NEW MARS VOLTA ALBUM NEWS AND COVER ART Check that bad boy out! Word on the street is (very early, blogosphere speculative word that is) that this wonderful monstrosity is indeed the face of Octahedron, the newest release from Texas’ own The Mars Volta, one of our favorite bands of all time. Lots of speculation and rumor surrounding this release so let’s lay down a few things we do know, starting with the tracklist:
“Since We’ve Been Wrong”
“Teflon”
“Halo of Nembutals”
“With Twilight as My Guide”
“Cotopaxi”
“Desperate Graves”
“Copernicus”
“Luciforms”
Also notable is the suggestion that this album will be a more subdued and listenable approach to TMV’s sound, an experience Omar Rodriguez-Lopez has dubbed “acoustic”, though it’s anyone’s guess as to what acoustic can mean for this band. Still, a step towards listenability may just be an approach to greater rockness, though there’s hardly any chance this album could conquer the behemoth (no pun intended) that was the Bedlam in Goliath. Still, here’s hope “Since We’ve Been Wrong” is a Kelly Clarkson cover (it IS the first single after all).
Another interesting tidbit – check out this photo below, which is the background of Hello Merch’s Mars Volta page. Below that you’ll see the mountain the picture was based on, called “Cotopaxi”. Coincidence? We think not! Maybe another piece of the art puzzle, look out for more clues folks! Lastly here’s a live bootleg version of “Since We’ve Been Wrong” from their New Year’s Eve show this past December. Get excited.
The Mars Volta – “Cavalettas” ******************************************************************** NEW BALMORHEA VIDEO Here’s Austin’s own Balmorhea’s newest video for “Remembrance” off their excellent third LP All Is Wild, All Is Silent. Enjoy!
Balmorhea – “Settler” ******************************************************************** THE ARM TO REUNITE IN AUSTIN Back in the day, back when things were real different here in Austin, there used to be this rather electric dance-punk group whose combination of Interpol-esque pathos merged seamlessly with their industrial, Bloc Party beats to create a local powerhouse of Gang of Four-style indie rock – that group was called the Arm and they broke up YEARS ago it seems. Well imagine our surprise when we found out the group would be reforming for one night only at a headling show at Emo’s on May 9th. You know we’ll be there! Check out the group’s Myspace for more details!
We’ve been lauding one of our favorite UK hardcore acts Rolo Tomassi for quite some time now, so we’re incredibly excited to offer up an exclusive interview with the group right here on Cannibal Cheerleader.
CC: Tell us about how the band formed and how you came into your unique sound. What are your biggest influences? RT:We formed out of a neccessity to have fun. We were aged between 14 and 16 and enjoyed making music together. As our tastes had changed we wanted to reflect that in musical output so we formed Rolo Tomassi. I think the sound just came about from listening to all sorts of different hardcore. Bands like Dillinger Escape Plan and At The Drive In have always been hugely influential to our sound but more recently everyone has gone off in their own directions and tangents musically.
This interview also coincides with an exciting announcement: Cannibal Cheerleader will be issuing our third zine edition this March to coincide with SXSW! You’ll be able to read the full spread in the zine, as well as interviews with other exciting acts and independent articles on a variety of subjects. What, don’t have issues #1 or #2 yet? Email me at cannibalcheerleader@gmail.com and I’ll try and mail you one (fair warning, in exchange you’ll have to send me an article I can stick on the site)! Until then, check out more of our Rolo Tomassi interview below and be prepared to check this band out when they step across the pond for SXSW ‘09.
******************************************************************** TRYOUTS: BALMORHEA’S ALL IS WILD, ALL IS SILENT
With the official release of their third LP creeping closer, Austin act Balmorhea’sAll Is Wild, All Is Silent quietly found its way onto popular mp3 sites, instantly lighting up download clients the world over and becoming one of the most wildly popular music torrents literally overnight. For a group basing their sound on delicate layering and hushed melodies, the fervor surrounding this release might come as quite the shock – even given their status as a cult-favorite the remains a neo-classical post-rock band. However, the hype is more than warranted, as the material presented on All Is Wild eclipses Balmorhea’s previous work to such a degree as to argue past releases were only building momentum to this monumental awakening. The album conjures images of the haunting glow of a dying campfire, shining in the reverent blackness of a nighttime forest as the world envelopes you from all around. Never ones to rely on repetition for effect, the band conjures tunes that flit wildly in different directions, sometimes within the span of a single song, darting from terse violin strains to soulful vocal refrains to lilting piano chords then back again. The album’s title describes its content perfectly, a wonderful dichotomy between chaotic instrumental strains and intense minimalism, both of which speak to the sincerity of the music and make for a fantastic headphone listen. Captain of the cheerleading squad for 2009 thus far.
On another note, be sure and check out our All Is Wild, All Is Silent preview video, featured below, which shows off the energy that these songs capture live.
Also of interest to Balmorhea fans will be the fact that this song recorded below and originally “Untitled” has been since renamed “Remembrance” and recorded officially for this album. Watch it again below.
Here’s more of our Rolo Tomassi interview – you can check out the entire interview in our new edition of the Cannibal Cheerleader Magazine, out during SXSW here in Austin.
CC: How would you describe your music to the uninitiated? Have you ever heard descriptions of your music that seemed way off base? RT: We all recently decided that the term we’re happiest with is ‘progressive hardcore’. I think we’ll always have our hardcore roots but the sound has evolved from there and in that sense become progressive. I think a lot of current bands would be keen to shy away from ‘prog’ as a label but we like it. I can’t stand being called spazzcore.
CC: What’s it like being in a band whose popularity seems to be growing everyday? Is all the press exciting or daunting? Is it hard to stay focused on the music amongst the image politics of today’s music press? RT: It’s really exciting. We’re just incredibly happy that we can keep touring more and more extensively and have the opportunity to come over and play events like SXSW. Whilst sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the press side of things it never detracts from us making music or staying focused on the fact that we are a band!
CC: Which scene does Rolo Tomassi belong to? Metal? Punk? Some crossover or none of the above? Do music classifications help or hinder a band like yours? RT: We belong in a community of bands who tour hard and help each other out. Its more about the people than bands sounding similar. I believe any band can be seriously hindered but specific classification musically. As soon as you say we’re ‘X’ kind of band, you immediately exclude people who don’t like that kind of music.
CC: What is it to ‘make it’ as a band? When can you say you’ve achieved your goals? RT: It completely depends what you want out of it. I long surpassed any goals I had for this band and we’re on a constant bonus round right now. As long as we can keep touring at the frequency we do and visit more new countries I’ll be happy.
Check that bad boy out! Word on the street is (very early, blogosphere speculative word that is) that this wonderful monstrosity is indeed the face of Octahedron, the newest release from Texas’ own The Mars Volta, one of our favorite bands of all time. Lots of speculation and rumor surrounding this release so let’s lay down a few things we do know, starting with the tracklist:
Lastly here’s a live bootleg version of “Since We’ve Been Wrong” from their New Year’s Eve show this past December. Get excited.
Here’s Austin’s own Balmorhea’s newest video for “Remembrance” off their excellent third LP All Is Wild, All Is Silent. Enjoy!
Back in the day, back when things were real different here in Austin, there used to be this rather electric dance-punk group whose combination of Interpol-esque pathos merged seamlessly with their industrial, Bloc Party beats to create a local powerhouse of Gang of Four-style indie rock – that group was called the Arm and they broke up YEARS ago it seems. Well imagine our surprise when we found out the group would be reforming for one night only at a headling show at Emo’s on May 9th. You know we’ll be there! Check out the group’s Myspace for more details!
