten tracks from some top-notch garage rock’n’rollers, … Continue reading Free Label Samplers From Saddle Creek, Jeffery Drag & Bridgetown
Ben Howard has become a particular favourite of Mrs Mackerel’s since the release of his excellent Every Kingdom album last year. Despite its clear folk footprint, it proved him to be a gifted and exceptional singer-songwriter with a core of steel rather than anything more fey or whimsical. We are delighted to be able to bring you two new videos for Only Love and from … Continue reading Ben Howard – New Videos & Signed Giveaway Competition
Another crackerjack month of new tunes on MM, all lovingly compiled and packaged up for you in one sweet playlist ready to download. Here are 33 of our favourite tracks from our May postings and 6 new songs too. No need to thank us. Download Virals – Gloria mp3 (from Coming Up With The Sun EP) Shines bright with an insanely hooky vocal and charged guitar riffs, … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: May 2012
Red Cosmos is the work of one wonderfully named Kim Tortoise and when we received her CD, There And Back, in the post with a most engaging handwritten note it created the initial impression of a gentle soul full of whimsy with a floaty dress and an acoustic guitar. Hmm. Not quite. Released a month or so ago, this is an album that is overflowing … Continue reading Introducing >>> Red Cosmos
Here are a few streams of some of the latest singles and tracks to be creating a buzz round these parts. Worth the hype or not…you decide! This is Anthem from King Tuff’s self titled album – full-on glam rock revival anyone? Order the record and/or grab yourself a free download of Bad Thing from SubPop here. a This is Husbands by Savages, part of … Continue reading Wednesday Means Seven Of The Best: Do Believe The Hype?
The Handsome Family || Bullingdon Arms, Oxford || May 25th 2012 You never quite know what you’re going to get at a Handsome Family gig. The venue was an old familiar haunt, quite cataclysmically changed from yesteryear – and not in an altogether good way. (Though thankfully, the Back Room of the Bully now has air con, which on a sweltering Friday evening in May … Continue reading The Handsome Family: Live Review
Fire Records are reissuing the complete works of Rainer Ptacek, the much beloved slide guitarist from Tucson, Arizona, who originated Giant Sand’s sound from the band’s inception, as well as creating many remarkable recordings as a solo artist and with his own band, Das Combo, before succumbing to brain cancer on November 12 1997. The reissues start with The Inner Flame, a compilation of accomplished … Continue reading The Inner Flame: A Tribute To Rainer Ptacek
The Mad Mackerel 