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Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
To say that tongues are wagging in anticipation of The Mars Volta’s second full-length release, Frances The Mute, is an understatement so shockingly under-proportioned that it makes me sick. My tongue’s rolled out like some kind of fleshy red carpet, such is my eagerness to douse my ears in prog-rock bombast. Frances The Mute doesn’t disappoint. In fact, pencil it in now for the end-of-2005 honours.
Here’s how it breaks down:
The album was recorded all over the place, from Byron Bay to New York City. Yet despite the disparate surroundings it was recorded in, Frances The Mute sounds utterly coherent and fully realised. Yes, it’s essentially one, long song drawn out over some six tracks, many of which are then divided into different parts again. Actually, it’s all a little Yes, isn’t it? For those that care about such things, it features guest appearances from Larry Harlow on piano and Flea on trumpet, as well as fellow Chili John Frusciante on guitar, Lenny Castro on percussion and Adrian Terrazas on saxophone and flute. Strings and horns, of which there are many, are arranged by David Campbell. The whole thing’s produced by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez himself.
And here’s what happened when muggins here heard it:
The album’s opened by Cygnus… Vismund Cygnus, which is in turn quartered into Sarcophagi, Umbillical Syllables, Facilis Descenus Averni and Con Safo. You might have already guessed that parts of it are sung in Spanish. The song opens quietly, but the drums that kick in alongside the first Spanish vocals are nothing short of amazing. They make your heart skip a beat, so out-of-the-blue are they. Later in the song, the band incorporate multi-layered vocals, coming on like some kind of Queen-meets-Zeppelin supergroup. Repeated lyrics include “Who do you trust?” One thing’s certain: trust and faith in The Mars Volta are totally restored after this opening alone.
The first song fades into noises akin to a jet engine slowing; a space rocket descending. A pulsating beat emerges from the white noise, peppered with street sounds and engines revving. Then track two, The Widow begins. It’ll be released as a single, and is by far the most commercially viable track on the record, not least of all because it doesn’t clock in at over 15 minutes or so. Again, the song is punctuated by huge drums (I really can’t stress enough how big they are), and strings come to the fore on the song’s chorus, ending with the line “Cuz I’ll never sleep alone…”. Presumably there’ll be a single edit, as after the last clear vocal fades the song collapses into more noise, like a child’s music box slowly breaking down, distorted and disjointed vocals permeating through. Another repetitive beat begins.
As does L’Via L’Viaquez, sung mostly in Spanish, some spoken-word segments aside. It possesses a strong latino/flamenco vibe (Flamenco-core, anyone?), with lots of Spanish guitar work, and features jazz pianist Larry Harlow. The song opens with a totally indulgent guitar riff that harks back to a bygone age of endless solos, replete with fretwork wankery that’d have the prog-rock masters crying in admiration. The beats that complement the opening remind me of the Head Automatica album.
We could be in some dusty cantina, only it’d be on the moon and drinks would be served by spacesuit-wearing chimps. I’m starting to think this is the best album I’m going to hear in an age.
Distorted vocals, again, close the song, only this time they’re positively evil, like a cartoon villain or something. Twittering noises, akin to birds at dawn or a number of squeaking wheels fill the speakers. The ambient drone slows and quickens, like a 45 being switched to 33 over and over again. It heralds the start of Miranda, That Ghost Just Isn’t Holy Anymore. Again, it’s a song broken into sections - Vade Mecum, Pour Another Icepick, Pisacis (Phra-Men-Ma) and Con Safo (note the last part shares its name with the first song – anyone know Spanish?). A trumpet runs circles around the squealing guitars, and the whole thing builds and builds until there’s no place else to go but down. And that’s where it goes, the vocals kicking in some five minutes in: “I’ve always wanted to eat glass with you again”. The background noises, all intricate and snake-like, threaten to suck you in deeper, but Cedric’s yelping keeps you at a safe distance. The song almost plods along for some minutes, only to pick up speed again at eight and a half minutes, and those drums (oh, those drums) return with a vengeance. Whilst the song’s playing, Televators comes on MTV2 (it’s on mute). Weird.
And to the centrepiece, the crowning glory of Frances The Mute - Cassandra Geminni. Broken into at least five sections - Tarantism, Plant A Nail In The Naval Stream, Faminepulse, Multiple Spouse Wounds and Sarcophagi, it twists and turns for some 30 minutes. Maybe. Truth be told, I’m lost in it. “I think I’ve become like one of the others” yelps Cedric. Err, I don’t think so.
