Label: self-released
Year: 2011
Members: Patti Unruh ~ keyboards
Aaron Straub ~ guitar
Mike Bailey ~ bass/percussionist
It's not often when I describe a rock group in terms of being reminiscent of new age composer Yanni. Actually, it's very much a rarity. Yet, ROM indeed reminds me of Yanni at times (for example, "Forbidden Dance", "Vague Impression", "Moonlite Bliss", "Romancing The Snake"). This studio only trio is made up of a classical pianist, electric rock guitarist & occasional drummer-percussionist who is also their engineer. The outcome is a modest little rock group that self-confesses to playing with a strong new age inclination, with a focus on soundtrack ambiance. The music moves between a focus on rock guitar lead lines - its a welcome break that there's no riffing as instrumental bands like to relying on - to relaxing piano progressions, often with a light percussive beat & synthesizer deep in the mix for texture. Most of the time the songs are driven by the guitar, though "Forbidden Dance" is only an acoustic sounding piano with synthesizers & occasionally tinkling chimes. But, the group really take things up a notch on the enchanting highlights "Romancing the Snake" & "Rain Ethereal" where the piano & guitar have equal time driving the song. ROM is not about fast or overly technical playing. Even when the drums are present the pace is still more on the laid back side. What ROM are is textured & romantic. This is the group's first album with a desire to do soundtrack commissions.
Patti Treadwell Unruh and Aaron Straub make up the Power Composing Duo, RHYTHM OF MARS from Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. We began composing guitar and piano Instrumentals in September of 2010 and knew very soon that we had created a special and unique collection of Progressive Rock, New Wave and NeoClassical Soundtracks. I am a life-time Classical and Rock pianist who studied on college scholarships at the University of Arkansas and University of Oklahoma in the early 70's. Aaron is a virtuoso guitarist who has composed, performed and recorded with several Northwest Arkansas bands since 2005. We consider ourselves mainly a "studio recording band" that would love for our creations to be chosen for FILM/TV Soundtracks and Radio Play.
Our first CD, Romancing The Snake, was released on July 15, 2011 and has received RAVE REVIEWS including one 5 STAR from various internet music sites and professionals. Our 2nd CD, Beyond Dreams, was released in January, 2012 and has done very well with our many fans. Our 3rd CD Window Of Destiny, released in December of 2013 has had great reviews from Music Xray, Radio Talk shows, Jango Airplay, Facebook, ReverbNation and Twitter.
Our most recent project was teaming up with Brandon & Heather Diaz to release a mini EP called "GHOST". It features 4 singles that vary in genre to show our experience with variety.
We've won a total of 7 songwriting awards from online contests held by Song Of The Year:
INSTRUMENTAL WINNER for "Labyrinth"
INSTRUMENTAL SEMI-FINALIST for "Window Of Destiny"
SUGGESTED ARTIST for "Houdini"
RUNNER UP for "Vague Impression"
I also won an HONORABLE MENTION award for my mini piano symphony "Pleiadian"
We are currently composing new songs, some with vocals, to add to our amazing collection which we hope to release as SINGLES sometime within the next year. All of our music is available on iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, ReverbNation and here on this Website. Many of our songs are now being played on various Internet and FM Radio stations around the world!!
There is a passion for music that can never be stopped. When music has made its way into your heart and you have taken the necessary steps to become an expert on your chosen instrument you will always strive to share your passion with others. A group of phenomenal musicians from the band Rhythm Of Mars (that we have talked about before) has continued their quest and returned to us with another album.
The Fayetteville. Arkansas band crafts an innovative blend of instrumental alternative and progressive rock that will keep the listener on edge listening for more. The new album WIndow Of Destiny is collection of 8 songs that will startle and amaze with the sounds the threesome is able to produce. The opener “Houdini” shows off the tremendous skills of guitarist Aaron Staub. He shreds through the track aided by accompanying sounds to add to the full mix. The track “Labyrinth” is not just a clever name. The twists and turns in the song will keep you guessing as you spin further and further in the Rhythm Of Mars maze. The title track “Windows Of Destiny” may be the most complete track on the record as it fills the soundscape with pretty sounds melding together to create something even better than the sum of its parts. This song requires multiple listens to take it all in. Overall this is a great album to experience the ultimate level of talent that can be achieved with musical instruments. Go enter the Rhythm Of Mars world at: http://rhythmofmars.com/
4BY: KEN FOSTER, AUROVINE - December 2013
Rhythm Of Mars are back with a blistering extended play (mini album) WINDOW OF DESTINY. The Arkansas based 3 piece led by virtuoso guitarist Aaron Straub and keyboardist/composer Patti Unruh have hit a sweet spot on this release with Straub’s crisp guitar work taking centre stage.
