... Frances the Mute is also written about the death of a friend, but in this case it is a far more recent thing, and the music reflects this. It ably portrays bitterness and desperation, with moments of hope and longing (in the form of Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers on the trumpet). The Mars ... Read review
Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus [Sarcophagi - Umbilical Syllables - Facilis Descenus Averni - Con ... more
Safo] The Widow L' Via L' Viaquez Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore [Vade Mecum - Pour Another Icepick - Pisacis (Phra-Men-Ma ) - Con Safo] Cassandr...
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Given that Mars Volta's Omar Rodriquez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler Zavala are ideologues; ... more
Afro-haired chin scratchers who believe that Seventies progressive-rock music was alright really but too 'white' and quite possibly a little bit too sheepish for its ...
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Advantages: Brilliant, cutting edge and original Disadvantages: Hard to get into
...justifiably dark and somewhat eerie. Frances the Mute is also written about the death of a friend, but in this case it is a far more recent thing, and the music reflects this. It ably portrays bitterness and desperation, with moments of hope and longing (in the form of Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers on the trumpet). The Mars Volta do not believe in silences between tracks, so they link them up almost seemlessly, to create one very long musical masterpiece. ...sections:
Cygnus... Vismus Cygnus: This starts off in a Baroque type style, with a slow guitar, built up with sound effects. It suddenly changes time and key signature, to become much faster and the words less distinguishable. The first real words that you hear are 'All night, I'l hope for you, let me show you what I need' and then something in Spanish. Throughout this section the general speed changes very frequently, making it a ... more
De-loused in the Comatorium was an album written about the death of a friend several years before, so was justifiably dark and somewhat eerie. Frances the Mute is also written about the death of a friend, but in this case it is a far more recent thing, and the music reflects this. It ably portrays bitterness and desperation, with moments of hope and longing (in the form of Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers on the trumpet). The Mars Volta do not believe in silences between tracks, so they link them up almost seemlessly, to create one very long musical masterpiece.
The album breaks down into 5 clear sections:
Cygnus... Vismus Cygnus: This starts off in a Baroque type style, with a slow guitar, built up with sound effects. It suddenly changes time and key signature, to become much faster and the words less distinguishable. The first real words that you hear are 'All night, I'l hope for you, let me show you what I need' and then something in Spanish. Throughout this section the general speed changes very frequently, making it a little hard to keep up with, with always holds your attention.
The Widow: The shortest section and released as a single, yet arguably the weakest part of the album. It is far easier on this track to make out all the words, and with no Spanish or Latin parts, this is the most accessible section of the album.
L'Via L'Viaquez: In my opinion the best part of the album, with the most intricate and emotive music. It is brought in very slowly and quietly, almost forcing you to stop listening and foget it's there. This is suddenly and viciously cut off by loud powerful vocals, singing in Spanish. This section also features John from The Red Hot Chili Peppers playing bass.
Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore: For a 13 minute song, Miranda... does not have many words to go with it. Again brought in slowly, to the sound of morning birds, haunting sound effects kick in, giving the impression spiritualism. Nothing really seems to happen in this song for almost 5 minutes. This may sound a lot, but in the context of the rest of the album, is barely noticeable. This is the only section on the whole album, which is entirely laid back, with no real speed to the music. It keeps building up, and giving you mental images, but never quite reaches where you think it may be headed. Listen out for Flea on trumpet at around 9 minutes.
Cassandra Geminni: This seems to be a recap of the whole album, and the only section that is actually split up in terms of tracks. With each sub-section being reminiscent of a corresponding section. Overall works on its own as a section as well though.
Overall this is an excellent album, but is by no means for everyone. It is very difficult to relate to. I would recommend to anyone, that if they listen to it and don't like it, then keep listening to it in different ways. For example, listen to it in detail, trying to pick up on all the hidden messages and imagery, but also have it on while not listening to it, in order to attain the full impact of the album.
Advantages: moments of truely classic music Disadvantages: many may regard as a hard listen
i am currently listening to frances the mute as i write this review.
upon initially listening to frances the mute i was disapointed.
the first thing i noticed is that there was 5 tracks, and secondly that some tracks were acompanied by several minutes of pure noise at either side. after i had listened to mars voltas previous releases almost their death it was somewhat of a disapointment. But from the outset this album is nothing short of outstanding. ... ...in the world today, omar rodriguez lopez plays some of the most experimental, soulful, atonal and melodic guitar iv'e heard for a good few years. The drummer john theodore is something else, in the live setting he shines as a powerhouse in a complete shower of genres from jazz through to salsa, punk, rock, dance and world. Juan Alderete is an understated yet impressive bassist, driving through and especially impressing on the interludes and breakdowns ...
eunuch_provocatuer 26.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Frances The Mute - Mars Volta (The)
Advantages: beautiful piece of prog rock Disadvantages: not for the close-minded!
The Mars Volta have done it again. Originally designed as only 5 tracks, this album had to be cut into smaller chunks as the songs were branded "too long". That doesn't matter though - on listening, they still appear as a whole - in fact one of the beauties of the Volta is how the entire album comes across as a whole. Listening to this album is a sensory experience rather than just something to stick on at random.
