Shortly before the release of their sixth album, the American rock group The Mars Volta exploded in early 2013. Singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala blamed his musical partner, guitarist and producer Omar Rodríguez-López, that he seemed to prefer to tour with his hobby club Bosnian Rainbows than with their band. Rodríguez-López did not budge and so Bosnian Rainbows was promoted to his new headband. An
… important part of this quartet is singer Teri Gender Bender (Teresa Suárez) who previously was the front woman of the Mexican garage punk band Le Butcherettes. Some of the records from The Mars Volta, but especially the many solo projects of Rodríguez-López can sound quite complex and inaccessible. Bosnian Rainbows also sounds remarkably melodic and song-oriented. A balanced combination of live instruments and electronics accompany Gender Bender's dark yet powerful voice. Music that is rooted in post-punk but also sounds quirky enough to come from Rodríguez-López. (MR)more