McKOWSKI – Halloween Release: “Madman” out Today

As the moon prepares to rise over another Halloween – McKOWSKI – sets the scene with a chilling new video for “Madman”.

Starring the ‘Hardy Bucks’ star Owen Colgan and directed by Mark McCausland aka McKowski, the pair present a three-minute psychological thriller to give you goosebumps.

Filmed at a notoriously “haunted crossroads” in Northern Ireland, the “Madman” video steps into the shoes of a lost soul as he traipses alone into the dead of night, visibly hounded by thoughts of what he has, or may yet do… Expertly shot by renowned cinematographer Sebastian Cort and edited by Jack Burgess, it was made on a “day off” from making a forthcoming movie McCausland is writing the score for called ‘The Spin’, which will also feature Colgan. Stay tuned for further news on that soon.

Bottling the chill of the season to perfection, the visuals are aptly paired to the track, “Madman”, which can be found on McKowski’s exceptional new album ‘Notes from the Boneyard’. Taking its title from a 1980s slasher movie of the same name, the dusky, sinister, unsettling track uses a repetitive riff as a meditative anchor while raising the tension stakes with layers of analog synths, strings and keys. Recorded primarily by McKowski at his home studio, additional atmosphere was added courtesy of St Francis Hotel later.

Praised as “ideal listening on headphones as darkness falls” (Press Association) and “a gorgeous slice of dark instrumental movie music” (The Daily Mirror), McKowski’s debut album ‘Notes from the Boneyard’ is music made to be heard in the gloaming of the year’s end.

McKOWSKI is the alter ego of Mark McCausland, one half of the critically acclaimed Irish duo The Lost Brothers, and previously of the Deltasonic band The Basement. Returning to his old label with an innovative new project, his latest solo venture invites listeners into a haunting universe of sounds known only as ‘The Boneyard’. Dappled with light and shade, eeriness and hopefulness, the familiar and not-so; McKowski proves himself a master of instrumental storytelling.

McKowski’s ‘Notes From The Boneyard’ is out now on Deltasonic Records (The Coral, The Zutons). It is available on limited ‘Pumpkin Orange’ vinyl, cassette, and to stream in full here.