John Frusciante, aka Trickfinger, in his first go at the dance floor goes Jan Hammer-esque cool and breezy. ‘After Below’ features dramatic militant snares and well-sculpted reverb that structure the emotive. A mathematic series, the cadent snares unfold with complexity over a long time frame encompassing shorter phrases of synth passages that encompass even shorter loops of bass. Classic acid house bass line bumps, our sunsets and amphetamine come-ups have a soundtrack.
It’s unfair to cut Frusciante short because he is a coconspirator to the worst record in the history of rock n roll, ‘Stadium Arcadium’. Short of mastery of the deep tech-house genre but far beyond naïve art, the track functions as a beautiful and near perfect template for remix genius. Some of our best tracks come from remix EPs. Sometimes they surpass the originals, but there would be no such animals without that first cut. I am sure well respected underground house and techno producers are lined up to reconfigure.
No snark and with all sincerity, I find it incredibly fresh and exciting to see a musician entrenched in corporate rock culture to make such a bold jump especially at the mid-later part of his career. Mr. Frusciante, welcome to house. Our house is about love, freedom, and the acceptance of the exploratory. I find ‘After Below’ to be a strong and worthy effort and I am looking forward to reviewing the freshman effort LP. I have high expectations and I expect Frusciante’s seriousness and artistry will leave little disappointment on the Trickfinger LP.
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