Customer Reviews

Disco Volante

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

It's hard to believe a band that only survived through three albums could have covered the mind-numbing amount of ground Mr Bungle did. The reason this group's criminally brief discography eclipses those of bands with two, three, four times the number of releases is because they had no boundaries. Everything was fair game. No style was too straight or difficult to twist into irreverant perversion, no lyrics too ridiculous or offensive. The self-titled debut tore into the jazz influences of Naked City's John Zorn with a ridiculously bombastic blend of heavy metal, porno antics, and freak-out circus swing. The third and final venture, California, took a similarly eclectic swipe at sun-bleached surf rock. And all the while the members retained a level of phenomenal talent and composition.

Disco Volante is, stylistically and thematically and everything-else-ally, Mr Bungle's most difficult period. It takes more time to fully swallow and the hooks are not as immediate or obvious. For that reason it's probably not as wise a place to start as the aforementioned albums. For the same reason it is, in my opinion, the most rewarding thing this band has done.

Not to say there aren't moments of pure pop jubilation (check out the last half of "Carry Stress in the Jaw"), but overall this is a living, breathing creature far too complex to be experienced as simply a series of tunes or experiments. At times the album leaps into operatic binges of sonic juxstaposition, clashing sounds together to create jarring, psychadelic effect. At other times the music creeps along in subtle melody, pulling imagery out of the headphones without needing to resort to saturating lyrical exposition. In fact, the lyrical content here is mostly of the absurd, dreamscape variety. Some of the content is even disturbing, particularly on sinisterly retrospective cuts like "Everyone I Went to Highschool With is Dead" and "After School Special".

The end result is a surreal masterpiece that's all but impossible to describe. Don't be fooled into thinking Disco Volante is a mish-mash of over the top theatrics. It's musical. Exceedingly musical. The ideas here sparked some of the most prolific projects of the Bungle members post break-up. "Desert Search for Techno Allah", a track for a Buddhist cult on LSD, very much gives a glimpse into what would become the defining epic-world sound of Trey Spruance's Secret Chiefs 3. "The Bends", a narrative piece split into several distinct "sections" or "sub-plots", would be expanded upon later in Mike Patton's Fantomas project, particularly on the sprawling Delirium Cordia.

Of course, Disco Volante will always stand on it's own, even among the albums of a group notorious for innovation. I can't listen to it straight through without being blown away or finding myself absorbed in a a musical element I had never noticed before. For that reason, and also because it's just an incredibly orchestrated piece of art, Disco Volante is probably my favorite album of the nineties. Buy it. Immediately. You'll probably hate it.

Well, Mr. Bungle isn't a person -- more of an entity -- but it's still just about the greatest musical project ever conceived (give or take). But beware...coming into physical contact with this CD may cause catastrophic mental discorporation. Actually, I think it's pretty hilarious when one-star reviews say, "How can anyone give this five-stars?" I'm giving it the highest rating here, but honestly...I have no idea why! This CD has caused irreparable injury to my poor mind.

Mr. Bungle's second album, Disco Volante, is just as hard to describe as the first, perhaps more so. While the first was a sort of circus-funk-metal-crusher-miscellaneous album, this one can't be broken down as easily. Some songs employ thrashy metal, others smooth jazz, and others techno. So what is it? It's just Mr. Bungle.

"Desert Search for Techno Allah" is phat techno with a Middle Eastern flavor. "The Bends" is an epic, atmospheric journey with an ending that sounds like a 747 is landing on top of you. "Carry Stress in the Jaw" mixes tasty circus jazz with hectic metal and what I'd call a "performance under pressure" by vocalist Mike Patton. For the second half of this track, "The Secret Song" makes an appearance, featuring an old man (sounding like Grampa Simpson, performed by Trevor Dunn) who excitedly sings about discovering the secret song! "Violenza Domenstica" sounds like a schizophrenic horror movie soundtrack. "Backstrokin'" continues "The Bends"' aquatic sonics with a 50s-style rock/R&B factor. "Everyone I Went to High School With Is Dead" is a sludgy mess of distorted guitars that works strangely like a hypnotizing mantra. "Merry Go Bye Bye" is like rockabilly-Muzak (or easy pop, maybe). It explodes into a thrash/death fest with some crazy keyboard effects. "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" is an exhilarating cartoon-like piece with a language of its own. And there's more!