Spoken word is used for the second time on the album, prominently at least, in the first few minutes. “She was a mink handjob in sarcophagus heels” whispers a Thriller-like voice. Oooh errr missus. Proggy guitars not heard since pigs floated over Battersea litter the track like spent papers on the tube come 10 o’clock. Everything reeks of over indulgence – this is The Mars Volta having their cake, eating it, and regurgitating it for their freakish offspring. Cedric’s possessed with a fury not heard since ATD-I, and…
…oh wait, those Queens of Noize hags are on the TV. I feel a little queasy…
…Anyway. A piano is pushed off a particularly tall building some way into the song (by this time I can’t tell when a track begins or finishes – the album’s a sprawling monster with a mind of its own), whilst Cedric repeats the line “Twenty five wives in the lake tonight”. Another guitar riff comes on like the Chilis gone absolutely mental – complete funk madness.
…fucking Kasabian are on the TV fuck fuck fuck…
As the track/song/whatever nears its conclusion, it turns into an epic, Pink Floyd-like number, so much so that I’m expecting Dave Gilmour to start whittering on mindlessly. Saxophone and a meat-ball bass play Swingball with each other. I’m playing air sax with my pen. Lines might be improvised. Where is my mind?
And then we’re done. The track Frances The Mute isn’t on this copy. It’ll be a delectable dessert come release time in March. The verdict? Like you need me to spell it out. I’ll leave you with what just might be the last line of the greatest album of 2005:
“This never happened, but I saw you leave, and crawl into a bed of broken windows”
Sleep tight.
-
Frances The Mute: revealed!
"I’m stinking like a swamp dog"
best opening ever.
I love at the drive-in, but have never really got into the mars volta - this makes me want to. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
Mr. Diver, I salute you. My anticipation was already at breaking point after hearing a stream of the Widow and a bit of Cassandra Gemini on Radio 1 but WOW. Roll on March. And the Brixton show, I got my tickets a few weeks ago. YES. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
the track Frances The Mute isn't on the album, it's being released as a self-titled single, a one-track, 15-minute 12" which serves as a "decoder" for the remainder of the album, apparently. the albums like what GY!BE would sound like if they were stranded in the desert drinking tequilla and smoking crack with james brown, it's amazing and surprisingly catchy after one listen -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
I refuse to listen to the leak that's come out on the 'net yesterdayish. The quality's apparently shite and I really want to get that whole seamless 'first time i listen to an album' feeling when it comes out properly, like I did with deloused. Also, waiting will only make it better. I'm absolutely in love with this band, in case it wasn't already obvious. Like the GY!BE analogy though... -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
which serves as a "decoder" for the remainder of the album
Something about this really makes me laugh. -
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What the cheese do they mean by 'decoder'? If you just buy the album, does it play in semaphore? Or not at all? Whaaaaaaat?! -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
The quality is alright... certainly as good as anything else you find in Webland. -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
But the waiting is so true, I got deloused for my birthday from my mother and even though i was desperate to play it the waiting made it better. -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
I think it roughly translates as "look at us, aren't we clever clever clever clever, in fact roughly 10000000 times more clever than you, YOU PEON." -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
Wow. What a shit present! You should've asked her for an album or something. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
:) Funny -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
The waiting's the important bit, even if the leak was CD quality (which I've heard it's clearly nowhere near) I'd wait... I'd just like to have it, with the artwork and everything, all in one go. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
This all sounds a bit like Rush......
I did love "Deloused" though. -
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They're trying to say 'we're so clever, we have to help you so that you can even begin to understand it'.
I'm sorry, but this record is going to be unlistenable, isn't it? I've heard the last one more than once and it sucked the life out of the room I was in (Bristol Louisiana, waiting for a gig to start...) -
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Trust me, it's so NOT unlistenable.
I was so surprised by how good it is. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
I was a tad apprehensive about buying this, even after the genius of 'De-Loused...'...but now I'm definitely going to purchase it. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
Well Done Mr.Diver, you seem to have won over everybody reading, making them buy the album. How much did they pay you?
