FRANCES THE MUTE

Did I mention in my previous TMV review for De-Loused how overwhelming, excessive, nerve-shattering, unique, emotive, innovative, original, boundary-breaking and progressive this band is? Well, on their second full length, TMV sound even more mature, for a number of reasons.

The music has opened up a bit more, having longer stretched out jams and more quiet parts. Occasions aplenty where Omar A Rodriguez-Lopez and the other band members get ample room to freak-out. Also, the more relaxed sections and songs allow the listener to catch his breath. Another advantage is that they let some of their more experimental side come to the fore. Early Floyd has a strong influence here and I like their psychedelic noise parts ( for example the end of The Widow). Kraut is back!

On L'vi l'viaquez their Latin side prevails, it's a great funky vibe that expands their prog with the sexier and wilder side of rock, an element usually absent in progressive rock, which normally talks more to the head then to the hips (so if you still wonder why women usually don't like prog, look no further, that's the reason, prog has no balls :). TMV have that edgier element in their sound and it's what makes them remind me of Led Zeppelin, the sexiest band ever to grace the planet. With a voice that sits somewhere between Tom York and Robert Plant, TMV have the best possible singer they could dream of.

This band has let in some more then welcome fresh air into the prog-scene. Of course there are great melodic progressive bands aplenty these days (Opeth, Anekdoten, PT, Riverside?), but TMV bring the whole Crimson/Kraut/early Floyd experimentation and innovation back into today's scene. Combine that with their Zeppelin'esque groove & guts and you hit gold! My favourite TMV album. Classic album art as well by the way.