Houdini opens the album and is a good place to start if you’re new to the band. Straub and Unruh rock out in high tempo riffing before the pace changes to a slow/mid tempo and stunning guitar solo climax.
Love Spell demonstrates the versatility of a band that have been labelled as progressive rock, jazz, alternative and even new wave! The production of the album is top notch and aided by excellent mastering from East Hall Recording. Love Spell has the atmospheric feel of a movie soundtrack again showcasing Straub’s guitar work over a haunting keyboard theme.
The intro on Pleiadian invokes beautifully the aura of the Nordic aliens before a battle like march bridges into more delicate keyboard work by Unruh. I’m not sure if there was a desire to create a fantasy world image with this track but it certainly works.
The sublime Labyrinth was recently featured on an Aurovine compilation and is a jazzy complex piece with fast and intricate acoustic guitar work. The compositional qualities are diverse – ranging from irish folk through to progressive rock. The quality of the album remains steadfastly high with the title track keeping melody at the forefront lest we get carried away in the subtleties of the arrangements.
The guitar work on Window Of Destiny is once again majestic. It’s a sound that would surely carry over to the live environment perfectly. You’d think an instrumental album of 8 tracks could be hard work but not so with this collection. Each track takes on a new identity and on La Noche Patti’s stellar keyboard work is the highlight – a beautiful organ sound is serenaded by exquisite piano.
The spanish flavoured Masquerade is another superb composition showing Straub is equally at home playing flamenco style guitar as he is with the full on electric sound.
Evolve wraps the album up and somehow combines the two guitar styles to dramatic effect. A suitable closer to a very enjoyable album that i’ll be listening to more over the coming holidays. Fans of progressive rock will love it but there’s more than enough interest for fans of alternative rock, classic rock, jazz and ambient genre’s also! by Ken Foster
WE would like to give special thanks to the following Performing Artists for their awesome talent in the recording studio:
Mike Bailey - IndyGo Studio - Fayetteville, AR - Drums, Bass, Percussion, Engineering on first & Second CD's - 2011 & 2012
Hayley Unruh & Joshua Smith - Vocal Duet on "It's Over" - 2012
Jennifer Baker - Vocals on "Lyrewood Lane" & "Rolling In The Deep" - 2012
David Bayles - Bass Guitar, Mike Bailey - Drums on "Labyrinth" - 2013
Bryan Burkhart - Burkhart Productions - Fayetteville, AR - Hand Drums & Engineering on "Masquerade" - 2013
Mike Bailey - Percussion & Engineering on "Pleiadian" - 2013
Paul Humphreys - Drums, John Burnett - Bass Guitar on "Houdini" - 2013
Todd Frost - Drums, Chris Moore - Bass Guitar & Engineering on "Window Of Destiny" - 2013
Brett Rheams - Basement Studio - Engineering on "Evolve" - 2013
East Hall Recording - Chris Moore - Mastering for album "Window Of Destiny" - 2013
REVIEWS - 2011 & 2012
Style: instrumental
Aaron Joy's Roman Midnight Music Blog
“Hearing Rhythm Of Mars music created lush visuals inside my head. ”
Not all bands are created by a bunch of teenage boys yearning to be rock stars and play at Madison Square Garden. In today’s society there is music everywhere from TV commercials, to film scores, to elevators, and it is usually not these prepubescent boys that make it. Sometimes the strangest meetings end up creating the most original music to fill these needs. One such story is that of the group that calls themselves Rhythm Of Mars. The chance meeting of guitar virtuoso Aaron Straub and classical pianist Patti Unruh has developed into a musical juggernaut of talent focused on writing instrumental pieces for