FRANCES THE MUTE

Wow, I first bought this album right after buying De-Loused and the first time I listened to it, I was in awe at how absolutely different it was! It sounded like some freaky mix between techno and psychedelia! This album is just a wonderful piece of art, top of its class.

Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus, Wow. WOW. It starts so quietly with Sarcophagi, that I put my volume up full blast to fully hear it. Then this spaz prog funk blast, shoots me in the face and I have no time to stop it. It's wonderful. The beginning is like some trippy mix of Can and Vanilla Fudge. It was very entertaining. Then the song cuts off to this prog creative improv jam to get shot back into the main chorus. The song ends with some wicked fading drum fills. That slowly becomes, a random spastic bunch of ambient noises. It's very weird for me, because one of the voices I can hear yelling sounds like this kid I know from my school. Masterpiece! (10/10)

The Widow, starts off a little like a Coldplay song, but that doesn't last very long. This song is basically a purposeful effort to put out a proper single. It's good, it relaxes me. The random ending annoys me to no end. I usually just shut it off once the noises begin. (7/10)

L'Via L'Viaquez, what a concept. A on/off switch of music. It's either a heavy hitting prog song with wicked guitar playing, or a slow, soft ballad with obscure lyrics. The first time I heard this, I didn't realize it was spanish and was basically blown away by the idea of it. This song, for some odd reason, doesn't get repetitive at all! You'd think after hearing those two themes played for 13 minutes, you'd sick of it, but you don't! Overall solid track, great addition to the album. (9/10)

Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore. Long title. Longer song. The beginning sounds like what I would picture a jungle/post apocalypitic future/western movie would sound like. It's all that and a bag of chips. The song takes a while to actually start, some people don't like that. I, on the other hand, see it as a level of mega progression, that is unheard of in music today. Once the song actually starts though, it really does start. It becomes this wonderful slower song that is like some Pink Floydian acid trip. Then, it ends in the ending theme of Cygnus. (9/10)

This song starts immediately and without warning. The very very first part is sort of annoying, but it becomes this progressive epic that goes on for almost 35 minutes. It has its ups and downs, (writing wise) but it comes out triumphant. My personal favorite part of the song is Faminepulse, which sounds like the Mahavishnu Orchestra on acid. Then, like a true progressive record, ends the way it began. With Sarcophagi. Sprawling and wonderful, this is definitely and without a doubt the best song on the album. (10/10)

This sprawling landmark record, is generally very well appraised by the prog community. I give it an easy 4.5 stars. It's outlandish, experimental, technical and progressive. Truly music at its best.