And the quality on the 'net is now 192kbps-cdrip. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
Did no one else think "Deloused..." was hilariously bad??
sp xx -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
when you say "good", do you mean a lot better than the first album? because I thought deloused was a bit of a letdown. -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
If it is betterr than Deloused i am going to go nuts waiting for it. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
well said team cooper, michael diver you are a lazy and most predictable hype-machine excuse of a music critic -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
Dear, Micheal, Diver please, take a course, in writing, this is, terrible.
"Distorted vocals, again, close the song, only this time they’re positively evil, like a cartoon villain or something."
Lazy, poor grammer and full of hyperbole.
you're not trying to write for the NME are you? -
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I would've thought that someone with such a criticism would be able to spell ‘grammar’.
In any case, it's not like he's getting paid to write here. Get over it. -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
fuck waiting - I'm listening to it now, and on first impression, it does appear to be more interesting than the first album. fair play -
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maybe he just....liked it? -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
Agreed - take your NME-influenced hype elsewhere, Diver. Although the album sounds very, VERY good (got the leak, dontchaknow). -
Frances The Mute: revealed!
ok yeah teamcooper your spot on lets stop mike diver writing so theres no more updates on DIS..............YEAH GOOD ONE. -
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OK when the fuck will utter wankers on this site stop correcting peoples' spelling like its some kind of valid extension of the argument. Cock cock cock cock. -
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They'res nothing wrong withthat sentance.
;o) -
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Obviously the odd spelling mistake does no harm but when it is every other word some people get pissed off. -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
It seems you've missed my point entirely. I couldn't care less how anyone else spells anything.
When the 'argument' I was 'extending' was in fact someone posting unncessary and pedantic attack on the (unpaid) writers standard of English, I think it's more than reasonable to point out the hypocrisy demonstrated in the misspelling of the very word he was throwing in Mr. Diver's face. I thought it was an interesting preview.
Given that you have basically called me a wanker, a cock, a cock, a cock and a cock for as little as this, I would've thought that you would have agreed 100% with my original argument that the guy shouldn't be acting such a prick over a few misplaced commas. -
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Haha, spot the typos. I'm sure that only helps my case, spelling doesn't put a hair up my arse. A hypocritical attack on someone elses 'badly written' article does. I enjoyed it. Cheers Diver. -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
spot on. -
Re: Frances The Mute: revealed!
Jeeeez.
I could go on, but it's near enough Christmas, so I won't.
Anyway:
YES, the album's amazing. I love it. That's why the preview is written in a way that suggests that I like it.
NO, I'm not trying to drum up any needless hype. I don't need to; the album generates enough of its own.
Happy Christmas, kids. Stay safe.
M -
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And to call me lazy is just silly - did you not read the start of the piece?
I had to run to get there in time. -
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Of course when I say 'spot on', I am agreeing with chiarosomething's "maybe he just....liked it?" As opposed to the other rather mean sounding person. Man, how did this all get so bitchy? Can't wait for the new album to drop... -
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I suspect Diver is in fact DiS.
Just him. He occasionally uses pseudonyms, but now its just him. Maybe he ate all the other reviewers while listening to Isis and painting himself in their blood.
mmmm. -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
a true mars volta fan still hasnt listened to the album. i cant wait until march. -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
If it's half as good as Deloused... we're going to have something special on our hands. I haven't listened to the album yet (but only because I don't have broadband) but from previews like this I am creaming myself in anticipation.
About the spelling and grammar, I don't expect people commenting on this article to get everything right. I do expect the writer to be able to spell coherently and use good grammar though. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
the hype surrounding this is deafening lets all hope its warranted. De loused blew me away if this lives up to its predesessor then were all in for a big big treat. -
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Not even hilarious, just dull. -
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Oh thank god. I thought I was the only one who could see how naked the Emperor is. I've listened to Deloused a few times and I'm no philistine, but it's just a load of bollocks, isn't it?
