FRANCES THE MUTE

Well having heard so much about this band i thought I would try them out - being a Pink Floyd fan and many others, and secretly liking a little punk rock in my early days (sorry), I wasn't disappointed. Infact, this is spectacular - infact metal heads amongst my sons' mates also like it - and have bought copies.

I guess I'm lucky in that I never heard Deloused first - as too many people try to compare it with that album. Personally I would recommend starting with this one before Deloused if you haven't already.

If you don't like extensive noodling then you won't like this - personally I love all that (I mean - who ever complained when Pink F noodled to the point of self-indulgence?). I mean - self indulgence is cool in prog rock. Besides the noodling tends to follow the main song/ track each time, so feel free to skip to the next track each time and you'll love it anyway.

If you like a mix of prog and punk then for the first time ever (except perhaps for VDGG) you have it.

It's wild - I mean really wild - and it rocks. John Frusciante's solos in L'Via are totally fantastic (if a little short lived).

It's also cool and laid back (Miranda that Ghost is a superb track in this field - listening to this track it really feels there is a bad ghost behind you - scary!)

Maybe prog? Perhaps 'creative rock' (I think this is a good term for bands who don't admit to being prog rock when they really are!) Perhaps punk prog - who knows? I don't care - it's so different and so good - at the extreme wild end of modern prog (at the very opposite end you'll find Sigur Ros, and in the middle Porcupine Tree, I guess - but all of these bands rock!)

Finally, when you listen to Cassandra Gemminni - focus on that picture of a guy upside down on that awesome tree - it really works!

Only frustrating thing - I understand that most shpos give out a copy of Frances the Mute/ Widow single when you buy - I didn't know this, and it didn't happen for me - hence I have yet to hear the title track - aaaaaarrgh! Make sure you ask when you buy...

Maybe if they re-release this in the future, they should include the single as a bonus disc.

Keep going please - when is the next album???