Mixdown
from Mixdown (?)
If you are expecting anything like the Red Hot Chili Peppers from this solo project by Chilies’ guitarist John Frusciante, then you will be disappointed. And to be honest, what would the point be of doing a solo album if it is the same as your main project… and that is exactly what he hasn’t done; he hasn’t made this “Chili Peppers without Anthony”. The music has slower tempos and is very much more an acoustic based album with some great melodies and well thought out vocal harmonies. Most of the song-writing credit belongs to Frusciante, as with the performance and production, with some tracks co-written by another just as accomplished musician by the name of Josh Klinghoffer. Klinghoffer performs all of the tracks along with Frusciante and who else would one get to play drums but Chad Smith with Flea playing upright bass on one track. The album is dense with layers featuring orchestral sections and ambient synthesizer swells as well as some very interesting vocal effects. Relatively chilled out, the album has grown on me and will take a few more listens to really hear all of it, as it is quite full in it’s composition to take in at one sitting. Track 1, “Carvel” is a stand out, as is track 5, “Second Walk”, but if you are looking for something “Chili Pepper-esque”… don’t look in this direction.
