Laut Review of TROWFTD
February 2001, Laut.de (Germany)
Many thanks to Julia Rebold, for translation
John Frusciante is back. For insiders this may not be a surprise as the man, whose guitarplaying is mainly responsible for the success of „Blood Sugar sex magik“ , already retunrned to his friends in 1999. Seven years have passed in which John Frusciante wanted to leave the Chili Peppers’ style behind him while demonstratively proving this fact with two unheeded solo albums.
During that time he to a great extent was just physically present, as John Frusciante himself says today; living for the moment and rendering homage to obscure songwriter idols as Syd Barrett, being extremely young and extremely rich, while taking the most satanic drug-cocktails for breakfast.
The Past. The newly gained success of the Peppers is processed. In these days, Chili Peppers fans around the world furrow their brows, while listening to „To record water…“ as they expect gentle funk riffs. „You don’t throw your life away, going inside.“ The soundtrack of his past is the keyhole of a branded man’s soul.
Frusciante sings, complains, chuckles and roars during 15 atrabilious-dazed anti-pop songs that don’t want to break free from their cocoon of gloom. The mixture of baritone- and head voice, canned drumbeats, electronics and a melody leading guitar in places sounds incredibly sad (“With No One”, “Saturation”), claustrophobic (“Wind up space“) but to some extent also hopeful (“Away and anywhere“).
The accomplishment of the album is caused by the high art of restraint, that Frusciante already celebrated during his guitar solo in “Californication“ (the song). His analogue artifices in “Remain“ , and his apprehension concerning the emotional dealings witch electronics altogether, prove that Frusciante didn’t want to leave any detail uncared. Even if „Ramparts“ may be reminiscent of „Road Trippin’“ because of its friskiness, the certainty that the recording of this album had a self-therapeuting effect is always noticeable.
At a certain point he asks “When it becomes a waste – why hold on for dear life”. John Frusciante replies to that question with this record.
