#it’s a trickfinger song it’s not a chili peppers song

[ignorancelive]

realized i never posted my thoughts on rotdc. it’s good 👍🏼

[bendoesblogs]

Red Hot Hardcore Jungle: John Frusciante

2020 has produced some totally unexpected moments, mass wildfires in Australia, a global pandemic, and now John Frusciante is releasing a Jungle/Hardcore album, whatever next?! Frusciante is an American musician, singer, songwriter and producer, best known for being the lead guitarist of music legends Red Hot Child Peppers. Frusciante is ranked eighteenth in Rolling Stone’s list of ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Frusciante’s first guitar idol was Jimi Hendrix, John said that he has always tried to emulate the way he played which explains the complex rhythmic patterns. His second key influence is the late great Hilel Slovak, a former Chili Pepper, whom Frusciante meticulously studied when taking the role of lead guitarist in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which resulted in Flea and Frusciante producing such an electric chemistry when playing together. Perhaps Frusciante was always destined for musical greatness, his father is a Juilliard-trained pianist, and his mother a very promising vocalist, before becoming a full-time mother.

John has been with the Chili Peppers for three different stints, recently reuniting with them to take over from Josh Klinghoffer. Each time John left the band it was done to pursue his personal musical projects. Frusciante is best known for his eye watering guitar solos, but he is not afraid to diversify, his previous projects have included two acid house albums under his alias Trickfinger and has produced and recorded records with the likes of Duran Duran, Wu-Tang Clan, and Ziggy Marley to name a few. Whilst we all know and love him from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, his collaborations and solo albums are not to be slept on.

Frusciante epitomises the saying ‘method in the madness’, because you think surely he can’t pull off a jungle and hardcore album, but I assure you he can. There were similar remarks prior to the release of his acid-house albums, however, in relation to his Trickfinger albums, Frusciante explains: “I started the album being serious about following my dream to make electronic music, and to be my own engineer, five years ago. For the 10 years prior to that, I had been playing guitar along with a wide range of different types of programmed synthesiser and sample-based music, emulating what I heard as best as I could.” Frusciante, as similar to when working with Red Hot Chili Peppers, is at his most creative when provided a certain amount of leeway. Having included more electronic flourishes on his solo efforts during the latter stages of his previous stint with the Chili Peppers, it was only a matter of time before he delved further into the world of synthesisers and drum machines en masse. Writing for Exclaim! Chad Barnes describes Frusciante’s record as “a fun, engaging album, with complex, weaving, synth-based hooks that are often played in a similar style to Frusciante’s guitar playing.”

The new album produced by Frusciante titled ‘Maya’ is set for release next month, inspired by jungle, hardcore and breakbeat music, and is, as Frusciante explains, dedicated to his cat. Make of that what you will. Frusciante has released the first single from the album titled ‘Amethbowl’, reminiscent of old school dubstep with the syncopated rhythmic patterns, and prominent sub-bass frequencies. Frusciante explains: “I don’t have that interest in singing or writing lyrics like I used to, the natural thing when I’m by myself now, is to make music like the stuff being released this year.” Based off reviews of Frusciante’s previous albums, we can expect an eclectic blend of creativity combined with methodological madness.

It’s not all focused on ‘Maya’, however, Chad Smith - Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer, explains that the band are currently concentrating on new songs and writing a new record. As Frusciante works on Red Hot Chili Peppers music, and solo projects, he is currently a very busy man. A busy Frusciante is often when his creativity is at his highest. There will be a lot of good music to look forward to, with the Chili Peppers perhaps having a more techno/electric sound!