Mark Harrington’s 3rd CD release, Alter, has a much smoother production than the last intentionally-raw release Trash Icon (of 10 years ago). On Alter, 12-string acoustic guitars outnumber the distorted electrics, though both are present. File under alt-pop, as ballads punctuate the alt-rock.
Mark Harrington released a number of independent solo recordings in the late 80s, and 2 CDs in the 90s: 1993's Capricorn Flakes, and 1999's Trash Icon. The CDs are "alt-pop/rock"; the simple and immediate quality of the guitar-driven songs is preserved despite the use of electronics. Mark's voice has drawn comparisons to early David Bowie, and Peter Murphy, but the lyrics maintain a quirky sense of humour not often associated with those artists. Mark Harrington has recorded 2 cover songs that have gotten some attention: a cover of Gary Numan's Cars (on Trash Icon.), and David Bowie's Changes (on Rubbernkkerz: 33 1/3rd).
Around the year 2000, Mark began recording music that varied from his other work, and he gave it a new name: Rubbernekkerz. It is a darkwave hybrid, and the emphasis is placed on creating a mood. Two Rubbernekkerz CDs have made it to earth from the mobile recording studio on the orbiting space station, and it seems that aliens were involved in the songwriting. 2006's "33 1/3rd" and 2010's "Tripping in the Dark" spell out the first chapters in the nightmare.
In the late 1980s, Mark played in the electronic rock trio Heik and the Shakes. Subsequently, he co-founded the Toronto Experimental Artists artist-run label (with Ed Sinclair around 1988). Mark Harrington also formerly served as the Canadian correspondent for )ism(, a chapbook & writing distribution network, and has written bios and press kits for other musicians. Harrington has been described as a "perennial and voluntary outsider".
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