SCAB DATES

Yep this is the first offical live album from the fantastic Mars Volta and i have to say my expectations for this album was unusually high, i had heard lots of great reviews about The mars volta's live concerts and was expecting something that was not of the ordinary side of things...

Well then the album is esentially three songs (Concertina,Cicatriz and Take The Veil Cerpin taxt) which are all split into 12 parts and features alot of jamming and improvisation. The album starts of with some baby crying and some words in spanish before it flawlessy slips into Take the veil...and i can tell you if you thing the Mars Volta sounded loud and frentic on the studio albums just wait till you hear this! Sometimes the frentic pace can get a bit too much and the slower parts are the best ones in my opinion. Also Cedrics vocals is not that good always although he sings good on the new parts it can sound a bit squeaky sometmes. All in all i also think the mixing of this album is a bit weak as the drums are barely heard and the guitars get too loud in the mix. (Perhaps it's because of omar is mixing the album.) The most interesting bit is ofcourse the 48 minute Cicatriz ESP which has alot of great riffs and improvisations and on the last Part you can hear some bits of music from both Eunuch Provocateur and Cassandra Geminni and it sounds really strange but good anyways.

All in all i really think that this album could have been alot better if it has been released as a double or perhaps as a Live DVD. Concentrating on just 3 songs from De-loused and the Tremulant EP is a bit boring when Frances The Mute is so much better. Also i think this album is really just for the hardcore fans of Frances The Mute because there is still alot of frentic and ambient sections im here. Good album albeit a bit disapointing, although there is expected to come a proper Live DVD from the frances the mute tours!

Standout track: Cicatriz ESP(The whole thing)

Similar music: How The West Was Won-Led Zeppelin-Really loud and dirty sound whit alot of extended parts and improvisations, my favourite Zeppelin album!