von Eve Conversion
“Return Of The Dream Canteen” is a standalone record, but at the same time there is a connection to “Unlimited Love”. The songs from the new album are from the same time as the last one and were recorded together with Rick Rubin – probably the best producer of the Chili Peppers. The Red Hot Chili Peppers tell us exactly what it’s all about:
Warner Records
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Return Of The Dream Canteen” is out on Warner.
„We thought that these songs go together here and these go together there and, look, we’ve got two things.“
These newly released songs are not so-called outtakes, B-sides or rarities that are still lying around, but the Red Hot Chili Peppers chose seventeen out of 50 songs recorded at the time for “Unlimited Love” and now some again , which they thought could go together on one album. Actually “Return Of The Dream Canteen” is an “Unlimited Love II”, but that’s not a little.
„We went in search of ourselves as the band that we have somehow always been. Just for the fun of it we jammed and learned some old songs. Before long we started the mysterious process of building new songs. Once we found that slip stream of sound and vision, we just kept mining. With time turned into an elastic waist band of oversized underwear, we had no reason to stop writing and rocking. It felt like a dream.“
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have found their soul again
So there it was, the “dream canteen” of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The word “canteen” rhymes well with “dream”, the “canteen” is the canteen, but also the cookware, the cutlery box or the canteen. The Chili Peppers’ “Dream Canteen” includes nineteen songs with titles such as “Shoot Me A Smile”, “The Drummer”, “In The Snow”, “Peace & Love” or the super beautiful, tender and atmospheric “La La La La La La La La” in which Anthony Kiedis sings “and when it all seems out of reach, we’ll clean up plastic off the beach.”.
The tracks “Tippa My Tongue” and “Eddie” were released before the album. “Eddie” is a tribute to guitarist Eddie van Halen of legendary Californian hard rock band Van Halen, who died two years ago.
“Tippa My Soul” is perhaps the most quintessential new song by the Chili Peppers. He has everything that makes this band – from the early funk grooves to the vibe when John Frusciante first played guitar with the Chili Peppers. “Tippa My Tongue” is like hearing every album by the band in that one song.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers continue to surprise and surprise after all these years, but they have also become a rock in the surf and a timeless band. They are survivors and iconic Elder Statesmen. You exude optimism, are thoughtful but also ready for fun. After all these years, nobody can still bounce around on stage like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They’re great musicians and the production of “Unlimited Love” and “Return Of The Dream Canteen” is just killer, Rick Rubin.
With John Frusciante back, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have really found their soul. For many, this band is the soundtrack to their lives. On the other hand, if you’re only now getting into it, that’s fine too, listening back to music from albums like “Californication” or “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” definitely won’t be disappointing.