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Rating: Between June 2004 and January 2005, John Frusciante released as many as 6 albums. They are certainly not all masterpieces; if John had selected the material more carefully, he could have released just a couple of sensational CDs! It is unclear why he made this move, probably to fully leverage his avid fans who buy everything he produces. The fact remains that among these 6, there are some exceptional ones. “Automatic Writing” is perhaps the best. Here John joins forces with the trusty Josh Klinghoffer and Joe Lally (Fugazi), thus forming Ataxia.
We are faced with five long psychedelic tracks, imbued with obsessive noises and alienating sounds. Time stretches and the music penetrates the mind like a stream of molten lava. It is a very different album from the usual works of the RHCP guitarist. Right from the start, the difference is noticeable; the first track “Dust” begins slow, dark, and repetitive. Some acid sound here and there just to disorient the listener. Then it grows, the guitar enters murky. It flashes through our perceptions like lightning. The echoes intertwine and blend. A serpent enters our mind, feeding on all of our perceptions and subjugating us. Within seconds, we are soaked in this dense and rough sonic magma. Then the voice enters; it feels like hearing thoughts traveling within us. From dark, it becomes sweet, then angry and husky, acidic. Meanwhile, the drums and bass do their best to support this noisy structure. The track continues, the voice changes tone with each verse. The tones gradually become more suffocating, but suddenly everything vanishes, and the structure collapses. It crumbles without leaving a trace of itself. The second track is “Another,” introduced by a simple bass-drum theme, it’s less oppressive. A beautiful guitar arpeggio flatters us, then the voice makes its entrance. Vaporous, fluid, and barely hinted at, with some emotional touches. Wonderful. It mumbles something, then distorts and becomes a hiss. Meanwhile, everything continues to flow, the few notes repeat infinitely, until they enter the brain never to leave. Only at the end, does John sing clearly. Just a few verses. “The Sides” is the sparkling central track. The drums enter vibrant and powerful. The guitar and voice draw perfect and fascinating melodic circles, interrupted only by some insistent noise. The singing, initially subdued, then becomes agitated and leads to the central solo. The voice returns timid and intimate, whispering inexpressible secrets. And it starts again, full of expanded and hissing sounds. The track gradually closes in on itself. Truly a beautiful piece, where melody, psychedelia, and inflamed rock coexist. Aesthetically, it is the most beautiful song of the lot. Even “Addition” presents the alienating formula of the other tracks, with its riff that imprints on the mind. The singing is here more airy, less monotone. This choice is debatable, perhaps the tense and hissing voice of the other tracks fit the music better, but “Addition” remains a thoroughly enjoyable track. The voice is very expressive, whether it wants to be sweet or when it oozes anger and suffering. Mechanical, rotating, and dark noises complete the mix. “Montreal” closes the work. The air is more relaxed, the notes almost indistinguishable for their slowness and gloominess. Above them, the voice and the haunted guitar trace the lines on which the track travels. More intimate and darker than the others, but sometimes a bit boring given its length. Everything proceeds systematically; sometimes it seems to go out, but the impetuous and neurotic sounds continually return and finally close with a whirling hiss.
“Automatic Writing” is an excellent album, which could have been a masterpiece if only the tracks had been shorter and more numerous. It remains, however, one of John Frusciante’s best works, who employs a genre not congenial to him in this work, but does so with the right attitude. Halfway between psychedelic music and sweet melodies. A must-have if you want to spend 44 minutes and 45 seconds in another dimension... rating 4.5/5
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