James Vincent McMorrow’s debut record, Early In The Morning, is an album he originally self recorded, played and released in Ireland last year, and which got its US release just a few days ago. For those unfamiliar with McMorrow, the record is laced with haunting melodies, mythical storytelling, and musical structures that bring a singular and unique vision to the traditional folk style that emerged in the … Continue reading Introducing…James Vincent McMorrow
The self-titled solo album from Alexander Ebert of the wonderful Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros will be released on the 1st March on Community Music (via Vagrant) and on 28th February via Rough Trade. The album consists of ten brand new songs that Alexander wrote and composed entirely himself while touring with his main band. Alone in his room, he had his guitar, a Lowery … Continue reading Debut album from Alexander (of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros)
Having grown tired of being cross on a Friday (see various preceding TFIs – if you’re bored), I have revisited the joy of a gin and tonic, with a gimlet, of course … I have avoided reading the football press and the pressing legal case that has menaced our business, avoided the hatchet faced lying psycho at the school gate, and decided that regarding life … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (28th Jan)
A while ago we posted a track from the recent, self-titled Sonny + The Sandwitches EP, which has rapidly grown to be a massive favourite here at MM. However, it was only recently that we discovered Sonny Smith’s 100 Records project in which he created more than 100 fictional bands, then wrote songs for them and enlisted musicians (including Ty Segall and Kelley Stoltz amongst … Continue reading Introducing…Earth Girl Helen Brown (sort of)
Sweet Lights sent over this cover of Sharon Van Etten’s wonderful track One Day, which is from her (also wonderful) album Epic. Download it below and check out their Bandcamp page here for more free downloads as well as their self-titled album which is available for $8 or more. Download Sweet Lights – One Day mp3 (Sharon Van Etten cover) Continue reading Sweet Lights cover Sharon van Etten
February 22nd sees the release of the Luyas album, Too Beautiful To Work. We’re pleased to share another taste from the LP. Title track Too Beautiful To Work is futuristic pop with elastic wordplay dancing atop rhythmic keyboards and a motorik beat. The layers of sound are dense and lush, augmented by the virtuosic violin of sometimes Luya and all the time Arcade Fire member … Continue reading New track from The Luyas
Ex Libras finished off 2010 by taking their EP, Cut(s), on a mini tour of the UK. Since then they have shunned the spotlight, keen to develop their second album due for release later this year. However, they are never ones to stay quiet for too long, the band have decided to punctuate the silence between their last EP and the hotly anticipated album by … Continue reading New single from Ex Libras
Here are a few of the better/more interesting videos that have found our way into the in-box recently. First up are The Whigs, a band we’ve posted about a few times. This is the band keeping it simple in their self-directed video for So Lonely from current album In The Dark. Rodeo Massacre are a Swedish/French band in thrall to the sixties garage scene and … Continue reading MM’s Video Update
We’re not sure how to accurately describe this track from Swedish band The Skull Defekts. It’s minimal and powerful, it’s a bit raga, a bit drone, has some tribal chants, lots of repetition, it’s hypnotic, a bit trancey, some pyschedelia and seriously rhythmic! In a wholly good way it reminds us a bit of everything from the 60s to the 90s – from Cornershop to … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…The Skull Defekts
I often think, quite sadly, that the good old fashioned political protest song is a dying breed in the modern age. So it was all the more pleasing to get this short and pithy missive from Ed of MM faves and undeniably brilliant down-tempo miserabilists The War Crimes. “Blair’s appearance at the Chilcott whitewash gotta me thinkin’ about an old tune of ours. Geronimo was of … Continue reading The War Crimes Protest
