John Frusciante's 10th solo album is quite a journey. Don't think of playing it when getting up early in the morning. Wait till you've done whatever the hell you've had to do during the day and then, when you have some time to yourself, lie down, close your eyes and get ready to spin in an uowards spiral...all the way to the heavenly reaches of the human mind. This is by far the most grandiose and ambitious of Frusciante's works to date. And a work of art it is too. The title takes its cue from a term used by Dante, Milton and Keats to describe the highest point in heaven. Frusciante describes it as a concept album about two characters that exist in the mind of one person over the course of a lifetime. It's nothing like his very first solo albums, released just after he initially left the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They were, to say the least, raw and experimental, but with a certain Syd Barret madcap charm ozzing from them. Still, your uncle would've hated them and even your square young teenage neighbour would have politely rang your doorbell to ask you to please turn "that thing" down. The 6 (yes, a whole SIX) albums he released in 2004 did contain some hint of what was to come once this ultratalented and unique musician hit the studio on his own again. The music is cosmic in some places, raw in others, but always spiritual, very very elevating and heartfelt, enticing us into the warped and wonderful world of Frusciante's personal philosophy. 'The Empyrean' took two long years to record in the guitarist's Laurel Canyon home. It features appearances by fellow Chili Pepper Flea, Johnny Marr (of the Smiths legend), a gospel choir, a string quartet, Frusciante's voice,words, guitar and soul. Walzting changes in tone, melody and volume. The 9-minute instrumental analogue wonderland "Before The Beginning" begins the hypnotic process, which slowly and magnificently takes us through to a wonderful cover of Tim Buckley's "Song To The Siren" and then keeps the mind whirling and swirling in dazed delight through 10 more unique soundscapes and vistas. This is one album for the soul and make no mistake about it.