Mad Mackerel Recommends…Dreamend

Dreamend is the main musical output of Ryan Graveface, Graveface Records’ owner/sole employee and part time guitarist for psychedelic oddballs Black Moth Super Rainbow. The new album is the fantastically titled So I Ate Myself, Bite By Bite and is the first of a promised two album set. While the songs are  wonderful in themselves catchy with lots of banjo, guitar, glockenspiel, bells and more … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Dreamend

MM’s Best of the Month: July

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

Introducing…The Moulettes

Cellist Hannah Miller, bassoonist Ruth Skipper and Ollie Austin (guitar, drums) have been playing and singing together for several years. But with the addition of violinist Georgina Leach and percussionist Rob Arcari in 2008, The Moulettes’ sinewy, melodic sound has come into true focus. Their self-titled album (due 16th August) splices together strands of classical, gypsy, jazz, rock and even some avant-garde to create a … Continue reading Introducing…The Moulettes

Time to get traditional with Ola Belle Reed

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

New video from Johnny Flynn

We have previously posted a taster track from Johnny Flynn’s new album Been Listening, and will have the pleasure of seeing him live later this year when he supports Mumford & Sons at Hammersmith. This is the animated video for Barnacled Warship, the second single to be taken from the album and is directed by Christian DeVita, lead storyboard artist on Wes Anderson’s brilliant Fantastic … Continue reading New video from Johnny Flynn

The Mackerels go to Truck

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

Recommended Freebies: Ghost Animal, King Post Kitsch, Superhumanoids, Paul & The Patients

There is an increasing amount of really good music being given away by artists via Bandcamp and Soundcloud. A couple of our more recent discoveries are below. Ghost Animal offer a twisted, haunted take on surf-pop. They have a number of free EPs available from their Bandcamp page and all are well worth adding to your iTunes library. We also have their latest track for you, In … Continue reading Recommended Freebies: Ghost Animal, King Post Kitsch, Superhumanoids, Paul & The Patients

Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday

Well, what a week. There really is nowt so funny as folk: if a few more of the adult population learned how to expunge a meaningful mea culpa once in a while, wouldn’t we all rub along a bit better? Is this resistance to accepting responsibility for one’s actions something we learn with age? Vulnerability is not a sign of weakness, nor is making the … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday

Introducing…Bridal Party

We discovered the delights of Bridal Party from the good folk over at Sonic Masala. Immediately boasting one of our favourite covers of the year so far with the Tim Burtonesque sleeve to Born Again On Dark Star, the band are offering a completely free download of the album on their Bandcamp page here. Not even asking for an e-mail address in return either. The music is a … Continue reading Introducing…Bridal Party