Mr. Bungle is better.

Welcome to Mr. Bungle's dark opus, Disco Volante. Here is the true meaning of music that is ahead of its time, or perhaps, outside of time all together. A mind-bending meld of vocal mayhem, anarchic analog synth, dyslexic, crumbling percussion, serial killer inspired guitars, and nightmarish horns glue together an unethical display of experimental music that demands the deepest attention, the most honest listening effort; and thus, the listener is rewarded with something that they have never experienced before. Here, the currently disbanded act of Mike Patton, Trey Spruance, Trevor Dunn, Danny Heifetz, and Bar McCinnon prove that there are no boundries in music.

They use all kinds of genres mashed into songs for this album, as I have stated earlier. Doom metal transitions into smooth jazz; thick analog keyboards layer over progressive drum beats and middle eastern guitar scales; crooning fades into metal growling; funk bass meets carnival style, odd-timed clarinets; hard-core punk with static samples transforms into extreme ambience; classical horns and strings are accompanied with the sounds of glass breaking and chains being pulled through metal holes; and all of the while, these seperate parts start and stop in a malicous, schizophrenic time signature that neither give you enough time to jam out to it, nor do they leave you dissatisfied. It is all done perfectly. It is more like a complicated symphony than an album, really. Every song has it's place, and there are few similarities among them. The only thing that remains at a constant is the pure excitement of the pieces, the stunning complexity, and the amazing vocal range of Mr. Patton himself.

This is my favorite album of all time. Mr. Bungle changed my ideals of music, and it was mostly due to Disco Volante. In a way, they are fighting against fake, shallow musicians who try to appeal to everyone at once, make a quick million, and then fall off the face of the earth and are never heard from again. Bungle knew that not everyone could listen to this. It took a certain type of ear, a special off balance quality that everyone has, but that shallow people will deny and point fingers at. I respect people that give an open mind to this album and still hate it, but not to people that hear it and say "this is so weird, what is this. It's not music!" They, in my mind, are the enemy of expression. I don't hate anybody, but I have no interest or respect for those who will dislike something just because they don't understand it. This, in my mind, is America's sickness.

I don't care what kind of music you listen to. All I have to say is listen to this album a few times in your life. You may hate it, you may be completely blown away, but whatever happens, approach it in a way that you can keep an open mind towards it, and remember that it will probably be different than anything you have ever heard. And if you like it, congratulations, because you have just walked into a larger world of music, and you'll find that there are so many things happening with innovative, experimental music, you'll probably never be able to hear all of it. Enjoy, and stay creative with whatever you do in life. It's what makes us human! Take a cue from Mr. Bungle, and be yourself.

No big secret: Mr. Bungle is weird. But what seperates Mike Patton & Co. from the Insane Clown Posses, Slipknots, and Mudvaynes of the world is the fact that they understand what music is. They believe in challenging themselves and their fans while other acts put themselves into artistic cruise control by putting out the same album over and over. You see, the first album was a somewhat juvenile cicus/punk/funk/metal/sleaze fest, the magnificent third album California was strangely accessible with a few songs that could pass for (GASP!!!) pop, and the one here in between,... Well I haven't quite put my finger on it yet. A few songs that illustate the album's insanity include:

1. Everybody I Went...- A Melvins style sludge number with no regard for melody whatsoever. What made this song so bizarre is that it is one of the more accessible songs on the album.

2. Carry Stress in the Jaw - The first half of the song consists unorthodox but disciplined drumming, a quote from Edgar Allen Poe, Patton's lounge lizard vocals, and a thrash metal guitar that doesn't quite match the rhythm. The second half is good ol' funky surf rock with Granpa Simpson singing lead vocals. ROCK ON, ABRAHAM!!!

