Outsider-art R&B expands into indie rock, folk, soul, and experimental pop across Freidrich$‘s new album We’re A Long, Long Way From Home. His first solo album since starting the band Outsideness, it preserves the intimacy and rough edges of his earlier work while embracing bigger arrangements, melodic songwriting, and adventurous production.
“Lil’ Pieces” is a stunning opener, weaving hazy atmospherics with dreamy sentiments, emitting themes of personal sanctuary, mortality, and motivation. “I don’t wanna think what’s next, I actually wanna see it, see it right in front of me,” Freidrich$ delivers with moving intimacy, introspective in placing “we’re only lil’ pieces” in the context of a “great big world.” Twangy guitar lines past the two-minute mark prove especially affecting, traversing into a title-touting refrain with delectable mood, aligning with glimpses of strings and brass.
Ensuing track “A Pause for a Day” envelops with initial acoustic trickling, complemented by spacey synth vibes as an R&B-tinged delivery dreams of a “perfect day.” Effervescent electronic stylings caress during the blissful chorus, exuding a carpe-diem theme, which, combined with “Lil’ Pieces,” makes a strong opening statement for the album, portraying a better life firmly within one’s own grasp, especially when the fixation is on self-betterment and love. “We’re a long, long way from home,” the lyrics glide, acknowledging tumult while also showcasing perseverance and the drive to “walk and walk” toward something more. We’re A Long, Long Way From Home is set into strong motion with these two standouts, and the high-quality songwriting continues consistently from there.
Another stellar production, “Soren” captivates with otherworldly, warbling synth tones and hectic rhythms, flowing with a trip-hop and alt-pop convergence into the “look me in my eyes / that’s the window to my soul” beckoning. While “Lil’ Pieces” references Gil Scott-Heron and the concept of home, “Soren” nods to Søren Kierkegaard in its memorable lyricism, both heady and innately relatable, set amidst a riveting backdrop reminiscent of Flying Lotus. Elsewhere, “On God” shifts to a moody rock arsenal, with shades of Yves Tumor. “I gotta be cautious, I’ve been through the ringer before,” Freidrich$’s voice emanates within chilly electronics and post-punk rhythmic likenesses, presenting with a heart-on-sleeve, rock-forward vigor heading into the haunting midpoint guitar solo.
“You don’t have to hide from me, ’cause I already found you,” Freidrich$ sings on the nocturnal “Follow,” where narrative-laden lyricism pairs with buzzy bass and twinkling keys. Shifts between funky bass bounciness and late-night intrigue show throughout, which combined with the artist’s dynamic performance make for among the album’s most dynamic productions; the shimmering “got it all taken care of” hook is particularly replay-inducing. We’re A Long, Long Way From Home is another impactful success from Freidrich$, who has also caught our ears in the past with albums Demo(n)s and Don’t Be Falling In Love.
