Mars - Helen Forsdale (No Wave! 1978)

As a musical unit, Mars represents the total devolution of the Velvet Underground into almost total noise. The quartet of Sumner Crane, China Burg, Mark Cunningham, and Nancy Arlen formed in 1975 by jamming on VU tunes and slowly mutated from there. In about three years of existence, they recorded about half an hour of music

Helen Forsdale, changes are clearly beginning to occur. The bass-line is still solidly there, and its a doozey (Sonic Youth would later borrow it for Star Power on Evol). But above that, the guitars have (very intentionally) morphed into buzzing insects which do battle with Cranes now howled vocals. Its classic no-wave, perhaps the best song to come out of the scene. While you wont come out humming anything but the bass-line, chances are that if you heard it at a dance-club, your ass would shake a bit. Once again, this is the anomaly.

Mars - Helen Forsdale

1978

It's important to mention "Helen Forsdale," the band's most recognizable track and one of four songs produced by Brain Eno for the No New York album. "Helen Forsdale" is a proto Sonic Youth stomper that is as close as Mars comes to convention. It's the sound of a band on the cusp of learning its trade. For lesser groups "Helen Forsdale" would signal a direction to head in, a sound that could be carefully honed and shaped into something resembling a career. Mars immediately freed themselves from its shackles. It feels like they caught a glimpse of themselves in the mirror and threw a rock toward their reflection. It's difficult to imagine any contemporary band making such a decision, and it only adds further weight to Mars' fearless approach to their art.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mars
• New Wave
• Brian Eno
• Punk
• New York
• No Wave

[AGEofURANUS]

what album?!?!

[minutegongcoughs]

@AGEofURANUS no new wave

[iamthegirlfriend]

@minutegongcoughs You mean No New York?

[minutegongcoughs]

@iamthegirlfriend That's the one.

[EoVulnero]

the painting!, at 0:56 it's Natalya's Goncharova, "The forest".., it’s a cubistic work, basically, including some elements inspired from rayism’s technic...Oh!, And, this is a unique song!

[minutegongcoughs]

@EoVulnero Absolutely. I sneak some Russian Futurism images into some of the images as well on other tracks but I might of taken them down.

[Lortagreb]

New wave? It's NO wave actually, it's kind of a polar opposite reaction to new wave and all that kind of music that were made during that time period.

[SoulDischarge]

I'm glad it's finally on YouTube, but why is there a minute missing? One of the best damned songs of all time regardless.

[rokarolla]

YES New York, no?

[Szaam]

I don't know why, but I absolutely love the artwork for the Mars LP.

[budbrad3]

she's amazing,even though i couldn't understand a word.is this a short version or a SHORTENED version.can the lyrics even be obtained?

[laromande]

But is there no wave hardcore?

[MrBuk86]

@serpico89 However, in 1979 Eno's famous lecture "The Studio As Compositional Tool" he is quoted saying "On 'Helen Thormdale' [sic!] from the No New York album (Antilles), I put an echo on the guitar part's click, and used that to trigger the compression on the whole track, so it sounds like helicopter blades."........from wikipedia.

[tshhtf]

I have this on vinyl. Mega

[Voivrenetwork]

I love New Wave, I like grunge.. But this shit is fucking awesome! I accidentally found No Wave and I am glad I did, but very pissed off that this song is "Not available" on the Zune Marketplace?!?!

[serpico89]

how did they create that buzzing effect for their guitars!?? i love it!

[RockNimbie]

IIs the title "Helen Forsdale" or "Helen ForDsdale"?

[misanthropicagenda1]

love no wave shame i only 4 at the time and living in london