I'd ask someone to explain, but I've lost enough of my life to it as it is. -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
The only reason people think deloused in the comatorium is "dull", "Hillariously bad", or "a load of bollocks" obviously doesn't know their music. No, those people probably don't even know what an eighth note might look like. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH. THE MORE A MAN UNDERSTANDS THE MUSIC THAT HE LISTENS TO, THE MORE HE WILL APPRECIATE IT. There. A message from the Son of Man Himself. This is a direct law of the universe my friend. The only reason Deloused sounds like crap to a few of you is because you are probably conditioned to hear COMMERCIAL MUSIC. That's what the majority of America is exposed to. Do you know how many people listen to the radio? You expect to hear 4 chord, 3-minute, "user friendly" songs that have been marketed to you through the airways, into a receiver, out through the speakers, into your listening ears, and processed by your conditioned minds on workdays during 5 o' clock traffic. If you don't get what I am trying to get across to you by now, here is all that bullshit that I just typed in one sentence. "If you don't appreciate it, you don't understand it". Everything makes perfect sense. Even you guys not understanding the music is understandable to me. You are ignorant. I can understand that. -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Crack heads. Drop your radios and listen to King Crimson. But only if you know your shit. A lot of this is completely inaccessible to musical nincompoops. So you five o'clock rock block listeners out there, BEWARE! They have been attacking the way things are done in the musical world for 36 years now with a new album coming out this year. And their last album in 2003 was some of the most challenging, completely original, beautiful music that has been written in a very long time. It sucks because so many people will turn their noses up at this music because they can't grasp it. And if you can't grasp the Mars Volta then don't even try to listen to Crimson. You probably think Tool (whom have admitted to have taking most of their influence from Crimson) is cool because they sound "trippy". Believe me, I've heard this many many times before. Imbeciles. They breach on musical and rythmic genius. If anyone else is musically intelligent enough to be into King Crimson, I'd love to hear it.
Favorite King Crimson Albums: Red, The Power To Believe, or Lark's Tongues in Aspic. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Most people have no understanding of music as they have the concentration faculties of the everyday goldfish. De loused is in my opinion an easily accessable album due to the strong riffs and excellent vocal melodies. Yes there are some bouts of noodling between tracks but overall its suprisingly straightforward stuff. Trying to convince people who think FranzFerdinand are the height of sophistication though may prove a little difficult. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Frances The Mute is a pop rock record - it has Flea on it fer fuksake.
I love it more than I loved you mum last Wednesday. -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I felt compelled to post simply because of some of the musical ignorance i've read on display here, and i agree fully with Your_Crimson_King. The Mars Volta (though not as much so as Crimson) is a style of music that you need to actually understand musically to fully appreciate. Bands like Crimson, Volta, Tool display such a rich and full sound that they can be listened to over and over again, each time hearing something different because of the track upon track layered over each section of a song (infinitly more complex than the 4 tracked pop-[insert genre] music thats being vomited out by record companies nowadays).
And a question for Mr. Driver. How do you figure that the presence of Flea causes this album to be Pop-rock? Flea is an amazing bassist and an accomplished musician. NOT a whoring pop session musician. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I felt compelled to post simply because of some of the musical ignorance i've read on display here, and i agree fully with Your_Crimson_King. The Mars Volta (though not as much so as Crimson) is a style of music that you need to actually understand musically to fully appreciate. Bands like Crimson, Volta, Tool display such a rich and full sound that they can be listened to over and over again, each time hearing something different because of the track upon track layered over each section of a song (infinitly more complex than the 4 tracked pop-[insert genre] music thats being vomited out by record companies nowadays).
And a question for Mr. Driver. How do you figure that the presence of Flea causes this album to be Pop-rock? Flea is an amazing bassist and an accomplished musician. NOT a whoring pop session musician. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
appologies for posting twice...im not sure why that happened?
a question for The Crimson fan up north. have you ever heard of Pocupine Tree? They have a new album coming out in march and Adrian Belew (names are hard to spell, is that right?) is apprearing on it. But even without that, still an amazing band. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Flea played on the first record too, dumbshit. You really know your Volta, don't you. And to those of you that think Flea is pop, fine. Sure he's on MTV and on the radio stations. BUT he is fucking amazing at bass. And he layed it down on Deloused. I haven't heard Frances the Mute. Their new single sounds similar to Televators, but I've only heard half the track. I'll give it a chance when it comes out. But I'm not going to waste money on a crappy 192 kbps copy of the album. There is so much more to be heard on true CD quality records. Peace. And "fer fuksake" listen to KING CRIMSON. BEST BAND IN THE WORLD... maybe. -
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I agree with Psilocybin whole heartedly. I'm also a very big fan of P. Cubensis, strictly in high doses. Low doses make you "feel weird". High doses put you in touch with the Cosmos, Self, God, Atman. Whatever you want to call it. I call it just that. "It". SO listen to King Crimson, The Mars Volta, and Tool on about 7 grams of dried P. Cubensis mushrooms and say goodbye to the illusory comfort zone you call "yourself". Become one with the music. It loves you. Love it back.
