Ethiopian born, but raised in Finland, singer-songwriter Mirel Wagner has picked up some very decent reviews recently for the re-issue of last year’s self-titled debut album and mentions of it being world-weary, doom-laden, sparse and skeletal was more than enough for us to check out her Soundcloud page for a listen. Stunning. Absolutely stunning. These are desolate, cracked songs of the soul. Songs of tragedy, … Continue reading Introducing…Mirel Wagner
Salt is the new album from Hoots & Hellmouth and will see a release in April. Taster single Why Would You Not Want To Go There? has a slow-burn intensity that builds in tandem with some expertly judged flourishes of piano and electric guitar. The band have drawn favourable comparisons with the Avett Brothers and Delta Spirit and you can add Dr. Dog and Blitzen Trapper to the … Continue reading Hoots & Hellmouth New Single & Album
It’s Only You, Isn’t It? is the latest single to be taken from Lissy Trullie’s self-titled debut album. It is a slick, swaggering, brash, in-your-face slice of new-wave inspired power pop that is propelled by urgent percussion and her trademark vocals that call to mind Chrissie Hynde in her pomp. The album is out on March 6th via Downtown Records. http://soundcloud.com/downtownmusic/lissy-trullie-its-only-you a Continue reading New From Lissy Trullie
Beneath Wind and Waves is Portland-based singer/songwriter Shawn Lawson Freeman recording with Jim Walker. Recently released long-player Non-etre is a cunningly crafted, mindfully performed, extended moment of clarity in the face of the unknown. Dark love, missed chances, inner silences, and joyful trials are delicately delineated in its shrewdly scribed lyrics, delivered with Freeman’s sweetly pleasuring vocals upon a classy bed of acoustic and electronic instrumentation. … Continue reading Introducing…Beneath Wind And Waves
Ben Kweller makes a welcome return to turntables and iPods with the release of his new album Go Fly A Kite (out Feb 7th). It is the follow up to his excellent 2009 offering Changing Horses. It has been a while coming, but the rather more rocking taster track Mean to Me suggests something of a different direction and that the wait will be well worth … Continue reading MM Shorts 88: Ben Kweller’s New Album
We’ve taken our sweet time to get round to listening to this EP by Bel Air. Titled Fall (see, told you) this is the third instalment in their ‘Seasons’ EP project. It is four tracks of indie rock shot through with a dose of dusty Americana. Try the energetic guitar work on the rather epic Bigfoot Camaro. Download Bel Air – Bigfoot Camaro mp3 (from … Continue reading MM Shorts 87: Bel Air
Here are the best of our January posts together with a few tasty new tracks. All in all nearly forty great tunes compiled and neatly presented in one lovely mix. As always, don’t forget to check out all our previous monthly mixes listed in the sidebar on the left. Download Night Genes – Soaring Through The Chromosomes mp3 (from Like The Blood) Infectiously catchy, military folk stomp. … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: January 2012
We have been meaning to post this up for a little while and not sure why we haven’t managed it before now. The Adultery Brothers first featured on MM back in May last year with a (now disappeared) free Bandcamp demo release called Let Me Think. They have now released an ‘official’ self-titled debut album which benefits hugely from being professionally produced. Thankfully, they have … Continue reading Debut Album From The Adultery Brothers
Eux Autres write smart, infectious garage-pop imbued with indie jangle, a bit of cool French pop and gorgeous boy/girl vocals. In fact, just close your eyes and imagine if you will, the Field Mice meeting Black Flag at a Françoise Hardy show. The songs they’d be humming together on the drive home might sound something like Eux Autres. Although they have been around since 2003, we … Continue reading New EP From Eux Autres
I See Hawks in L.A. have released five critically acclaimed albums of classic Americana since they began writing songs in their Echo Park living rooms 11 years ago. The band’s sound layers Southern California psychedelia over acoustic guitars and rich vocal harmonies. Meanwhile, fans have always treasured the Hawks’ acoustic shows, where Rob Waller’s rich voice, the band’s subtle guitar arrangements, and the dark, literate … Continue reading I See Hawks In L.A. Prep Acoustic Album