Although this album has more slower, ...
beefcake_nat 16.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Frances The Mute - Mars Volta (The)
Advantages: New and exciting Disadvantages: Hard to get into
...However enough of the past. Frances the Mute is similar but differnet. The tracks are certainly longer. Cygnus Vismund... Cygnus, which opens the album is probably the best thing I've heard all year. It has several parts to it which each slide into each other perfectly. The combination of lyrics and instrumental parts really provoke emotions and spirit within you. Cygnus is clearly the best part of the album. It then breaks into The Widow which is ... ...strangely enough. It isn't as good as Cygnus but I still enjoy it. The rest of the album although good isn't as impressive as Cygnus. It fits in with the theme of the album, mainly instrumental mixing vocals here and there. A nice touch is the use of Mexican, I presume its Mexican as Cedric and Omar have roots there.
Anyway overall the album is good and I enjoyed it a lot. Takes awhile to get into. I still prefer Deloused in the Crommatorium but ...
tombrasington1337 28.03.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Frances The Mute - Mars Volta (The)
Advantages: Fantastic arrangement of tracks from a band that is pushing the boundaries. Disadvantages: Sound may not be to the taste of all listeners.
Frances The Mute is the second studio album from the Mars Volta. The band is the brainchild of the former At The Drive-In members Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler Zavala.
The album, which is only 5 tracks long but runs for over 70 minutes, is based on the diaries of Jeremy Ward, who was the band's audio artist until his untimely death.
The sound is similar to that of their debut Deloused In The Comatorium. Tracks are built up on a number ...
Schubbard_28 15.05.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Frances The Mute - Mars Volta (The)
Advantages: Different Disadvantages: Hard to get into and half of it is in spanish
Gosh did i love 'At the Drive In' and their hard hitting lyrics about the political curruptness that plagues South America. So when this album came out by the band spawned from the reminants of this legendary band, boy was i filled with expectations...
...And boy did it disappoint. I found it very hard to listen to and get into and lost in the music as i to be frank i was bored. None of the track inspired me like the last album. I found the long ... ...all the way to the single 'The widow' which i have to give them credit for, when the Mars Volta are good they are out of this world but just as easily they can turn into an array of eerie intrumental noise that gives you the shivers.
For want of a better word i can only describe this album as weird, if that is what you are into then this is the album for you but if you are like me and dont appreciate large instrumental solos and the piercing wails ...
karennastar 11.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Frances The Mute - Mars Volta (The)
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Reviews which might be of interest for "Frances The Mute - Mars Volta (The)"
Advantages: Experimental, yet accessible. Disadvantages: Well I guess you might end up spending too much time listening to it...
The MarsVolta's first full-length album, and definitely a triumph in it's own right. Though not as perfect as it's sequel, Frances The Mute, it is a far more accessible album- blending the post-hardcore style of at.the.drive-in with the new blood and influence of The MarsVolta we know today.
Music-wise, this album is brilliant. This is perhaps a more effect-heavy album than it's successor, but who can tell with all the layers in Frances The Mute? Anyway, that's not all that's different. Omar Rodriguez (singer) blasts us with a very different voice than he did in at.the.drive-in, somewhere between the raw hardcore style of yore and the more classically-trained sound he has developed in recent albums.
The album starts softly with 'Son et Lumiere', building in this intro to the sudden start of 'Inertiatic Esp' (something they like ...
Product Information for "Frances The Mute - Mars Volta (The)" »
Product details
Title
Frances The Mute
Performer
Mars Volta (The)
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Progressive Rock
Release Date
21/02/2005
Recomended Retail Price
13.99 GBP
Original Release Year
2005
Label / Distributor
Universal / Universal Music
Engineer
Jon Debaun; Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez
Producer
Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
75021039773
Catalogue Number
2103977
Additional notes
Album Notes
The Mars Volta: Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez, Cedric Bixler Zavala. FRANCES THE MUTE, the highly anticipated follow-up to the Mars Volta's stunning debut, DE-LOUSED IN THE COMATORIUM, finds the band's masterminds, Cedric Bixler Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (both formerly of At the Drive-In), diving further into their bizarre, unique sonic aesthetic. Here various forms of Latin music merge with ambient passages, jazzy interludes, and fierce progressive rock. The Latin influence, in fact, is more evident than ever, with Bixler Zavala often alternating between Spanish and English lyrics, and full-on salsa sections providing a melodic respite from the energetic chaos (particularly on "L'Via L'Viaquez," which features pianist Larry Harlow). Despite the complexity of FRANCES THE MUTE's suite-like song structures, the tracks form a fascinating whole, never losing focus of the group's key elements--Bixler Zavala's stunningly expressive vocals and Rodriguez-Lopez's amazingly proficient guitar heroics. A challenging and fascinating album, FRANCES THE MUTE reinforces the Mars Volta's reputation as a bold, iconoclastic band.
Album Reviews
Spin (pp.83-4) - "77 dizzying minutes...with timbales, loping strings, guest musicians and tortured moans....The Mars Volta are typing as fast as they can, throwing up screen after screen of concepts and rhythms." - Grade: A-
Uncut (p.91) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[M]ighty entertaining. Beyond the obvious ambition and virtuosity, it's zeal which makes this so exhilarating..."
Alternative Press (p.130) - 5 out of 5 - "[I]t's already the most riveting album of 2005 - provided you're ready to carve a wide enough hole in your consciousness to accept it."
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