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A SPHERE IN THE HEART OF | 
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| Artist: John & J Frusciante
Label: Record Collecti
Category: Music
List Price: $12.98
Buy New: $12.27
You Save: $0.71 (5%)
New (6) from $12.27
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 185160
Media: LP Record
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 093624894919
EAN: 0093624894919
ASIN: B00065U09A
Publication Date: 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Sphere | | • | The Afterglow | | • | Walls | | • | Communique | | • | At Your Enemies | | • | Surrogate People | | • | My Life |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
After strong international success with the first four releases of his six record series, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist now reveals his fifth album with longtime musical partner Josh Klinghoffer. Frusciante has been recording an album a month, spanning pop, experimental, electronic, and acoustic genres. Already released are "The Will To Death", Ataxia's "Automatic Writing", "DC EP", and "Inside Of Emptiness".
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| Customer Reviews:
Frusciante and Klinghoffer go electronica February 17, 2008
S. MCBEATH (uk)
If you asked John's fans 12 years ago that he would be making an electronica album in the future, they would probably burst out laughing. As he was not even in a fit state to play the guitar never mind venture into territories you wouldn't associate with Frusciante back then. But times have changed and `Sphere' sees Frusciante and Klinghoffer make a successful venture into the world of electronica. This is the fifth album out of the six albums Frusciante released in 6 months on the Record Collection label, and his 9th overall. I would say this is the most challenging and experimental album Frusciante has ever produced. Using a range of different instruments from synthesizers to string ensembles, making the complexity achieved stand out amongst his other albums. With 7 tracks it is difficult to know whether this classifies as a full length album or an EP. It certainly does not have EP in the title which seems to be customary for EP's. Furthermore at just over 38 minutes it certainly looks as if it is long enough to classify as a full length album.
The album has a good flow to it. Starting off with `Sphere', and then turning it up with the funked up `Afterglow'. The pair then take it to the next level with `Walls' which at points is just insane, as its just feels they are out of control creating a frenzied wall of sound . Due to the sheer intensity of `Walls' it is as if their energy levels are gradually decreasing through the rest of the songs, as they gradually get slower and slower because John and Josh used all their energy up all in this track. By the time the last track comes around it feels like its crawling along at snails pace with album closer `My life'. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, in fact quite the opposite. It works really well, and even though `My life' comes in at 1 minute 23 seconds; by that time it's like they have nothing more to give. Even the vocals have slowed right down when John sings "Life was never what you thought". It is an appropriate pace, which makes the listener hone in on the deep and meaningful lyrics.
The experimentation and the sounds the various sounds achieved by Josh and John on this album are a testament to how they are always looking to keep things fresh and to keep pushing the boundaries of their music. A fine example of this is in `Communique' which sounds like wind channelling through a small passage, accomplishing a kind of whooshing effect which adds an air of eeriness to the track. Likewise `At your Enemies' has some nice effects through it, like the echo effect used on the synthesiser. Combined with Josh's vocals, this is yet another great chilled out track, but at the same time has that ghostly feel to it like `Communique'.
The album is unique in the sense that is the only Frusciante to release which is credited to not only John Frusciante, but Josh Klinghoffer as well. It does surprise me a bit because Klinghoffer has appeared on at least 5 albums by John, and while he does get credited in the sleeve notes, this is the first album that the artist is `John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer'. It could be that this is the first time where it was felt that Josh contributed to the song writing, production etc in an equal proportion to the Frusciante. Maybe it was Josh who didn't want to be accredited in the artist title because compared to Frusciante, as he is a lot lesser known than Frusciante and it would be more like `Frusciante and who?'. Who knows, but one things for sure, like Ataxia, Josh's vocals add so much to tracks like `Surrogate people'. This track in particular, I think is the best vocal combination song they have done. The two of their vocals combined just works so well.
Overall this is a really good album. I would say out of all the albums he has done, it is the one requires the most patient in order to fully appreciate it. It's album which stands out as John's most adventurous, which is saying a lot considering some of the experimentation on his other albums. So much so, that although I've listened to this album a lot, I still think I need to listen to it more, as I think there are more layers I still haven't unearthed. This though, is where the real beauty of the album lies.
 It's surely not the worst! August 7, 2006
anna.booklet
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read some of the reviews and I don't believe that they do so much dislike it. I know that you have to have a special sence for music to like Jonhfru. But, if you once start loving him, you can't stop. I mean, there are always Synthesizers and stuff on his lps. i have to confess that ASITHOS was maybe the hardest of the six albums for me to get into it. When I started to understand the rough beauty, it really catched me.
The best way to get to the album's soul is to listen to it backwards, start with the typical Johnfru-song My Life and end with the mind-smashing Sphere. Of course, noone should buy this CD just because he likes RHCP or the single The Past Recedes. This CD is better for dy-hards. I'm disappointed of them because only a few of them seem to have written a review.
This album isn't easy, it's electronic, still some pop, but never mainstream. And I love it.
10 out of 10 August 2, 2006
Nate (Brisbane, QLD AUSTRALIA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
There are not too many artists around who can create such a wide variety of music. Especially none like John Frusciante or Josh Klinghoffer who together have created a very special album with 'A sphere in the heart of silence'. All six songs on this album, which runs for around 35mins, are completely different to any other John Frusciante release.
The album opens with 'sphere' - an 8 minute instrumental layered over the top of synthesiser and a lot of noise. The first guitar solo is John's and its brilliant. This song would have been better left at its original 30minute length, cos its quite a ride.
'The Afterglow' is probably the grooviest song on the record. A techno like song, this is John's vocal painted over the top of Josh's genius.
'Walls' is a great lyrical effort and the angriest song on the record with John's screams piercingly good.
The next song 'Communique' is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard. It is worth buying this CD for this song alone. The first I heard it I swear I had an out of body experience, it is amazing. This is Josh's song and it sounds like it is being performed live in your room. Any one who has heard it will know what I mean...
The next two songs both feature Josh on vocals yet again and sound brilliant, this guy can sing. John's guitar blends nicely into these two songs which again contain a lot of synthesiser.
The final song is a short, soft, 2min track with John providing vocal and piano. It is a nice way to round out the album. I hope to hear more from these two guys in the same mould as this album, it deserves an encore.
 I would say it is my least favorite John Frusciante album. June 18, 2006
Gobi Kalooki (California, USA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
After The Will to Death, I was convinced that John Frusciante is a god. His solo albums like Shadows Collide With People, Curtains, Will to Death, and Inside of Emptiness are so great that they get rotations in my CD player, and on my iPod every week. This album, well, it doesn't get too many plays because it just isn't as good as the rest of this amazing man's albums.
2 stars for two good tracks: Sphere, My Life.
probably overlooked... August 30, 2005
bart-q (St. Louis)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Fru fans, do not overlook this album. This one takes more time to get used to it - but, all Fru albums have that characteristic to some degree. Revisit this one again and again, and it makes more sense.
This album can't be categorized. Buy it if you enjoy unusual music with sophisticated melodies.
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