More than 10 years since their last studio album, US progressive rock outfit The Mars Volta have ignited rumours of new material as part of an installation at a Los Angeles park.
According to the likes of Stereogum, last week saw a handful of social media accounts – including that of The Mars Volta and producer/Cloud Hill Recordings owner Johann Scheerer – share out some cryptic coordinates that led to Los Angeles’ Grand Park. Upon arrival, fans were greeted by a cube-shaped that is seemingly dubbed the ‘L’Ytome Hodorxí Telesterion’.
As fans have since reported on Reddit, those who went inside were treated to a three-minute snippet of new music. However, since attendees were barred from using phones within the installation, only written descriptions of the new work exists so far.
“Just experienced the Volta Cube. As others have said, it’s a listening experience with lights. Pretty neat!,” wrote one Redditor.
“Song is indeed Khruangbin and Santana esque. Spanish lyrics, emphasis on conga/bongos over traditional drums. Kinda poppy too. More psychedelic than prog. Wish it was louder though, I really had to open my ears to analyze it. It’s a bop though, can’t wait for the release.”
https://twitter.com/themarsvolta/status/1538326485546967041
Having initially split in 2013 following the release of the previous year’s Noctourniquet, The Mars Volta’s Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala went on to work in bands such as Antemasque and their newly-reunited At The Drive-In.
Rumours of a Mars Volta reunion surfaced in 2018, before being confirmed in 2019, with the group’s back catalogue being acquired by Cloud Hill Recordings in 2021. Soon after, a career-spanning box set (including previously unreleased material), was unleashed, with rumours of further new recordings also following.
As yet, no statement has been made by the band as to when the music featured within their ‘L’Ytome Hodorxí Telesterion’ will receive an official release.
