Music
Press
“The Sound is an album that looses itself in human emotion.”
- Arkansas Democrat Gazette
“The ethereal compositions feature tender melodies atop epic percussion. The themes range from love to pain to death to God, all handling their subject in an even-handed manner that evokes passion. . . .” - Nightflying Magazine
“Their music has always suggested to me a wide palette of emotional landscapes. No other band I’ve ever worked with has sounded like them.” - Daniel Coston, Rolling Stone contributing photographer.
“After a welcome-to-Arkansas recuperatory beer, we went to listen to what on earth I'd be playing along with. I loved it immediately. This is a big deal because I am notoriously hard to impress and am not moved by most music I hear. The sound was epic but spacious, exultory and intense. Beautiful and soaring violin parts had been laid down the previous day by Anton Patzner (who composes his own music and plays violin with Bright Eyes). Overall his was more full-on and rocking than their previous album I'd listened to. I couldn't wait to get started.
I spent the next 2 days locked up with Flex and John Lennon's microphone (loaned to the band by the person who bought it from Yoko. I heard it was the mic he recorded all his solo albums on and was probably worth more than my new cello). I lost track, but I think we recorded cello for five or six songs. I honestly can't wait to hear the final product.
- Zoe Keating
Discography
'The Silence' 2006, Album.
'The Sound' 2008, Album.
Photos
Bio
Mar was founded in 2004 by Kyle Reidy. The band went through several line-up changes before settling with the four who recorded Mar’s debut album one year later. Patrick Atkinson (electric guitar), Nate Reed (electric guitar), and Claire Long (keyboards) were a part of Mar with Kyle until April of 2005. All three are very intelligent and creative musicians. After a tour with The Album Leaf everyone went their own way and Kyle stayed with the name and is continuing to make Mar albums and play live shows.
Mar’s Debut Album, ‘The Silence’, featured Jimmy LaValle of The Album Leaf and Black Heart Procession and Samuli Kosminen of MúM. ‘The Silence’ was recorded in Iceland when Sigur Ros opened their studio to Mar in Mosfellsbær. Due to a longer than expected mixing session for their last album ’Takk...’ Mar moved the production to Syrland Studio where Bjork, Sigur Ros, and Emiliana Torrini have all recorded albums. The album was produced by Gunnar Tynes Of MúM, Iceland’s Axel Árnason, Jimmy LaValle and Samuli Kosminen.
Mar was named for Kyle's mother, who passed away in 1999. Kyle explains that "even when there were no signs of hope, she dreamed ridiculous dreams. Everyone should dream ridiculous dreams. It’s our only chance to do so."
Mar’s new album, ’The Sound’, was recorded in a beautiful cabin just outside of Eureka Springs, Arkansas in July 2007. Do not expect a somber record like the debut album. The ’Mar sound’ is there, but Kyle Reidy has a brand new band, and they show their intensity on this record. During the recording of ‘The Sound’, Mar consisted of Kyle Reidy, Ty Dennison, Adam Putman, Danny Klien, Dylan Aycock and Shawn Joy Boggus.
Guest appearances by Bright Eyes’ violinist Anton Patzner and cellist Zoe Keating of Imogen Heap (formerly of Rasputina) had a strong impact on this record with their beautiful and heavy string arrangements. Flex Arnason produced, engineered, mixed and mastered the album.
The albums are currently being distributed internationally in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Ireland, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Canada, Portugal, Holland, Belgium, Greece, Poland, Spain, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Germany.
Selected tracks from 'THE SOUND' are in full rotation in Starbuck’s Coffee over 10,000 stores world-wide.
The Planetary Group, Mar’s promotion agency will undertake a three month national radio promotion and new media campaign beginning in May 2008.
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