We have to confess it was Mrs Mackerel’s ears that pricked up yesterday when listening to 6 Music and Kurran & The Wolfnotes came on. Their latest single Your Four Limbs immediately sets them apart from the busy Brit-folk scene that so many are trying to inhabit these days with plaintive, resigned lyrics and a darker undertone than most can manage. A sinuous melody and … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel Recommends Kurran & The Wolfnotes
American four-piece Filthybird have been putting the finishing touches to their brilliant new album, Songs for Other People. The follow-up to the lauded Southern Skies, Filthybird’s latest record reveals an astounding depth, effectively marrying the lilting vocal melodies of Renee Mendoza with Brian Haran’s layered guitar atmospherics and anchored by a powerfully inventive rhythm section, these songs are both soulful and dreamy, familiar and fresh. … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Filthybird
While we think that we’re not great lovers of covers here at MM, I’m beginning to suspect that this is actually a pretty long way from the reality of things. Especially, as just lately, there seems to have been a plethora of excellent cover versions hitting our iTunes playlists. So here are a few that we’ve picked up from over the net and fellow bloggers … Continue reading Cover Me…I’m Going In
We’ve long been admirers of San Franciscans The Fresh & Onlys and their catchy, jangly, garage-pop. They’ve finished recording new album Play It Strange which gets a release on In The Red on October 12th. Here are a couple of taster tracks from the album – as good as ever and certainly makes the full length something to look forward to… Visit their MySpace here. Download … Continue reading Fresh & Onlys Ready New Album
Welcome to our longest ever post, and a whole bucketful of great songs. Last weekend, Barry-Sean came with me to the End of the Road Festival and outside of the musical orgy that is SxSW, we agreed it is the best festival we’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. In fact he’s been writing about it ever since. Here’s what he has to say…. Having … Continue reading The End of the Road Festival – A Review
Suuns play blistering, dark electro and arena-sized psych complete with droning guitars and pulsing synths that call to mind the best of Suicide, Clinic and Can, and all simultaneously delivered with a youthful swagger and an assured restraint. Their forthcoming debut album is called Zeroes QC, and is out on Secretly Canadian in October (early 2011 for the UK). The band have made the second single, Up Past … Continue reading Introducing…Suuns
We were delighted this morning to find an e-mail from Emily Reo in our in-box. She is one of our very favourite experimental/ambient/darkpop songstresses, and had dropped us a line to send us a brand new collaboration with the highly regarded Blackbird Blackbird. It was a combination to whet the appetite: sampling her unique vocal style and phrasing and then looping it firmly over spectacular icy beats and … Continue reading New from Blackbird Blackbird featuring Emily Reo
Just by coincidence it seems we’ve been sent a few videos lately that have caught our eyes (and our ears), so as well as our Caitlin Rose post of yesterday, we thought we’d share these with you too. First up is psychedelic stoners The Black Angels in lighter mood with their video for Telephone. It is from new album Phosphene Dream which was released today. Download The … Continue reading Some more videos to enjoy
If there is anyone out there still to be seduced and captivated by the textured sounds and stunning vocals of Sharon Van Etten then despair not, help is at hand. Here is the slow burning, and overwhelmingly alluring Don’t Do It from her new album Epic via Ba Da Bing Records. Visit her MySpace here. Our US friends can pre-order from Amazon here. You can also download … Continue reading New from Sharon Van Etten
Polaroid In Reverse is the title of a new 7″ limited edition lathe cut and digital release from Roger, Roll. He simply describes them as a little hazy and mellow, but also have a little bit of pop to them. And indeed they do, in fact Picture Perfect is a lovely treat, an understated indie-pop gem in the spirit of James Yuill or Chad VanGaalen … Continue reading Introducing…Roger, Roll