3. Desert Search for Techno Allah - Middle Eastern techno, Okay?

4. Afterschool Special - Nice breezy pop that sounds like something the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family would sing along to. However, if they knew what they were singing about, they would die of sheer fright.

5. The Bends - A ten-minute plus aquatic epic of sorts that throughout its duration is groovy, hilarious, scary, strange, beautiful, trippy, but never boring. Try listening to the "scream" effect toward the end in the dark with headphones alone. If you don't, you're cheating yourself.

6. Platypus - Imagine Black Sabbath jamming with a vaudeville band.

7. Merry-Go-Bye-Bye - They saved the best for last. What starts out as a country/rockabilly ditty switches into Slipknot style death metal: minus the insipid profane and misanthropic lyrics.

Strange stuff indeed. I respect anyone who disagrees with me on this point but the sole reason I can't give this album five stars is the fact that I can't recommend this to the average music listener. Some of the songs are so unstructured and left-of-center, you begin to wonder if it can still be called music. I have to deduct a half-star with a heavy heart. But one more thing before I submit my review, how can you possibly go wrong with a member who calls himself (I apologize if I'm not totally accurate) Uncooked Meat Prior to State Vector Collapse. I wish Mom and Dad would have named me that.

Overall rating: 4.5 stars.

This will be one of the most bizarre albums you will ever hear, as well as one of the best. Mr. Bungle (led by ex-Faith No More singer Mike Patton) crafts a sound that can described as, at the least, creative, and at the most, spectacular. "Disco Volante" is WAY outside the mainstream. The songs on here are hard to describe but here goes.

"Everyone I Went To High School With Is Dead"-An all out sludge-fest. Probably the most mainstream song on the album without even being mainstream.

"Chemical Marriage"-Sort of continues the circus music sound of their debut.

"Carry Stress In The Jaw"-Improv jazz/metal stylings. Also has "The Secret Song" which sounds like Grandpa Simpson singing along to Addams Family music in a spy film. Excellent.

"Desert Search For Techno Allah"-Just what the title says. Sounds like homemade Arabian techno.

"Violenza Domestica"-Sounds like the soundtrack to an italian horror film. Complete with dialoge.

"After School Special"-Chilling song. Great keyboards. Sort of addresses child abuse.

"Phlegmatics"-Another jazz/metal improv.

"Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz"-Probably the most bizarre and outrageous song on the album. The lyrics seem to be in a language all it's own.

"The Bends"-Close your eyes and try to imagine a story set to the music.

"Backstrokin'"-Sort of a doo-wop companion piece to "The Bends".

"Platypus"-Another jazz/metal improv piece.

"Merry Go Bye Bye"-Starts out as a cheesy lounge number (in no means a bad way), then sonically assaults you with death metal riffage.

Mr. Bungle deserves a pat on the back, so to speak. Their Self Titled album was so good, that it seemed almost too difficult for even them to top it. Well, Disco Volante has lived up to those high standards, and even passed them in some aspects. This album can be described as being more mature than the previous Mr. Bungle- Mr. Bungle. For example, the songs have more variety and don't encompass the same overall style (This is for Mr. Bungle however). And to me, all the songs seem equal in quality. As in Mr. Bungle, some songs I did not like as much as the others. Now for the songs.

Everyone I Went To High School With Is Dead:
Slow football-like chant about the perils of being an outcast in high school. Kind of repetitive, but that is okay, because the song serves mostly as an intro to the album as a whole.

Chemical Marriage:
Very 70's sounding Psychedelic era, with organs, and Jazz beats. Some opratic singing. Not as good as some songs of this album, but not bad.

Carry Stress In The Jaw:
One of my favorites from the album. Includes Patton's experimental style vocals, screaming, and some very cool Metal and Grindcore riffs. There is also a humerous Old Man impersonation half way through, "Shh it's a secret, don't tell anybody." An 8 minute song with alot of twists and turns. Some cool effects that Patton uses. One of the album's finest moments.