film soundtracks and similar situations. These two surprising songwriting partners have now teamed up with recording engineer, musician and IndyGo Studio owner Mike Bailey in Fayetteville, AR. He provides the technical recording expertise and rhythm section to bring the music together as a finished piece. The Rhythm Of Mars trio recently released Beyond Dreams, an 8 song album featuring an eclectic mix of songs composed with the hopes of picking up some soundtrack selections or publishing opportunities. It is indeed beautiful background music. The musical talent of all three individuals within the band is what jumps out at me right away. From the piano lines to the high pitched guitar wails this is a sound that I could see behind many different types of visual stimulation. One song that struck me was the sensual ‘Allie’s Song’ with its impressive guitar work over a straight ahead, almost simple sounding piano beat. ‘Spanish Flyze’ reaches out for a different kind of audience with a slow building piano line accompanied by some Spanish influenced guitar note bending. Intriguing to say the least. Bottom line: They must be doing something right because just hearing their music created lush visuals in my head. Their style is perfect for what they are going after. Go listen for yourself at:www.rhythmofmars.com
Keith Pro, The Indie Band Guru
From: "twosidemoon.promo@ntlworld.com" <twosidemoon.promo@ntlworld.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 7, 2012 4:05 PM
Subject: RHYTHM OF MARS REVIEW
Sent: Saturday, April 7, 2012 4:05 PM
Subject: RHYTHM OF MARS REVIEW
RHYTHM OF MARS - Romancing The Snake
(S/R - 2011)
Didn’t know planets actually possessed or had a rhythm, other than a circular jaunt around the big orange ball a couple of times a day. This Arkansas instrumental outfit certainly don’t go round in circles, surprising us with a different thing each lap of the album’s eight. Taking up the rains of classic rock institutions Deep Purple, Jethro Tull and Yes while sat on a Dream Theater sled, Patti, Aaron and Mike proceed to layer on slabs of classical instrumentation into the middle like a meticulously applied sandwich filling and the end result is highly appetizing. Keyboard and Guitar experimentation has rarely sounded this unpretentious as they play only what fits and allow the other elements their chance. R.O.M makes very sweet music for 40 minutes and quits too soon, this being one of few instrumental albums I would have loved to last twice as long. Definitely worth hearing - you might indeed duly coax that titular reptile out to a dinner date with a couple of spins.
8.5/10
By Dave Attrill
NET:myspace.com/rhythmofmars
Didn’t know planets actually possessed or had a rhythm, other than a circular jaunt around the big orange ball a couple of times a day. This Arkansas instrumental outfit certainly don’t go round in circles, surprising us with a different thing each lap of the album’s eight. Taking up the rains of classic rock institutions Deep Purple, Jethro Tull and Yes while sat on a Dream Theater sled, Patti, Aaron and Mike proceed to layer on slabs of classical instrumentation into the middle like a meticulously applied sandwich filling and the end result is highly appetizing. Keyboard and Guitar experimentation has rarely sounded this unpretentious as they play only what fits and allow the other elements their chance. R.O.M makes very sweet music for 40 minutes and quits too soon, this being one of few instrumental albums I would have loved to last twice as long. Definitely worth hearing - you might indeed duly coax that titular reptile out to a dinner date with a couple of spins.
8.5/10
By Dave Attrill
NET:myspace.com/rhythmofmars
9-28-11 SKOPE MAGAZINE - 3 STARS
This is a very realistic and good review which gives insightful constructive criticisms. Enjoy!
