KATHY MAR: My Favorite Sings

Kathy Mar

My Favorite Sings

© 1999 Prometheus Music (659057000121)

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One of the world's best-loved performers of science-fiction and fantasy folk ("filk") music, My Favorite Sings collects together Kathy Mar's most-requested performances of folk and filk songs, loosely centered on themes of fantasy and spirituality.

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notes

Kathy Mar is one of the world's best-loved performers of science-fiction and fantasy folk ("filk") music.

A professional folk artist originally from Denver, Kathy has performed at clubs, bookstores, on the radio, at conventions worldwide, and even as an invited artist for NASA Ames Research Center's first public open house.

Now in its second printing, Kathy's My Favorite Sings CD collects together her most-requested performances of folk and filk songs, loosely centered on themes of fantasy and spirituality.

Kathy's powerful singing is supported by Kristoph Klover's multi-layered arrangements, featuring mandolin, cello, harp, flute, recorder, dumbek, and violin. Backup artists include Margaret Davis, Cat Taylor, Mark Ungar, and Kris Yenney.

reviews

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  • Wonderful! Wonderful!!
    author: Michael Liebmann

    I've seen Kathy Mar develop as a singer over the past 15 years, beginning with her album "Songbird." She's really outdone herself with this one.

  • A masterful filk album, beautifully sung
    author: Eric Oppen

    I had the pleasure and privilege of listening to Ms. Mar sing a lot of these songs at a SF convention...and ran _right_ straight to the huckster's room to buy the album! Her voice is lovely and her songs are, too. They range in subject from traditional "folk" stuff to modern folk to "filk" (SF-related folksongs) and are always worth listening to.

  • Interesting collection of songs!
    author: Mary Ellen Wessels

    I've been a fan of Kathy's music for year so I can't claim to be unbiased, but this is a really good collection of songs. Merlin is fantastic and gives me shivers, Dirty Movie makes me laugh, Word of God is a really interesting look at science v. religion, but the song that really stands out to me on this collection is "Child's Song" - every time I hear Kathy sing it I cry. Let me assure you, songs on CD don't usually make me do more than sniffle a little but this one makes me cry. Kathy brings such passion to this particular song. While you're at it give her other albums a try too!

  • If you're a fan of "filk", don't miss this album.
    author: Rob Wynne (Aphelion Webzine)

    Filk music has come a long way since its beginning, back in the mists of time (or, as far as I can divine, the 1930s, close enough). From mimeographed lyric books to handmade cassettes to professionally produced records and today, CDs, the genre has grown up a lot, both in terms of the quality of its content and the quality of its presentation. As a result, there is now a tremendous amount of filk music available in recorded format for fans of science fiction and fantasy to choose from. It is my intention to try and devote some time to reviewing said recordings in this space, to help bring attention to you, our readers, to music worth listening to. Kathy Mar has definitely helped raise the level of quality in filk music over the years. When I think of Kathy's work, I mostly recall her as the writer/composer of such classic songs as "When Giants Walked", "Drink Up The River", and "Flowers for Algernon." She is also, however, a tremendously talented singer and guitarist, and she highlights these talents in her newest album, My Favorite Sings. My Favorite Sings is a gorgeous album, from the sleek, artistic packaging to the rich, clean sound that highlights Kathy's voice and instrumental finesse. The songs are an eclectic mix of songs written by a variety of people, ranging from New York folk icon Christine Lavin to British filksinger Zander Nyrond. It's really hard to pick favourite tracks out of this one, but at least three songs really stand out. Doug McArthur's "Merlin" is a chilling, hypnotic tune exploring the thoughts of the ancient wizard as he prepares to be inadvertently freed from his underground prison by the groundbreaking of a new shopping mall. Merlin is a fascinating character, and the sketch provided of him here is intriguing. Zander Nyrond's "No Such Thing" reflects back on a time in Earth's history when dolphins and whales were not yet creatures of legend, and humans did not yet have to live inside pressure domes to protect them from the toxic air outside. And Dr. Jane Robinson's "Song of the Ripper" is an eerie look inside the head of the Whitechapel stalker. All of the songs on this album feature not only Kathy's own virtuoso guitar work, but also a terrific group of backing support, including Kristoph Klover, Margaret Davis, and Deirdre McCarthy (each of Avalon Rising), and Mark Ungar and Cat Taylor (formerly of the San Francisco Celtic fusion band Phoenyx). The use of the didgeridoo on "Water, Fire, and Smoke" is especially noteworthy, and lends to that track a mysterious atmosphere that suits it perfectly. My Favorite Sings is the first offering from the new filk record label Prometheus Music. Based on this initial release, it will be well worth watching them. If you are a fan of filk, of SF and fantasy, or just of incredibly good folk music, you don't want to miss this album.

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