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The Mars Volta Frances the Mute Released in 2005 7.7/10 Styles Prog Rock Psychedelia Space Rock Song Highlights Cygnus ... Vismund Cygnus Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore Cassandra Geminni |
"Pink Floyd on amphetamines" is a pretty bad way to describe any music, just as likely to make you skeptical as it is to give a useful impression. In the case of Frances the Mute, however, it's disturbingly accurate. The album is reminiscent of Pink Floyd in several ways - particularly its sweeping, multi-part song structures, massive guitar solos and general feeling of enormity - but all of this is channeled through The Mars Volta's fast, punchy style. The opener, "Cygnus ... Vismund Cygnus," flies through a huge power-rock opening, then drifts into a bridge of seemingly improvisational noodling, and then launches back into the chaotic buzz a few minutes on. These alternating song cycles continue throughout the album, resulting in a fascinating and unpredictable listen. Frances the Mute feels absolutely epic from start to finish. At almost 80 minutes, the album is pretty long, but through the clever arrangement of fast and slow movements, it never seems to drag (paradoxically, it manages to feel even longer). The multi-part tracks continually find new ground to tread, rolling from one concept into another. These style-shifts, combined with the seamless flow-on between tracks, give the album a meandering, exploritory feel, which is both challenging and very exciting to hear. Recommended. |