Desert Search For Techno Allah:
Wow, Mr. Bungle doing a techno song. It turned out very cool, some creepy synths and Patton doing experimental vocals. Some arab parts (Foreshadowing Ars Morendi?) Good tune.

Violenza Domestica: (Domestic Violence)
A very Patton sounding tune, sounds extremely Italian, (Well, Patton is Italian) Interesting combination of Italian melodies, experimental vocals, Italian yelling.

After School Special:
Creepy ass song to say the least. The Beginning is normal, with Patton singing (Yes SINGING) "My mom is better than..." Has awesome lyrics, "She cooks, She Cleans, She Lies, she told me I'm Hansome." The voice at the end is very creepy though.

Phlegmatics:
Not much to say about this song. Pretty heavy, alot like the rest of the album. It's good.

Ma Meeshka Mow Shwoz:
An awesome song, has some great Patton vocal rythms. Also kinda Jazzy.

The Bends:
This song seems to be fragments of several different unfinished song segments all pasted together. I'm not sure if it was actually done like that on purpose (Probably), But It is good none-the-less. This song is almost all instrumental though.

Backstrokin' :
Pretty 60's sounding. Some great melodies here. I love the cutoff in the end to a different melody.

Platypus:
About a platypus. Exceptional lyrics by Patton. It's a good listen.

Merry Go Bye Bye/ Nothing:
How do I even describe this song... My favorite song from this album overall. Begins with a 50's pop type song. Patton's vocals here are amazing, as well as the lyrics. Sounds harmless until you realize he's singing about suicide. Some Beach Boy's style stuff in it. All of a sudden, enters into some Experimental Metal stuff, and then back into the "50's melody". It is amazing. An excellent recording, and end to the album. Ends with the "nothing part" Of the band members making random noises with their instruments, then someone saying, "It was all on Tape!!!"

Overall, a great installment to the Mr. Bungle saga. Highly recommended.

My first experience with Mr. Bungle came only recently, and, to tell the truth I wasn't all that impressed. I was introduced to the first (self-titled) album, and didn't think it was all that impressive. I always assumed that Mr. Bungle was nothing more than the requisite "cool" band that psuedo-intellectual people just had to like.

Then I heard Disco Volante. Whether I have turned into one of those psuedo-intellectuals is up for debate, but let me tell you - this album is magnificent. Simply stunning. I put it with a assorted few other albums (King For a Day, Fool for a Lifetime, by Faith No More; and Chocolate and Cheese, by Ween come to mind) in which each song is its own entity, perhaps even better--its own world. Where else can you jump from the death metal jazz of "Carry Stress in the Jaw," to the electronic desert of "Desert Search For Techno Allah" to the gibberish & glockenspeil mix of "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" to the instrumental underwater tale of "The Bends"? Kudos to the band, whose talent and musicanship allow them to pull it off. Too often Mr. Bungle is refered to as a Mike Patton project, but the rest of the band is just as important, and truth be told, my favorite songs are mostly non-Patton numbers (stuff by Trevor Dunn, actually).

Despite the sheer variety of musical styles, this album does flow, as best as something can flow from death metal to jazz to techno to Italian movie music to God knows what. It is amazing to undertake, and is a must own. This album should be everyone's "if I were stuck on a deserted island" album. The possiblities are endless here, and if this was all I ever had to listen to, the sheer diversity of the work could keep it fresh for years to come.

First of all, let me say Mr. Bungle's first two albums are two of the finest hours of music ever recorded. Which is why the Plain Recordings 180-gram vinyl pressings are such an abomination.
Pressed at the lowest volume level of any LPs I have ever heard, and on apparently the lowest quality vinyl available, these albums come out of the shrink-wrap full of dirt, surface noise, and violent skips.
In a time when lameness seems to be the standard, it is still nearly impossible for me to imagine the thought process that went behind these pressings. The people at Plain Recordings should give a full refund to everyone unfortunate enough to have bought them, without asking for the completely useless items to be sent back.

Like Brujeria, Mr Bungle are a side project by more well known artists who kept their true identities covered up for a long time. Unlike Brujeria, Mr Bungle are a tour de force of wierdness and creativity, arguably unrivalled by any other band in the metal scene. Their thrash metal influences are no more evident than their bizarre avant-garde influence, if not less so.

