Darling Arithmetic is the third album from Villagers, set for release in April. The follow-up to Conor O’Brien’s debut, Becoming a Jackal, and its successor, Awayland – both hugely acclaimed and each nominated for the Mercury Prize – is a beautiful, intimate album entirely about love and relationships. The opening track and first single, Courage, concerns the most important kind of love – for yourself. “It took … Continue reading New Video: Villagers – Courage
As well as our Top 100 tunes of the year that we’ve posted over the past few days, each of the MM contributors have put together their own lists. Today it is the turn of Mrs Mackerel. 20. Steve Mason – A Lot of Love Love the piano on this song and the catchy, sing-a-long chorus – a guaranteed earworm if I had any (ears … Continue reading Mrs Mackerel’s Top Songs of 2013
It is that time of year again. The votes have been polled from our MM contributors, the results collated and without further ado, here are Mad Mackerel’s favourite hundred tracks of 2013. Today, we’re counting down the first twenty five, from 100-76. 100 Woody Pines – Hobo And His Bride Classic, ramblin’ country blues, where songs are filled with characters fighting to climb up or … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Top Tracks of 2013: 100 – 76
One of the highlights of seeing the Villagers play live in Oxford about 18 months ago was the final song of the set, a poignant and heartbreaking song called Cecelia Her Selfhood. It turns out it has long been a live favourite, but only recently has it been finally recorded in the studio and an accompanying video made. Although we are a little late with it, we … Continue reading The Villagers Release Cecelia Video
So last night it was off to Oxford to see recent Mercury Prize nominees The Villagers supported by Cate Le Bon. I was accompanied by major-league Villagers fan Stu, so was hoping that expectations would be met… We only managed to catch the end of Cate Le Bon’s set (on at a ridiculously early 7.30pm), but what we heard was enough to make us wish … Continue reading The Villagers Live
The Open House Festival takes place in Belfast from September 6th to the 12th. To mark the event, the organisers are giving away a free 14 track digital mix that includes the likes of Modest Mouse, The Felice Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show. A couple of our favourites from the mix are below, and to find out more about the event and download the … Continue reading Free Mix from Open House Festival
The Mad Mackerel 