The Mars Volta - L'via L'viaquez
The Mars Volta. The eclectic prog-rock outfit from El Paso, TX has since left the music industry but by the glory of the heavens left behind albums that can be praised, studied and dissected, or thrown out the window depending on your opinions of them. Though at times the band got a little too eclectic for my tastes, their first two albums are the high mark of their discography. “De-loused In The Comatorium” is a classic. It tells the story of young Cerpin Taxt, a man in a coma and during this coma, the band interprets what kind of stories and adventures Cerpin Taxt went on while in a coma. Ultimately the album was an homage to El, Paso artist Julio Venegas who attempted suicide and ended up in a coma. Upon awakening from his coma and release from care, he followed through with his act. Very somber moods.
Their second album ups on the ante on somber-ness. “Frances The Mute” follows the story of Vysmus Cignas, a young orphan on a path to find his birth mother and the reason for his abandonment. What follows are songs about prostituion, drug use, attempted abortions, fighting demons, possibly irreverant priests, and a lot a lot of funky music. The last track “Cassandra Gemini” clocks in at 32 minutes, with the song being broken down into 5 movements.
But I want to highlight the 3rd track on the album, “L’Via L’Viaquez”. Outside of the single “The Widow”, L’via is probably the most accessible track on the record for most listeners, even with it’s 12 minute track length. The song opens up with blazing guitar work and doesn’t want to slow down. This presents Omar Rodriguez Lopez at his best. While most times he can meander and get lost in the sound, here he plays some of his best while at the same time staying controlled and measured throughout the track. The song also presents a great example of The Mars Volta ability to bring together multiple genres of music. Prog-rock, jazz elements, latin fusion, and even some samba rhythms. The changes are seamless and really highlight the bands talents. So if you haven’t yet, give it a list and see what you think