Organic loops of instrumentation and voice, poetic and personal ideas resounding and lingering – an ambient but largely acoustic presentation, of songs that feel both revealing and mysterious in their vague bursts of both joy and sadness. German songwriter and artist Rico Friebe releases a brand new double album, in the form of the mighty The Desire Path / The Open Glade.
As ever, the creative layering has a rich and colourful uniqueness to it, S. beginning that journey with the interesting pairing of energetic piano and a fierce acoustic guitar strum. Alongside this wave-like chord pattern or dance between the two instruments, are the higher-toned, angelic vocals, and a looping melody and sentiment about waiting too long.
We’re intrigued, immersed in some new world, and the Rico Friebe calling cards return – the patterns, the fragments, the suggestive references, and the loops. The sound is unplugged somewhat, organic and possible to be considered as a live performance, and that quality essentially sees Rico take things back to the bare essentials as a performer.
The Desire Path / The Open Glade is an immense double album, 22 original tracks, pairing hopeful progressions with heartfelt and sometimes melancholy tunes and statements. Minneola is all of this, almost Tori Amos-like in its gentle intensity and the fearlessness of its personal revelations – something also evident later, in the likes of Friend Pt. 2.
A sense of story rolls into the process here, this album almost cinematic in its soundbites and moments, but that story is vague, and difficult to pinpoint – evocative but yours to interpret. Friend Pt.1 is a fine example, and a definite highlight – a brilliantly poetic, intense acoustic song, with haunting and hopeful traits seemingly united in this rhythmic downpour.
From the outside, themes of longing, intimacy, love, attraction, desire, perhaps even the role of the self within the greater realm. The Desire Path / The Open Glade is both personal and vast, and the album encapsulates Rico Friebe’s unique style, and his current artistic and lyrical and musical trajectory as an expressive artist.
The depth and raw recording of Suddenly, the riff and the deep, low voice, help make this one really stand out from the mix. The vulnerability is priceless, and the song feels dark but with a clear glimmer of light interwoven.
Musically Scarlet Tanager is hypnotic and bright, while Take Away is upbeat but scattered and mildly chaotic, a kind request to relieve our protagonist from sorrow and pain. Then for .., the notes are light, the lyrics self-reflective and openminded, and the style quiet and simple; minimalist and warm.
Next we step into the intrigue and wonder of Anthem for a Forgotten Generation, perhaps the album’s most beautiful composition on piano, with confronting questions lightly whispered into the space. It’s the half-way mark, and it somewhat signals a change of direction, as Wandering feels gentle and literal, romantic and comforting, with Crossroads later feeling quirky and upbeat; lyrically and musically uplifting and inspiring.
I Don’t Know is hypnotic, minimal again, before the haunting cinematic intrigue of Close Obedience adds something new and softly dramatic to the mix. Then we get the brightness and faster pace and colour of True Heart, and the subsequent striking contrast of a mellow, almost Hymn-like You Are.
In a way, these songs are like dreams, fragments of melody and sentiment echoing through the space, comforting but also mysterious, and each one offering some new provocation or comfort or feeling with each revisit to the space.
Efforts is one more example of the optimistic side of that quality – music that speaks to you, softly and in an understanding and honest fashion. In Peace is another, a multi-layered indie soundscape but just as organic and lyrically compelling as the rest.
Then to finish, something familiar, intense and energised, the rise and fall melody and powerful piano of 212 wrapping up this extensive journey with urgency and a rather weighty conclusive but empowering aura.
The Desire Path / The Open Glade is Rico Friebe’s fifth double studio album, and it celebrates his distinct artistry in a way that lets you truly escape into rewarding music, guided by an exceedingly thoughtful and genuine composer and performer.
Find Rico Friebe on Instagram, Facebook, Soundcloud & his Website.
