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The Mars Volta - Octahedron

Album Reviews

Psychadelic synth pop that makes you feel a little bit insane just listening.

Now, we all know that first impressions are of the utmost importance. Why then, would The Mars Volta choose to begin an album with approximately teo minutes of silence and barely there sounds that make you think that your speakers are broken? We don't know. And that is the first of many mysteries surround latest album, 'Octahedron'.

The opening track has a nice, dreamlike feel to it. It's absent yet melodic after a very slow start. The track is enlivened by deranged, damaged vocals with a soft edge, somewhat reminiscent of old school Savage Garden.

Following 'Since We've Been Wrong' are another seven tracks of epic proportions. All of which are a minimum of twice the length of the typical guitar-led indie rock of last summer. On the whole, we're looking at psychadelic synth pop that makes you feel a little bit insane just listening. The album seems to aim to take to you to various emotional extremes but never attempts to cross back to the usual side of the sanity border. It's unusual, interesting and slightly pretentious with an experimental feel.

Highlights might include 'With Twilight As My Guide, which sounds slightly like a schizophrenics nightmare. It's delirious, harmonious and eversocreepy with beautifully dissonant string/vocal concoctions. Rating: 8/10