Weald is the first LP by Rob St. John, released last week on gatefold 12” vinyl by Song, by Toad Records – we’ve posted about him before and it is great to see he has now got a full length album out. Even better that he should have delivered a record of such outstanding quality that puts many of the so called bigger names in the alt-folk … Continue reading Rob St. John Releases Debut Album, Weald
At the end of the year in 2007, Okkervil River released Golden Opportunities Mixtape, a free EP intended as a gift to fans. This year, the band continues that tradition in the sequel release Golden Opportunities 2, which both hearkens back to the original release and varies the formula. Like its predecessor, Golden Opportunities 2 is a series of conceptually-related covers, this time by lesser-known … Continue reading Okkervil River Offer Up Free EP
We’ve been meaning to post this for a while, Jamie N Commons is a singer-songwriter from Bristol who released his EP The Baron last month. Contrary to what you might expect a singer-songwriter from Bristol to deliver, lead single The Preacher is an authentic hellfire and damnation slab of dusty, desolate blues that calls to mind Johnny Cash jamming with Nick Cave. Make no mistake this … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…Jamie N Commons
Naked Under Spacesuit presents a split maxi-cassingle featuring Former Lover and Nature Set. Released as an edition of 100 yellow copies in a hand constructed and stamped card sleeve. It’s available here. Former Lover is Long Blondes songwriter Dorian Cox’s first new music since he suffered the stroke that caused the break up of the band. They describe their music as “quiet music to soundtrack insomnia and 3 am … Continue reading MM Shorts 47: Former Lover
This one is for Barry-Sean really. Craig Finn of the Hold Steady is releasing his debut solo album, Clear Heart Full Eyes on the 23rd January via Full Time Hobby. The first track is Honolulu Blues released on Monday (28th) as a limited edition single – take a listen below. Finn’s solo album is described as being “a little quieter and perhaps more narrative” and … Continue reading MM Shorts 46: Craig Finn of the Hold Steady
This months Mojo magazine has a free cover disc reinterpreting the Rolling Stones classic album Sticky Fingers. The idea behind the collection was simple: ask a number of modern-day soul and soul-influenced artists to pay tribute to the Stones most soulful album. So we have eleven covers including Aloe Blacc & Joel Van Dijk, Alice Russell and Lee Fields amongst others. We’ve provided a couple … Continue reading Mojo’s Sticky Fingers Tribute Album
A while back we posted about a wonderful 7″ single by a band called Salesman. Devin James Fry of the band has been back in touch to tell us about a recent Daytrotter session with the legendary Wayne Kramer of MC5. More importantly it also concerns a brilliant charity Jail Guitar Doors which our own bard of Barking, Billy Bragg has been heavily involved in setting … Continue reading The Salesman & MC5’s Wayne Kramer – Daytrotter Session
Nashville singer-songwriter Amelia White is set to release her fifth full-length studio album, Beautiful and Wild, on February 28 next year. Filled with tales of loss and hope, demons and saints, and the lure of star-crossed love, the title track is a graceful homage with a gentle send off to her long time friend and famed songwriter, the late, Duane Jarvis. Have a listen. a Continue reading MM Shorts 45: Amelia White
Dark and light; light and dark. A week of two halves. A source of great light: daughter sprat’s birthday. A girl who finds great joy in many things, who notices the little things that matter. I’m probably a lot better at hiding the dark than I used to be; comes with a bit of practise in recent years, sadly. But I’m sorry to say I … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s TFI Friday (25th November)
Last Friday Mrs M reviewed the new film, Anyone Can Play Guitar, documenting the Oxford music scene from Talulah Gosh through to the Foals via Radiohead, Supergrass and more. So it seems appropriate this Friday to bring you some more music from our own doorstep in the shape of three piece The Dead Jerichos, being as they are, one of the hottest properties of the current … Continue reading Introducing…The Dead Jerichos