What separates us from our surroundings?
Is it empty space?
What is empty space?
Nothing.
So quite literally, NOTHING separates us from our surroundings.
We are all part of eachother.
All the particles in the universe make up One Creative Being, of pure act. Take psychadelics or practice meditation and you may experience yourself as the universe. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I've given Porcupine Tree a listen. Very interesting stuff. I think I would probably have to listen to it a couple more times to "get it". I think the album I heard was called In Absentia. I don't own it but judging from my first and only listen, I could probably get into it. That's crazy that Belew is playing on their next album. Speaking of great music, Adrian Belew's new solo album is coming out January 25th. Tool drummer Danny Carey and Primus, Frog Brigade bassist and vocalist Les Claypool are on the record. Can you imagine this? It's confirmed on Belew's website. Carey, Claypool, and Belew. Amazing. The Power Trio is also scheduled for a North American tour although no dates are set. There could probably be a whole topic set up on the board for this one. You can download a album teaser at his website, www.adrianbelew.net. Also the 7th incarnation of King Crimson is born. Tony Levin back in the band, Trey Gunn out. So the lineup for Crimson 7 is Fripp, Belew, Mastelotto, and Levin. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I was joking.
Having heard it, it's not pop rock. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Better than King Crimson:
Genesis
Yes
Gong
Gentle Giant
ELP
The Floyd
Pere Ubu
etc. -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
When i hear that there are people who hate The Mars Volta I feel very happy !!!
I love the mars volta I think they are the gods of music the revolution-evolution BAND ! but I prefer that they stay unfamous ! I don't want the mass people of america and other countries to buy the cd's from mars volta ! Remember that Omar & Cedric had split At the drive in because they've become famous ! Imagine if Mars Volta split up ! So for those who don't like them continue like that ! -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion aren't they Mike? It is my opinion that King Crimson is the best band in the world. If it is your opinion that those bands are better than Crimson then I respect your opinion. I do not, however respect the idea that those bands are better than Crimson as an objective fact. Objectively, there is no best band. Do you know about subject-object relationships Mike? If you don't, and you think that it is a cold hard fact that the bands you have mentioned are better than King Crimson, than I would advise that you brush up on the theory of relativity. There is a book you might want to read called I, Reality, and Subjectivity. You can find it on Amazon. I, for a fact no that nothing is better than anything else in the objective universe. But from my point of view (and I may mention that I have a sturdy background in music) King Crimson surpasses all of the bands you have mentioned in musical integrity, compostition, and sheer power. Crimson did something no other band had imagined and they continue to do so. I'm pretty decent at debate Mike. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
this is the way my son. usually long term success and fame go together. i expect they split from at the drive-in because fame goes against what they were doing, punk is about a big Vs up against society not fame and fortune and it would have changed their long term fans opinions too - i think they were trying to keep some dignity and undergroundNESS attached to their music. -
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oh and i dont think theyll be overly popular, their music is like that of mahavishnu orchestra and overly complex to the ear of most music listener (to be stereotypical to the pop cultured singles market where only 4 chords and a chorus matter). -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
The Mars Volta wont become huge. To become huge you must be shite. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I am winding you up, dude.
I once wrote a fanzine on King Crimson.
Seriously. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
So Mike the Diver is joking one day, serious the next. What an all around guy you are! And Tinysparks remark is ludicrous. Tool is huge. Not shite. THE BEATLES for crying out loud. Shite? They're still huge. They are most certainly not shite. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Even if Omar and Cedric left because of ATDI getting famous, and even if they do break up the Mars Volta because of the same reason, it's not like they're both going to stop making music...(also factor in that ATDI's main writing was done by its other guitarist [now sparta frontman] so we can expect that the next Omar Cedric band would have a more "volta" sound to it as oppossed to what came out of ATDI) -
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i agree with crimson on that one tinyspark...big doesnt mean shit. there's definatly a big difference between big and selling out. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I'm gonna press for a point in Crimson's favour here....note that many (if not all) the bands mentioned by mr.driver are considered prog....a genre that was essentially started by King Crimson, and what really is better than the original. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
That's amazing news about carey and claypool. i knew that carey and belew had done a few things together in the past but i never suspected this, and with the addition of the best bassist ever...should be a good show.
