Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack 1

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gold Standard Labs
• ASIN: B0002J4866
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,765 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the All the ATDI/Mars Volta Side Projects, April 1, 2006

By 

Zachary A. Hanson "Jazzpunk" (Tallahassee, FL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack 1 (Audio CD)

It took me a year or so to appreciate all the places that this one goes, but after careful deliberation and a continuously ballooning obsession with Mars Volta, I have decided that this is better than DeFacto and Omar's newest solo album, the projects that have come outside ATDI and Volta. It goes all over the place, the highlight to this approach being the acid-soaked salsa freak-out "Deus Ex Machina." Really, this is true salsa, with a salsa singer singing about "la reina de [su] vida" or the queen of his heart. The whole time the traditional instruments are drenched in phaser and distortion, creating a salsa song like none you've ever heard.

There are some very intriguing guitar-noise experiments that differ from track to track, the whole thing being capped off with a song that sounds like Mars Volta since Cedric sings on it ("the palpitations form a limit"). The rest is pure instrumental esotericism. If you are curious to hear what Omar and Co. do outside of ATDI and Mars Volta, this is the place to start. I have a strong feeling that you will want to buy all the other side project material after this one, exposing you fully to the constant joy, wonder, and mind-blowing that goes with being a Mars Volta fanatic. I would love to describe all of these strange excursions on this album, but I am not going to mar with words the terrains that Omar plumbs with sounds. I am going to leave it up to your perception to discover them for yourself.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ambient Greatness, July 18, 2005

By 

H. Apostol (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack 1 (Audio CD)

At first, i was anxious to see what this album was about waiting for the climax and all that good stuff you'd aspect in a typical everyday album, so i didn't see anything groundbreaking. after another spin listening to this album full on, i could see how good this album is. now i can't stop listening to the whole thing full on.
be accepting of its style and you'll see, you'll all see...yes...
it's quite wonderful.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Listen w/the right approach, + discover a gem of an album, June 12, 2005

By 

A. Husted "amberablue" (Encino, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack 1 (Audio CD)

This is an ambient record. You may find it quite different if what you typically listen to/appreciate are 'radio' songs. But any fans of electronic oriented or jazz music will have not trouble 'getting' this. To say ambient, I don't mean it's dead. It's got plenty of grooves, soul and passion. The music is atmospheric, quite lush, with Mars Votla-esque elements. It's chill music with some rockin' parts thrown in, in the right places. I argue with those who call it 'structureless'. There is plenty of structure, again, it goes back to the ambient thing...and there is no 'white noise' whatsoever. Every sound and every beat on this album was well thought out and well placed. And with the improvisation nothing is overdone, or taken too far. This would be perfect to wind down to after a Mars Volta concert with some friends and a few beers. In fact, if I meet the right Mars Volta fan, I'll make him dinner, and call it 'Mars Volta Dinner Music', and I mean that in the best way. I love this record. It is imaginative and sensual...and it's only been my first listen.