Music review: Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘The Getaway’
Piano, string orchestration and synth grooves are not normally associated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. That鈥檚 all about to change with the release of the California band鈥檚 11th studio album.
Rick Rubin, who has produced each of the band鈥檚 albums since the 1991 classic 鈥淏lood Sugar Sex Magik,鈥� exits and gives way to the slick atmospheric vision of Danger Mouse.
鈥淭he Getaway鈥� breaks new ground with songs of heartache, loss and self reflection. The new material flourishes under Danger Mouse鈥檚 direction with an added radio-friendly feel and an astute sense of vulnerability to the layered meanings of the arrangements.
Anthony Kiedis, still sporting his Burt Reynolds鈥� mustache, delivers some of his finest vocal performances while Flea鈥檚 unmistakable bass playing, Chad Smith鈥檚 masterful drumming and Josh Klinghoffer鈥檚 fervent guitar work soulfully fuse with the insightful lyrics to ultimately conceive a set of songs that rival 1999鈥檚 masterpiece 鈥淐alifornication.鈥�
Right from the start, the title track sets a different tone with lovely backing vocals provided by Anna Waronker. From there, 鈥淒ark Necessities鈥� follows with Flea鈥檚 infectious basslines ushering in touches of acoustic guitar and piano accompaniment on the track written in the studio with Danger Mouse that speaks to the light that comes out of the dark periods in life.
The catchy 鈥淪ick Love鈥� is a Sunshine State shout-out that features Elton John on piano and lyrics contributed by Bernie Taupin. Danger Mouse鈥檚 influence can be clearly heard on the slick synth feel of 鈥淕o Robot鈥� and its distinct 鈥�80s vibe and 鈥淔easting on the Flowers鈥� that exhibits the smooth sounds of R&B with palatable pop leanings.
鈥淒etroit鈥� is a muscular rocker with plenty of grit and attitude just like the city it is named after. 鈥淭he Longest Wave鈥� and 鈥淕oodbye Angels鈥� are melodic meditations that sound as if they were pulled straight off 鈥淐alifornication.鈥�
The most adventurous sounds are found on 鈥淭his Ticonderoga鈥� and 鈥淒reams of a Samurai.鈥� The former is a delightful schizophrenic work of art that rocks with a punk fury, only to surrender to traces of elegant orchestration while the latter brings a soaring climax to the album.
With 鈥淭he Getaway,鈥� the Red Hot Chili Peppers find a brand new groove to build upon.