A Grape Dope
Missing Dragons
Galaxia
2003
Rating: 6.5 liters of grape drank out of 10
John Herndon sure does keep himself a busy man. Between working with Tortoise, Isotope 217, The Eternals, and producing and performing on studio albums for many other bands and performers, he finds time to record his own solo music under the guise A Grape Dope. Although similar in sound to his other work with Isotope and Tortoise, AGD is much more electronic and eclectic in nature, and instead of focusing on his talent of machine-like drumming skills it instead investigates a more avant-garde side of percussion. In addition, the album includes some guest vocalist turns from Dose One, Kathryn Frazier and Sally Timms, as well as an unnamed source (possible John himself?) on my favorite track of the album ‘I’ll Spread It’ – a song that sounds part Post-Tortoise and part vocoder-era Peter Frampton; a mix I’m wishing more people investigated after hearing this particular song. Fans of Herndon’s other output will not be disappointed, and those of you who fancy yourselves more fans of Dntel/Boards of Canada electronica stuff should do yourselves a favor and check it out as well.
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