Cotopaxi

Album: Octahedron (2009)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song was released as the lead single from Octahedron in Europe, whilst in the North America "Since We've Been wrong" was selected as the first release.
  • The song incorporates several different time signatures: 11/8, 9/4 and the common 4/4.
  • Frequent Mars Volta collaborator John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers played the wah-wah guitar solo on this track. Mars Volta songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez told DIY magazine why he likes working with the guitarist: "He's another musician I can utilise in my songs, in that he learns very quickly. When he plays for me, it's more like a musician executing a part. It's not collaboration in the sense that he's writing anything, but he's learning my parts in a matter of minutes and performing them in a matter of minutes."
  • The song's title refers to the name of a volcano in Ecuador.

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