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The Mars Volta - Live CD (album) cover

LIVE

The Mars Volta

 

Heavy Prog

3.43 | 49 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
3 stars This long EP (or short album if you like) is an excellent snapshot of what Mars Volta is able to offer while playing live.

You might understand that there won't be sweet ballads in here. Dynamite 'almost) all the way through. Such an energy is truly amazing.

Three out the four songs recorded on this live album were excellent tracks form their very good debut album "De-Loused". Each track is a bit longer than its original counterpart. In the case of "Roulette Dares" to extend the spacey closing part was not a bad idea after such a surge.

"Drunkship Of Lanterns" was recorded during the same "live" session at XFM studio in London. The high pitched vocals from Cedric (sort of hate or love) are flawless and passionate and this rendition highlights the jamming capabilities of the band.

The next two songs were recorded at the Electric Ballroom in London (Camden Town). The start of "Cicatriz ESP" is deliciously chaotic (maybe a bit too much) and a wave of sound is crawling on you for about sixteen minutes. Play it loud!

The middle part features some call and response between vocals and guitar that sound familiar to me (I'm referring to the Page-Plant ones. some time ago) and a loooooong "guitar" solo trying to emulate Page again to some extent. Not the best moment of this EP as far as I'm concerned.

I think that during this song, "The Mars Volta" are trying a bit too much to glorify themselves. Pay attention guys.Luckily, this version "only" clocks at sixteen minutes. They extended it sometimes to over half an hour in these days...

The closing number "Televators" was not one of my fave from their studio album, but I have to say that it is welcome after "Cicatriz". Poignant, hypnotic. Very good actually in this version.

Three stars for this good live moment.

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 |

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