I'm not really sure what to think about Levin being back, it's good that an older member is back in, but i hope gunn wasnt ousted as his did his job well (and i also loved the two fret hand style on those custom 8 string basses) -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
jsut to clear this little matter up. It's not because they got big that Omar and Cedric left. It's because they felt Jim had become a record label whore and didnt want to continue working with him....that was pulled from an interview with Cedric so you can trust me on this one -
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And the fact they were always fucked on Crack and Heroin didn't help either. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I don't think he was ousted. I hope not. Trey Gunn is freaking amazing. I think I like him more than Tony Levin. Tony Levin always added a heavier, commanding lead, but Gunn's work with the Warr guitar is brilliant. There are 8, 10 and 12 string Warr guitars that are made by the company. It's more smooth and flowing. I think Trey Gunn chose to leave the band to pursue his solo project. I have a CD/DVD of the solo project. It consists of 2 Warr guitar players (the other being Tony Geballe) and a guitar player. Not to mention the drummer who is OUTSTANDING at the tablas. At points during their live shows he is playing the tablas connected to his set, with some other eastern drum under his arm. They specialize in a sort of eastern, heavy, smooth, flowing type of music. Some ambient stuff layered over moving interconnected lines. For anyone who cares this CD/DVD is called Untune the Sky. The Warr Guitar that he uses has bass strings, treble strings and i believe one part of the fret board is fretless. Strange instrument. Also I think the strings on this thing vibrate constantly so all you have to do is tap the strings to get a tone. I am unsure of this but I think it's the only way you could TAP a harmonic and then somehow, magically slide that harmonic note up a number of half steps. If anyone knows exactly the nature of the Warr guitar or how one could slide a harmonic note up the fret board it would greatly be appreciated. By the way speaking of Levin, I saw a picture of him getting taught The Construkction of Light by Fripp taken last month. And Levin admitted that Gunn's bass lines on this song especially are very very demanding. Even for him. The Construkction of Light is a musical masterpiece. The first time I heard it was on the Eyes Wide Open dvd. It's sounds good with the studio version with electronic drums, but on the dvd Mastelotto is using acoustic and electronic drums and it sounds like multicolored rivers of light passing through the air. Fucking amazing work. The website for Warr guitars is http://www.warrguitars.com. These things go for up to 20,000 dollars. Looks like I'll never get my hands on one. I think I'd have to get a new car or house first. :) -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I didn't knew that the reason of the ATDI's split was Jim !! -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
The way the warr works is the same as any other guitar, only instead of stumming or picking he taps every note, using both hands on the fret board..quite efficient...The price is a good explination as to why he gets such a rich, clean and clear tone out of just tapping. amazing quality (much the same as les claypools bass, he taps lightly on the first fret and it comes out clear as day). After seeing Eyes Wide Open, i have great respect for Gunns playing...he's young too -
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Hey, i was just reading up on Belew.....Do you know that claypool and carey are going to tour with him?? i know they did the recording but there was talk on the web site of him auditioning for a bassist and a drummer??? does that mean that they wont be touring with belew....? -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Crap. That sucks. I didn't read the fine print. I'm going to go curl up and die now. I guess Carey and Claypool are too busy with other projects to tour with Belew. Sucks ass. But I'm sure whoever Belew recruits will be two badasses. They have to be. Tool's putting out a new album. Hmm Crimson and Tool putting out new albums. Maybe we'll have a repeat of the 2001 Crimson/Tool tour. Wishful thinking, but I really want it to happen. Missed the last one. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Too bad about claypool and carey however; i've read up a bit more on it: Belew has two members know to his new touring band. He held some auditions and got two unknown (but still amazing) players for his power-trio...apparently he wants to give some new people a chance (because that is what happened to him with frank zappa). And yes! new tool! im dying with anticipation...i think this might prove to be a good year -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Why does the record have to be released in March instead of now? I just can't wait really.
