Music Review: Prog-rock wizards The Mars Volta show softer side but rocks hard on ‘Octahedron’
By John Kosik, APMonday, June 22, 2009
Music Review: Mars Volta show softer side
The Mars Volta, “Octahedron” (Warner Bros.).
Grammy-winning prog-rock wizards The Mars Volta show a softer side but still rock hard on their fifth studio outing, “Octahedron.”
A creative partnership between guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala — who breathe life into their collaborations with the help of various musicians — The Mars Volta soar just as high with acoustic guitars and piano arrangements as they do with blazing riffs and space-rock atmosphere.
The prolific Rodriguez-Lopez effortlessly weaves elements of punk, funk, psychedelia, jazz fusion, and Latin grooves into the mix, while Bixler-Zavala teams a scorching falsetto with an impressive vocabulary on his abstract, metaphorical vocals.
They kick off with a light touch on “Since We’ve Been Wrong” and bring some serious spaced-out funk-rock on “Teflon” and the dynamic “Halo Of Nembutals.” ”With Twilight As My Guide” sounds just like its title with gloomy acoustics and haunting guitar effects, and “Desperate Graves” is a dose of post-hardcore aggression.
The disc closes with the manic 1-2 punch of “Copernicus,” which floats into deep electronics, and the cryptic “Luciforms,” with a trippy opening that builds into wah-wah euphoria.
And euphoric is exactly what “Octahedron” is — yet another indispensable entry in The Mars Volta’s already impressive catalogue.
CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: “Cotopaxi” kicks hard from start to finish and features a ferocious performance by drummer Thomas Pridgen.
