John released the Foregrow EP back in 2016 for record store day. This is a 4 track EP which sees John experiement further with electronica style music. Although more famed for his guitar work with the chilis and even his earlier solo work. John has moved more and more into this style of music in recent years. Although his interest in electronica music stems right back to 2004 when him and Josh Klinghoffer released the excellent "Sphere in the heart of silence" record.
I have heard most of John's work and often if can be quite hit or miss, sometimes to both extremes. But I would say overall I like his work a lot more often than I don't. While I don't think "Foregrow" is his best work, it is still a very listenable EP and a good effort. This record sees John experiment more with different sounds and it does not sound anything like what he has done before. Although it may sound Trickfinger which is his alias he has recorded a few EPs under, I just haven't heard those records yet.
On average the tracks are just over 5 minutes long each with the title track being slightly longer sitting just over six minutes. The title track is also the only track on the EP where John sings on it. The rest are instrumentals. While I do like John's voice, I think this type of music works better without vocals. So I feel it slightly weakens this track despite the actual effects and beats used being good. The second track Expre'act is not as good as the title track, it's more laboured and doesn't really get going. But third track "Lowth Forgue" things pick up again. It has a great beat, some great effects and overall just a really well put together track. The EP finishes with "unf" which is a great way to end the record. It has a nice flow to it and actually feels like quite a happy track.
One of the pitfulls I often find when I listen to electronic music is often it can get repetitve. But that is not the case at all with this EP. I wouldn't know most of the time how each sound is created but he manages to keep it fresh and interesting barring "Expre'act". I think if the EP was any longer I would have struggled a bit to keep my attention so I think he did the right thing restricting it to 4 tracks. I have looked it up and he used various synthisizers and a monomachine to make this record.
Overall 3 out of 4 songs being good on a record is a pretty good return and even the weaker song isn't too bad. Especially when you compare it to some of his other records. But overall this venture was worth while and I'm glad to see someone who has mastered one craft, in the guitar. And moving further into this world of electronica and actually producing some great music. Major kudos to Frusciante on this one from me.
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