MARRS
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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MARRS (or M/A/R/R/S, or probably more accurately M|A|R|R|S was a one-off recording act from 1987. M|A|R|R|S' sole release was the single "Pump up the Volume", which was a number one hit in the United Kingdom. "Pump up the Volume" is considered to have been the first U.K. number one to contain samples from other songs.
Background
M/A/R/R/S consisted of A R Kane and Colourbox, with additional input from DJs Chris "C.J." Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell
However, the collaboration did not go entirely to plan. Once in the studio, the groups' different working methods and personalities failed to gel. Producer Jon Fryer found himself in the middle and unable to resolve the conflict between the two camps. The result was that instead of working together, the two groups ended up recording a track each, then turning it over to the other for additional input.
Of the two pieces completed, one, "Anitina," was an A.R. Kane track with drum programming by Colourbox's Steve Young. The other, "Pump Up the Volume," was a propulsive Martyn Young track constructed largely of samples, including one of A.R. Kane's guitars.
The record was released under the alias M|A|R|R|S — an acronym derived from the first names of the 4AD artists involved in the project: Martyn, Alex Ayuli and Rudi Tambala from A.R. Kane; Russell, an associate A.R. Kane member; and Steve from Colourbox.
M|A|R|R|S' sole release was the single "Pump up the Volume", which was a number one hit in the United Kingdom. "Pump up the Volume" is considered to have been the first U.K. number one to contain samples from other songs. Plans for any follow-up material never materialised, and creative differences split up the group.
