ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Red Hot Chili Peppers Unlimited Love Warner, Out now ★★★★★

The 12th album from the Californian rockers finds guitarist John Frusciante reuniting with Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Chad Smith. Of almost equal importance is the return of Rick Rubin, producer of some of their most enduring work. Opener, Black Summer is a strong folk-informed ecological anthem which eventually smashes onto a funky rock. The Great Apes soars and swoops very appealingly while Poster Child makes a point about protest through the years with a characteristic scat-rap from Anthony Kiedis. Bastards Of Light mixes synths with acoustic guitars reminiscent of Depeche Mode before breaking into cod metal. There is a grungy, punkish energy to Whatchu Thinkin’ and These Are The Ways. We’ll forgive them the Spinal Tap-ish lyric ‘these are the ways when you come from America, the sights the sounds, the smells’ on the latter. Unlimited Love is the sound of a band in love with playing together again.