The Mars Volta @ HMV Picture House, 9 Dec
Tonight’s two-hours of tantric prog makes their slot T in the Park this year seem like a desolatory cry-wank by comparison.
According to singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala, there’s a rule to seeing The Mars Volta live; “Fucking festivals don’t count!” No doubt referring to their appearance at T in the Park this year, true to those words, tonight’s two-hours of tantric prog makes that particular summer soiree seem like a desolatory cry-wank by comparison.
Sure, there are some dry spells along the way, but anyone who has put in the time with a Volta album from Frances The Mute onwards would expect little else. As such, tonight’s centrepiece Cicatriz Esp is mired by a tripped-out instrumental jam that easily breaks the ten-minute barrier. Yet a simple, tapped-out cymbal beat, some spidery guitar work from Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and a returning four note bass-line ensures all is forgiven.
It is in fact the hard work that both sides put in tonight which ensures that the highs far outnumber the navel-gazing lows, with Cedric’s spindly, robotic shuffles and superb handstands during a blistering Viscera Eyes testament that the band don’t take themselves as seriously as we may think. In a world where Muse are considered progressive, we should cherish them. [Darren Carle]