Mars

Sumner Crane, China Burg, Mark Cunningham, and Nancy Arlen made up Mars, one of the four bands documented on No New York and among the most rhythmically unstable of the bunch. Arlen's drums stuttered along off-kilter under Cunningham's sliding bass and the atonal guitar interplay between Crane and Burg. Brian Eno, producing the compilation, got hold of their track 'Helen Forsdale' and ran the guitar's click through an echo unit, using it to trigger compression across the whole mix—engineering a sound one description likened to a helicopter.

At a glance

Active

1977–1978

From

New York City, USA

Listening guide track

“That’s What I Like”

Listen

In the NYC No Wave listening guide: “That’s What I Like”

In the issues

• 009
  NYC No Wave

  Principal · 1977-1984

  NYC No Wave is a music scene from Lower Manhattan, New York City, 1977–1984. Its principal artists include Suicide, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Sonic Youth and The Contortions. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 14 dated events.