The Mars Volta have outdone themselves on Frances The Mute, a tripped out, multi-faceted journey of space rock via salsa music and lush ambiance. Yeah, it's way crazier than the last one, and that's saying a lot. Be ready for Spanglish lyrics, an unabashed flurry of adventurous fretwork, Flea on the trumpet, and endless waves of droning noise sounding as if it came from a sci-fi movie soundtrack. All in all, the most challenging 76 minutes you'll spend with a CD.

Mike SOS