md horne's last call

Skin and Bones – MD Horne’s Last Call (self released)

Last year’s “Red Dirt Bituman” album was a departure for 300 st clare and Johnny Casino bassist Mark Horne, and his 2021 incarnation MD Horne’s Last Callsounds like another. While “Bituman” headed for the wide open spaces of the Australian bush, framing Horne’s sparse songs against a stark, dry soundscape, “Skin and Bones” hops into a boat and sets sail on folk-punk seas.

“Skin and Bones” is the first track to be released (digitally, natch) from the forthcoming Last Call album, "High Tides, More Crimes", on OuttaSpace Records in Australia and both Folc Recordsand La Villa Nova in Spain.

High Tides, More Crimes – MD Horne (Outtspace/FOLC/La Villa Nova)

Only a shit stirrer would start a review of an album with the rhetorical question: “How do you know you’re getting old? You start listening to bush bands”. Guilty as charged – on the shit stirrer charge, that is. Lock me up.

Yes, the second solo album from Sydney’s MD Hornecontains mandolin, didgeridoo, his own bass, a sprinkling of bush balladry, and even a sea shanty of sorts but, thankfully, no lagerphone. It’s also damned good.

1 - Celibate Rifles - “Extract from the Fungus”.
The moment it was released it went to no.1 in my charts.

2 - Drugs in Sport – “At Least We’ll Always Have Rock and Roll To Fall Back On” (OuttaSpace).
Label mates. Top, top pop album which I am playing every day.

3 - Chimers - "Chimers" (Poop Alley Records)
Was on the full time playlist for numerous weeks this year.

Thwarted by COVID in his attempt to launch his new song “Skin and Bones” live, locked-down MD Horne in Sydney gathered a few friends to stage an online musical party to mark the tune's released, on the day of his birthday.

I-94 Bar patrons will recognise some familiar faces, among them Johnny Casino (dialing in from Spain), Kylie and Llouis of Thee Cha Cha Chas, Al Creed (Aberration, ex-New Christs, Hell Crab City), Craig Jackson (ex-Brother Brick) and Carrie Phillis (ex-Booby Traps.) Cop the digital single here.