Rico Friebe is out with his 4th studio LP, titled “Pain Matters.” I was immediately drawn into it by the title, but once I hit play, the music captivated me even more. This 12 track album is a fusion of electronic music genres and even has some French pop/electro influence as well. The record is all about going though the pains of life and growing from them. Pain can be very transformative, and Rico Friebe showcases that throughout his record. This album is a true work of art. Rock the Pigeon is excited to break it down, track by track.
“Intro Out” opens the record with a wash of tape static and a mesmerizing electric guitar, accompanied by soft, distant vocals. Friebe revealed that the song’s faded lyrics and haunting melodies actually come from an unreleased track. Here’s hoping that this elusive song will find its way to us soon.
This song flows effortlessly into the second track, “Apathy.” As the static fades, the dreamy atmosphere lingers. Rico Friebe’s voice immediately pulls you in, reaching an impressive range that captivates from the start. The melody is infectious, layered over simple electronic drums and warm synthesizers. In fact, the synth lines might be even catchier than the vocals. Through the song’s refrain, “You didn’t even think of me, you didn’t even care about me when I needed a friend,” Friebe confronts one of the roots of his pain. As the track progresses, the synths build into a lush production, making the listener feel surrounded and completely immersed in a wall of sound.
“Still, Apathy somehow became the song that means the most to me. It’s the one song I’d put on repeat most often. It summarizes my emotional point of view at that point in time most appropriately – the perfect message that got captured for me. Those simple lyrics “You didn’t even think of me – then…” still resonate in a truly haunting manner of what can go wrong if people are wrong specifically and generally. It’s a memorial to abuse on so many levels.” – Rico Friebe
“Caitiff (The Yellow Song)” grabs the listener right away with a groovy bass line and a funky drum beat. A faint whistle weaves a catchy melody over the rhythm, playing off the drums. The unique percussion takes center stage until Rico Friebe’s vocals kick in, layered with a touch of auto-tune. Even with the robotic effect, there’s a surprising amount of soul in his voice. He sings, “You could have said sorry, you could have said no,” while the whistling echoes in the background, adding an extra layer of catchiness to the track. The song ends with a cool bass solo, so be sure to listen until the very end!
“Growing Pains” is up next, and don’t we all have them! The funky percussion continues here, with loud hi-hats that demand the listener’s attention. The hi-hats sit above the smooth, laid-back vocals, while the bass slides in and out, pulling the listener to move their body to the beat. This track gave the album its title and was actually the first song written for the project. Pain is the touchstone of growth. It teaches us, it forces us to adapt, it forces us to change, it forces us to grow. It’s not easy, but it is completely necessary. This song is a great reminder of the purpose of pain.
The mood lifts on the next track, “Loophole.” Soaring vocals take over, giving the song an unmistakably dreamy feel. But despite the uplifting vibe from major chords and airy vocals, the track dives into something darker. It’s about tricking yourself into thinking your choices are good when, deep down, they’re actually harmful. Eventually, the lies catch up, and the pain sets in, hopefully sparking some positive change and growth.
A dark but funky piano riff takes over for the next song. “Sacrifice” is a fun song that has lots of great rhythms, some from flutes, some from drums, some from bass, and some from piano. The vocal rhythm is also stand out and feels catchy. This song will definitely make the listener move. All the instruments are playing different rhythms, but they all blend very well, creating a truly captivating track.
The track flows smoothly into “Harm Any,” which opens with drums inspired by hip-hop and jazz. This song continues the themes from “Loophole,” exploring the idea of trying to do good while unintentionally causing harm. There’s some cool vocal editing here, including a tape echo effect that adds texture. The lyrics may be hard to understand because of the effects, but the melody has a hypnotic feel that really draws you in. The bridge section is super cool, with bright synths and a horn part. My favorite part, though, is the bass line, it’s both moving and captivating.
The album takes a lyrical shift on the next track, “The Verge of Change.” This song is all about toxicity coming to the surface and truths coming out. There’s no way to hide the truth anymore, there’s no way to unsee it. What is revealed leads to enlightenment and empowerment. There is no going back, only going forward. Be sure to stick around for the dramatic change in the song, happening around the 2 minute and 30 second mark. Quick paced drums come in, including hand percussion. Rico Friebe said this part of the song took the longest, as he did over 50 overdubs. This instrumental break is a very cool, unexpected part of the song!
The most special song to record for me was Plus as it was my first recording in French and basically the last song to record for Pain Matters. By that time, I’ve already been getting so ill that I almost had lost my voice. The struggle to record those last vocal parts while having a fever was something that (as always) felt like the devotion my music needed and needs. – Rico Friebe
We get to hear a more versatile side of Rico Friebe on the next song. “Plus” has some French inspired instrumentation that brings a fresh sound to the record. The song also has French lyrics on it. The most exciting part of this song as the listener, is the drums and synths. This song is truly a work of art!
“The song is partially based on a school book text from French class when I was about 13 that I still remember until today. The person, this album is directed too, knows a little bit about French reading (that already has been a lyrical part of Harm Any) and the song reflects on the fact that some things in life just seem to be a game for some or maybe many people – consequences left besides that matter. As its four preceding songs, Plus was written at a dancing competition in Braunschweig, Germany, that happened to have a deeper connection to the whole background to this album (and even Anthems For A Lost Generation) – just listen to the second part of The Verge Of Change to get a deeper feeling fort that.” – Rico Friebe
“Take, Take, Take” showcases how excellent Rico Friebe is about creating a track order that flows perfectly. This song is all about balance in relationships, and how the relationship will fail if one person is just taking and not giving anything. There must be balance for a relationship to work, let alone to thrive. The synths flow very well with the drums on this song, creating a special rhythm for listeners to fall in love with.
The final full track on the record is “Block,” which offers a rich, dreamy synth-pop atmosphere that envelops the listener from the very first note. The heavily autotuned vocals create a captivating sound that draws you in, making it hard to resist humming along. The catchy melodies and infectious hooks keep your attention from start to finish, solidifying this song as one of my favorites on the entire album.
“[Block is] a song about the nowadays perversion to think that blocking someone in that creepy world of the internet makes someone disappear from real life – what a dissociation that is.” – Rico Friebe
As the song unfolds, it takes the listener on a sonic journey filled with lush soundscapes and engaging rhythms, immersing you in its vibrant energy. Just as you become fully absorbed in the experience, it transitions into the outro track titled “Outro In.” This song serves as an extension of the introduction, subtly suggesting that while some mental landscapes may remain the same, there are also profound differences to be explored. Together, these tracks create a fascinating interplay that invites reflection on the themes presented throughout the record.
Listen to Pain Matters on Spotify now:
Written by Ryan Cassata
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