Okay everyone new conversation point; Everyone's favourite Volta song? For me its Roulette Dares. The first 4 minutes are musical perfection. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
erietarka....nuff said. -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Eriatarka...definatly -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
For me it's Cassandra Gemini! What a fantastic opera !!! -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Anyone have any pictures of the Mars Volta that they'd like to see published in a magazine? I'm a huge Volta fan and their best song is drunkship of lanterns. Although I can understand why some might say eriatarka and roulette dares. If you haven't seem 'em live, you ain't seen nothing yet! If you've got some pics, I publish a free music and politics mag out in LA and we'd love to print them! -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
if i were to recieve the leaked version of this album, and i dont have any ftp or torrent things on my computer, how could i get it -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
I think Big Little John is sending it via smoke signals right about now. -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
can't wait to hear it.....i know there's a 15% coupon when you order it from insound....'frances15' -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
You could just try buying a copy like the majority of the people here...... -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Or just download it. Like I can't cos of my tortoise-speed connection. I want broadband just for this. -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
It's basically 'Six' by Mansun, only more shouty and Spanishy.
(This is meant as a compliment, by the way.) -
Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
Yes apart from neither Mansun nor The Mars Volta being prog.
Anyone who calls them prog should be shot for being lazy, any journalists that describe them as prog should be sacked.
If you haven't heard SIX, I suggest you get it.
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Re: Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
You know that thing where you read something someone's written here and your mind counjers a face and voice for them despite the fact that you don't really know anything about them? My image of Your_Crimson_King is hilarious (with his trusty sidekick, Psilocybin)! -
The Mars Volta, Live!
WOW - I saw The Mars Volta last night at Roseland in New York -- absolutely incredible!!! They represent the ultimate amalgam of modern rock, jam band, latin, 80's arena rock, prog, jazz ... everything's there. After a 30-minute jam, the band jumped into one of their many cohesive, unique tracks. They performed NON-STOP for two hours and 20 minutes, from a jam to a single and back again, leaving the crowd in an endless state of awe. Every fan of music should see them live. This is one concert you won't regret. The only risk is that, afterward, other bands you see may seem a little less impressive. -
Re: The Mars Volta, Live!
Fact: You just replied to my post with the word "cunt"
The End -
Mars Volta Frances The Mute: revealed!
huh? this post was on the general board and yrs was the first post, posted twice in different anmes (which is the reason for the 'cunt' post)
i apoligise -
I don't mean to upset you...
...but "peoples" isn't a word. Therefore if you meant "the spelling of people" you should have written "people's spelling". (I amuse myself and that'll do...)
You're attacking someone for attacking the spelling/grammar of someone who attacked the spelling/grammar of someone else.
You're silly.
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DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S SUPERFUNNY?
I got a preview copy of this album for nowt and gave it away.
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gdaggad
Nice. If I dont appreciate it I dont understand it. Look these guys may know what an eighth note is but they skipped the class where they taught playing music that has any musical value and coherency. Ray Charles played plenty of 4 chord, 3 minutes "user friendly" songs. HE is a genius. These guys may be able to play fast and switch time signatures but that in itself means nothing. Im open to all kinds of music. Im not conditioned for "COMMERCIAL" music at all, just good music, so dont give me that argument either. I have nothing whatsoever against this band but it bugs me that people think this album is genius - comparing and equaling them to great bands of the past or going on about how they are so revolutionary. Im sure The Mars Volta are embarrassed by all that stuff(I sure hope they are)
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ELP!!!?? HAH!
ELP are NOT better than King Crimson.
ELP's most recent album: In the Hot Seat. Unbelievably crappy. Makes Black Moon and Love Beach sound like Brain Salad Surgery by comparison.
King Crimson's most recent album: The Power to Believe. Transcendent. Every bit as fresh as every other album they've ever done, and a perfect example of why they never play the old classics, but always the new classics at their shows. As opposed to, say, Karn Evil 9 1st Impression, Part 2/Eruption/Stones of Years/Iconoclast/Knife Edge/Bullshit medleys. That shit sucks, and nobody wants to hear it.
ELP: Awesome band with unfortunately more crap in their songbook than not, for one reason or another.
King Crimson: The best band in the world, hands down, and every album they do is as great as the first. -
Sadpunk's a idiot
Sadpunk your name obviously says everything about you. That you cant understand complex experimental music like the Mars Volta. An idiot comment on your part Deloused being hilariously bad??? I don’t think you understand Ced, or Omar to realize this album was the farthest thing from bad. Get out of this commentary your not welcome. -Asiram-
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I don't know about you
but I'm in 2004 and I'm very upset.
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you just told sadpunk!
oh no wait, you didn't, you posted on a three-and-a-half year old article no-one would otherwise ever have read again, and the only result of your comment is that you look like a cunt.
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