The range of styles covered here is staggering. In the same song, they will go from cheesy horror film music to thrash metal to avant garde to french sounding acordians to atonal noise, all with Mike Patton's crazy vocals over the top.

If you still think that your parents don't understand you, if you think its somehow alternative to dress in chains and wear black make-up, if you think the entire world is against you or you think that screaming swear words into a microphone is heavy and emotional, then this will probably go over your head. But if you want genuinely creative and incredibly bizarre and random music that isn't afraid to challenge you then Disco Volante is most definately the album for you.

If you like this you may also want to check out Dillinger Escape Plan's Irony is a Dead Scene, the EP they did with Patton, the apocalyptic wierdness that is Tom Waits' Bone Machine or the avant-prog In This Life by Thinking Plague.

First of I would like to note that this is one of the best albums i have ever heard,yet it is also by far the strangest. In one week alone, I heard elements of jazz, metal, circus music, R&B, middle eastern music, techno, noise, even some of what appears to be tango(towards the end of "Violensa Domestica"). But discribing the album as a whole(aside from what I just wrote) is a very hard thing to do, since there aren't any tracks that sound remotly simaler to the last in the sense that each track carries a certian amount of the listed elements(except for "Ma Meshka Mow Skwoz, which combines nearly all of them)so instead I will
list them track by track.

Everyone I went to high school with is dead: The album opens up with two minuts, And forty-something seconds of sludgy hard rock, with a bunch of added noise, and a couiple of unexpected tempo changes. But it is prbably the most normal track on the album(sort of a worm-up to wierdness)

Chemical Marriage: Next(without any transition what so ever) it turns in to some strange Church/Circus music. It sounds sort of like the music to a wedding with a drunk organist(I guess that fits the title).

Carry stress in the jaw: This is where things really heat up. It starts out with Jazz,then it turns in to some off sounding pop, which then becoms a Saxaphone solo, which unexpectacly becomes a one minute of instrumental metal, that is loaded with effects. After that it goes in to a quote by Edgar Allen Poe. Then the cycle repeats itself until the end of the solo, where it breaks in to the secret song, which is a neat number with vocals done by an impression of Grandpa Simpson.

Desert serach for techno allah: This is pretty much a 9 plus minute song/composition? consisting of Middle eastern techno.

Violenza Domestica: my favorite song(it was "Platypus", but the I overplayed it). My best estimate is that this Mr. Bungle's take on Italian music( the lyrics are even sung in Itlian).

After school special: Pop with an organ accompanyment. An Idea only a band like this would even think of(one would think to give credit to the guy who calls himself " Uncooked Meat Prior To State Vector Collapse", and Mike Patton, for for all of the organs on here).

Phlegmatics: A pretty strait-forward(for Mr. Bungle) Jazz/metal number.

Ma meeshka mow skwoz: sort of a medley for the album wirth the lyrics in giberish.

The Bends(Man overboard/The drowning flute/Aqua swing/Follow the bubbles/Duet for Guitar and oxygen tank/Nerve damage/Screeming bends/Panic in blue/Love on the event horison/ Re entery): A nice ten minute epic. For maximum enjoyment go in a dark room, close your eyes, and imagine the story as a sort of rock opera all roled in to one track.

Backstrokin': The bends continued from track 9.

Platypus: It starts out with some rock guitars, and the it turnes in to some random jazz. The song sort of has a modern art feeling to it.

Merry go bye bye: Starts out with some pop, and then with no warning, it bursts in to a bunch of metal, which becomes Techno for a short time, then it becomes metal again, then pop, then silence, then comes the secret track "nothing" which is pretty much just noise.

So that was the wierd, yet wonderful Disco Volante. I recommend that you stay away from this album of you A) seriously hate at least half of the genres mentioned. B) If you hate underground music. C) if you are very close minded. If you aren't, then go ahed and soothe your entertainment needs, and buy this recording.