It has long been a frustration that Oxford, a city with such a rich recent heritage of music, should be so poorly served by live music nowadays. Fourth rate tribute bands, pointless 70s and 80s reunion tours and over-hyped next-big-things clog up what remains of the city’s venues ad nauseam. Every time we check the tour dates of bands and artists we’d love to see … Continue reading Live Review: TRAAMS (Bullingdon, Oxford)
Austin singer-songwriter Jess Williamson is set to release her second album Heart Song on the 4th Nov via Brutal Honest, and she will also be touring Europe with long-standing MM fave Marissa Nadler. We loved her debut Native State which was a cracked, earthy and revealing collection of slow, unhurried folksongs. Now we have White Bed to share with you from the new album, which, if anything, is … Continue reading Jess Williamson – White Bed
Brighton five piece Abattoir Blues channel all their social injustice frustrations and emotive issues through a very distinctive wall of sound – part psych, part noise, part sludge rock, part punk. All good. The band have just shared their new track Fading. It is released tomorrow on 7” vinyl alongside lead track Sense (order here). Fading is a blistering slab of caustic post-punk, written following public and media … Continue reading New Single From Abattoir Blues
Man we loved the Amazing Snakeheads – watching their show with Chris T Popper at the Great Escape was one of the most captivating, uncompromising and downright threatening live performances we’ve ever witnessed – due in no small part to frontman Dale Barclay. Their ultimate disintegration was as sad as it was seemingly inevitable. And now after two years away, he is back with a new … Continue reading Dale Barclay Is Back With And Yet It Moves
Much like their home base of New York City, A Valley Son (who take their name from the title of a Grandaddy song) is an anomaly, comprised of three Southern transplants that grew up on Stax and Motown, and one Yonkers-born Gospel drummer turned bassist. Their debut EP Sunset Park is Southern gothic-inspired, harmony-laden, soulful rock & roll and is well worth checking out. This is … Continue reading Introducing >>> A Valley Son
After a three year hiatus, Japandroids are back, announcing their much anticipated third album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life. It will be out worldwide on Anti- on the 27th January, and can be pre-ordered here. They have also shared the title track which will be the album’s first single. A special edition 7″ will also be available (featuring a b-side cover of the Talking Heads’ classic Love … Continue reading Japandroids Are Back
It’s been three years since we posted about Canadian band Old Cabin, but they are back with a new album Saturn Return released in the late summer. Whilst most conveniently described as a folk band, there are echoes of the East Coast, influence of Montreal art-rock, and a lovely use of acoustic textures combined with an attention to lyrical songwriting. The whole package can be heard … Continue reading MM Shorts 889: Old Cabin
Mixing dream pop with a bit of shoegaze and some ambient sounds, alternative four piece The Oyster Murders have just released Join The Party. Set to an ominous waltz and with a video of Donald and Hilary dancing while Obama watches, it is an compelling and slightly disturbing track – obviously we like it a lot! Have a watch/listen and click through to buy via … Continue reading The Oyster Murders – Join The Party
Inspired by the vast California deserts, LA-based alt folk duo Bassett have a new EP Ghost Hwy out on the 18th November. Their sound is perhaps best described as being something like the lovechild of Nirvana and Radiohead (if they had moved out West and become Burners)… introspective, intense, and very psychedelic. Stream Away from the EP below. Continue reading MM Shorts 888: Bassett
We love Halloween. Love the film (and some of the sequels), love the dressing up, the scares, and frightening the bejesus out of the little ones who knock on our door… In previous years we’ve posted downloadable Halloween mixes, and this year there has been no shortage of bands making halloween themed videos and sending them our way, so it seemed churlish not to share … Continue reading Halloween Video Mix
The Mad Mackerel 