We were stupidly oblivious to the diverse charms of Wampire until we were blown away by the driving drums and electronic organs of recent single The Hearse, and subsequently discovered that the duo have an album, Curiosity out this month. They have made a new track from the album available for streaming, and in contrast to the single, Trains is an excursion into more easygoing, laid-back … Continue reading MM Recommends…Wampire
Into A Dream is the second free download from Dreams in the Rat House, the rollicking new full-length record from Shannon and the Clams. The song, which combines a slow-dance-ready instrumental with darkly bucolic lyrics, follows on from the earlier, and much heralded, giveaway of Rip Van Winkle, and the signs are looking increasingly good for a big year for the band. Like the record label … Continue reading Shannon and the Clams – New Track
Shawn Mrazek Lives! is the adopted moniker for veteran Canadian musician Shawn Mrazek’s foray away from the drum kit and into the limelight as a singer-songwriter. Coming across like a slightly surly, younger sibling of Lou Reed, or a even more earnest Jonathan Richman, he tells tales of self-discovery, freedom and exodus that snap, snarl and sparkle in equal measure on debut studio album Thought … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends Shawn Mrazek Lives!
The Young Knives, adopted by my hometown Oxford by way of Loughbrough, are undoubtedly one of the finest post punk guitar bands of the new millennium. From the early krautrock inspired Walking on the Autobahn to angst ridden shout-a-thon She’s Attracted To via the brilliance of miserabilist anthem Weekends and Bleakdays (Hot Summer) and straight-up rocker Terra Firma, they have provided a plethora of outstanding singles and albums. Blending a … Continue reading The Very Welcome Return of the Young Knives
Canadian rock ‘n’ roll renegades Fist City will see a UK release of their album, It’s 1983, Grow Up on July 8th. The album is scheduled for release on Black Tent Press. Forming in Lethbridge, a smallish southern Alberta town, in 2010, Fist City gelled from the ashes of various punk bands to form a storming blend of garage-fuelled, surf-tinged, scuzzy rock n roll. This is … Continue reading Liven Up Your Day With Fist City
Broken minor keys, cracked vocal harmonies, fireside percussion, and tv static dreams. The Kindling make sad, strange and beautiful music. Drawing influence from the uncompromising recording spirit of Sparklehorse, Mount Eerie, and Tom Waits, The Kindling were formed to breathe supernatural life into the songs of singer Guy Weir. After their debut EP From Out Of The Wreckage, the band’s second EP Half Light is a … Continue reading Introducing >>> The Kindling
Videos today featuring the epic, driven – though dreamy – southern rock of Black Books, the murderous folk of Vandaveer, the post-punk and garage style of chromatic BLACK and their award winning video for 1, 2, 3, 8 and finally the brilliant new video from Crystal Fighters for latest single You & I. . . . Continue reading Videos of the Day: Black Books || Vandaveer || chromatic BLACK || Crystal Fighters
Melbourne’s Sand Dollars play songs that combine the catchy guitar hooks of classic 60s pop – the kaleidoscope chords, haiku harmonies, pinwheel drums, and bubblegum bass are engrained in a unique sound that has all the familiarity of days gone by. Have a listen to the reckless abandon of debut single Paletters, anchored by a naggingly infectious guitar hook. Continue reading MM Shorts 366: The Sand Dollars
Wooden Wand | Hoxton Underbelly, London | 26 April 2013 At last a chance to see MM’s most blogged about artist, the wonderful Wooden Wand, whose excellent latest releases Blood Oaths Of The New Blues and The Briarwood Virgins are just the most recent examples from his extensive catalogue of idiosyncratic Americana mixing stripped back folk, alt-country, psychedelia and sprawling indie rock. The venue was (as a … Continue reading Wooden Wand: Live Review
An embodiment of their surroundings and love of 60s girl groups, Beach Day sounds as you might expect. Think of a female fronted Beach Boys, throw in some The Shangri-La’s, The Ventures, The Sonics, Phil Spector, The Ronettes, add in contemporaries Cults, Jacuzzi Boys, Dum Dum Girls and the Black Lips and you have a soundtrack for your perfect Beach Day. Listen to two minutes … Continue reading MM Shorts 365: Beach Day