http://skopemag.com/2011/09/28/rhythm-of-mars-romancing-the-snake
"Behold the trippy aura of Rhythm Of Mars! Bold, extra-terrestrial sounds and harmonies emit from your speakers, first note to last on their terrifically produced 8 song EP. Sharp guitar solos play delicately over carefully orchestrated keyboard work creating ethereal gems destined for chill radio and beyond." A&R SELECT Review Dept., West Hollywood, CA (June 01, 2011)
"The music of Rhythm of Mars can create the imagery you desire, all you have to do is sit back and absorb their hauntingly beautiful sounds. It can be the soundtrack of your life or a movie that plays inside your head. Words are not necessary for such excellent musicianship and tasteful music. You can go to Mars or anywhere else with this band!" Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck of www.MuzikReviews.com
"RHYTHM OF MARS is a 3-piece band from Springdale AR, and they sent me their CD "Romancing The Snake", which is a high quality instrumental melodic progressive rock album. The band takes you on a journey throughout 8 lovely instrumentals that will please any fan of classic '70s bands such as Rush, Yes, Starcastle, Kansas, etc…You will always wonder how good it would be if vocals were added, but in this case the 3 members of RHYTHM OF MARS create some beautiful melodies with the help of their instruments (guitar, keys, synths, etc.) and will impress any prog or should I say Symphonic Rockfan, because the band is actually a pure Symphony-Based band! It is quite a pleasure to listen to such wonderfully created music, and to wonder how many more of such quality independent bands are still out there, waiting to be discovered..." -Gabor Kleinbloesem, editor of Strutter'zine magazine from Holland (July 21, 2011) Visit this magazine's website at: http://www.strutter.8m.com
5 STAR REVIEW!!! www.muzikreviews.com/reviews.php?ID=1702
A&R SELECT REVIEW -http://www.prlog.org/11561403-rhythm-of-mars-releases-magical-set-of-songs.html
Rhythm of Mars releases “Romancing the Snake” to rave reviews
Splash Press Release (Press Release) – Jul 11, 2011
Rhythm of Mars
Patti Unruh, a classical pianist and Aaron Straub, a virtuoso guitarist met 4 years ago via an odd circumstance. They became friends and realized that they had a lot in common with their musical backgrounds. Patti went to University of Arkansas and University of Oklahoma in the early 709’s on music scholarships. She was a guest pianist for the Tulsa Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra in 1970 and did other venues until started a family in 1980. Aaron on the other hand is a guitar savant who has played in bands and composed an album for the band Without a Whisper in 2006. In September of 2010, they joined forces for the first time and the results were musical magic. Their decision to compose some music for possible soundtracks led them to Recording Engineer, Musician and IndyGo Studio owner Mike Bailey in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Patti and Aaron composed all the songs then returned to Mike for technical recording expertise. Mike also plays all the percussion on each track and the bass on the single “Mestengo” and “Inner Alien”. Now a trio, they have composed and recorded 8 songs together.
The EP title is “Romancing the Snake” with a plethora of singles that grasp the energy, texture and technical excellence of this group. The meaning behind the name of this EP, along with the lead single which bares the same name, describes the way the guitar ‘snakes around’ the piano. This is Rhythm of Mars’ signature sound which is creates a very unique sound. Every one of the tracks on this EP is diverse, layered in sound and in quality which clearly demonstrate the skill behind each member. The arrangements and recordings are outstanding with beautiful fusion of acoustic instruments and electronics.
Initially this “Romancing the Snake” was released with 6 songs. The newest version has 2 additional songs added on. You can call these compositions instrumental rock. I call them genius.
• The single “Rain”, which is an upbeat percussion, overload which signifies the beginning of a rain storm then progresses into harder rain and harder sound, was chosen for a Tribute Album to be released on July 20th through The Pick with Austin Foundation. This is a charity in the memory of a teen guitarist Alan Curley who committed suicide last October. You can go to www.pickwithaustin.com for more details.
• The single “Romancing the Snake” was chosen through Music Xray by Sean Guerrier De Bey for a World Live Music compilation album where proceeds will go to one of the major health charities to be named in the future.
• The single “Forbidden Dance” is currently wanted by a music publisher and for Radio Play on Women of Substance Radio – both found through Music Xray.
At this time, Rhythm of Mars is focusing on licensing and publishing their compositions for film/TV soundtracks along with radio play.
You can listen to and/or purchase their music by logging onto any digital storefront along with the following websites:
http://c1.promofm.com/bands/6237/index.php
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RhythmOfMars
www.reverbnation.com/rhythmofmar
www.myspace.com/rhythmofmars
Rhythm of Mars is currently working with A & R Select based in West Hollywood, Ca. for licensing, publishing, a record deal and/or placement opportunities. For additional information, please contact them at:
323-924-5897
www.arselect.com
