TREMULANT EP

The debut EP from the Mars Volta is an excellent springboard for anyone who's looking to get into the band. It shows off the bands best qualities, most of which are present on their follow-up release, as well as some of the problems that plauge their latest release, Frances the Mute. The album opens with the song Cut That City, which opens with 2 minutes of electronice pulses and a thinly veiled beat before breaking into a full-on assault of syncopation that I've not really heard since I listened to Rush. The song follows a fairly standard flow until the more quiet breakdown at the 4 min. mark. The song ends rather abruptly, and segways straight into Concertina, the second song on the EP. It has a much more relaxed feel to it, but features a farily heavy "chourus" and another breakdown. The 3rd and final track is Enuch Provocatour, by far the best song on the album. Clocking in at 8 min., It features a salsa rythm throughout most of the song, and really captures the essence of TMV at the time. All in all, the CD is really a great stepping stone for anyone trying to get into the band, and while it does have it's faults, it will grow on you into a great EP that you may love.