A track that fell through the cracks for me back in November 2020 when it first came out, Robb Marr’s Death and Comfort (heard here), is so breathtakingly beautiful it will leave you wanting to play it again and again. It comes from his new podcast, Book Of Man, and is the first single from the LP by the same name, featuring music from the podcast, which should be out any time now. Death and Comfort was written during a time when Marr was losing his father, wrestling with the sense of impending loss, and finally coming to grips with his father’s mortality.

Lyrically, Death and Comfort are deeply personal, Marr’s feelings laid bare:

“I have relied on you body and soul
How to survive, how to be alone?
I am an island, tender to the bone
How to survive, how to be alone?

Now death is comfort go, go, go, let go
How to survive, how to be alone?
I am an island, tender to the bone
Go, go, let go, go, let go
Go, go, let go, go, let go”

When a composition is so personal, it leaves you with an impression of knowing more about the artist than you actually do, mourning and celebrating his father’s life with him. The music here matches the lyrics to a T. Marr’s piano flows majestically throughout, adding just the right warmth and, well…, comfort. 

Robb Marr started playing the piano at 7 and has been composing in earnest since he was 25. Death and Comfort is by no means an indication of his style as an artist. In fact, he is just as apt to combine indie-rock, hip-hop, folk, as well as classical piano, in his music. In writing this review, I went back and listened to a portion of 2007′s, Domestic Drama, which is full of fun and diverse music. 

Remember to watch for the LP for Book Of Man, which should be out soon.  In the meantime, you can find more information on Robb Marr, by heading up to his website, which is very complete, has links to the Book Of Man podcast as well as every other streaming and social link available. Consider purchasing any of Robb’s music by heading up to his bandcamp.com site. 

Note: With Covid-19 still around, probably to be with us for some time, artists like Robb Marr and many others need your purchases to keep their heads above water. If your situation allows it, consider purchasing more in these tough times. –Vodka