A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Vol. 1

A Manual Dexterity is the title of the as-yet unfinished film project undertaken by Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez, more familiar to many as half of the songwriting duo at the core of THE MARS VOLTA. The fictional film, currently nearing completion in Los Angeles, was initiated in 2001 during the post-At the Drive-In downtime, prior to The Mars Volta really taking shape. Simultaneously, Omar began a series of studio collaborations with some of his more avant-garde musician friends (the lineup on the Volta epic, Deloused in the Comatorium, is definitely comparable), which resemble a more shambolic, freeform version of things to come rather than any prior ATDI or DE FACTO recordings. The sheer volume and density of the predominantly instrumental material contributed to the somewhat lengthy finishing process, not to mention that the companion film has taken just as long to get "in the can." With the light finally at the end of the tunnel, though, Omar decided that the first half of the music for the film should be released this summer (approximately 60 minutes' worth). A Manual Dexterity - Soundtrack Volume One stands on its own as a substantial, provocative tangent in the Volta catalog. Anyone presuming anything less than inspired, adrenalized, boundary-pushing mayhem has simply not been paying attention.