Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (6th January)

Well I started off writing the old looking forward, looking back, eating less, drinking less, spending less routine. But then I thought bollocks, why state the obvious when I never do anyway? January comes around with increasing swiftness the older I get, so it’s with a wince of mental planning and a little bit of trepidation that I look forward to this year’s thrills and … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (6th January)

Mega Video Round-up

In all the craziness of Christmas our in-box got overwhelmed with videos from all sorts of interesting folk. So here’s your chance to give them a viewing and pick up one or two nice mp3s. Those Lavender Whales have come up with a novel way of showcasing their track Growth In Question from their new record, Tomahawk Of Praise, which is due for release on … Continue reading Mega Video Round-up

Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: December 2011

Here is our final monthly Best Of mix of songs from 2011 – despite all the Christmas fayre on offer, there were still a whole plethora of cracking new tracks to enjoy, and as always we’ve gathered the best of our December posts into one lovely mix for you with a couple of new tracks to sample too. Don’t forget to check out all our … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best Of The Month: December 2011

Mad Mackerel’s Albums Of The Year: Part 3 (10 – 1)

And so here we have our top ten albums of the year. To be honest the order is fairly arbitrary – on another day it could be a completely different as really these ten records have so little between them in turns of the pleasure and enjoyment they gave us. If you’ve not acquainted yourselves with any of these then we’re pretty sure you won’t … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Albums Of The Year: Part 3 (10 – 1)

Mad Mackerel’s Albums Of The Year: Part 2 (30 – 11)

Carrying on from where we left off yesterday… 30 Josh T Pearson – Last Of The Country Gentlemen Download Josh T Pearson – Woman When I’ve Raised Hell…(Alternative Version) mp3 a 29 Real Estate – Days Download Real Estate – Green Aisles mp3 (from Days) Download Real Estate – It’s Real mp3 (from Days) a 28 Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest Download Gillian Welch – The Way It Goes … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Albums Of The Year: Part 2 (30 – 11)

Mad Mackerel’s Albums Of The Year: Part 1 (50-31)

So, as the New Year approaches, here are our favourite albums of 2011 for your consideration. Feel free to dispute, argue, or otherwise put us right because, if nothing else, music is as about as subjective topic as it is possible to get. Some of these may not be the “best” albums of the year as far as the critics are concerned, but that matters … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Albums Of The Year: Part 1 (50-31)

MM Shorts 65: Meryll

Meryll is the project of Andrew Hernandez (who is also the touring sound engineer for Balmorhea). Haunts, Volume 1: The Palace will be released digitally on January 31st. It is a dark record, mixing ambient washes with sparse folk and calls to mind artists such as Grouper, Tiny Vipers and Mt. Eerie. Download Meryll – The Worm Gave Me A Walkman Radio mp3 (from Haunts, Volume 1: … Continue reading MM Shorts 65: Meryll

Mad Mackerel Recommends…Phantom Family Halo

Phantom Family Halo is the creation of multi-instrumentalist Dominic Cipolla. Their upcoming studio release, When I Fall Out is out on 14th February next year via Knitting Factory Records. We’ve featured the band before back in May following the release of The Mindeater EP, a split EP featuring them and Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and describing their sound as “evil desert psych rock evocative of the chunkiness of Hawkwind and the … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Phantom Family Halo

Introducing…Wowser Bowser

Wowser Bowser specialise in the kind of billowing psych-pop that lifts the spirits and sets the heart soaring. Their self-titled debut album is out next month and if the evidence so far is anything to go by we can expect a record that is playful and energetic mixing synths with jittery, brittle drums and exhilarating vocals. Imagine something hovering on the cusp of the oft-quoted … Continue reading Introducing…Wowser Bowser

MM’s 2011 Top Ten Series: No 9 Mrs Mackerel

Our final Top Ten selection comes courtesy of the lovely, and ever radiant, Mrs Mackerel. Over to you girl! It’s been a great musical year. But such a plethora of riches always presents a problem – what’s a girl to choose? Fortunately some fine contributions in the preceding week means most bases are covered. Live gigs, although few and far between this year, have been … Continue reading MM’s 2011 Top Ten Series: No 9 Mrs Mackerel