Sargent House

Leave it to Omar Rodriguez-Lopez to try something different. As the lead guitarist and creative spark behind the former hard-rock juggernaut known as The Mars Volta, he brings an almost mystical streak to his music, mining the same surrealist seam that has inspired the likes of Alejandro Jodorowsky and Carlos Castaneda. Bosnian Rainbows is his latest unit – a rugged foursome with a lead singer who lives up to her chosen name. Take a listen to Teri Gender Bender and you’ll hear shades of Siouxsie Sioux, My Bloody Valentine and even early Rush circa 2112, but she has her own rockstar power to rival her idols. Meanwhile, the core rhythm section of drummer Deantoni Parks and synth guru Nicci Kasper lays down a psychedelic wash of deftly broken beats ( “Eli” ), tech grooves ( “Dig Right in Me” ) and straight power-pop ( “Torn Maps” ). It’s clearly an exciting vehicle for Rodriguez-Lopez; the solos and mind paintings that he’s able to squeeze from his effects-processed guitar have rarely sounded more sensual and vivid.