Numb.er (pronounced nuhm-er) is the ever-evolving musical project of Los Angeles-based artist, graphic designer, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Fribourg. Formed in 2015 while Fribourg was still playing with LA psych-kraut favorites Froth, Numb.er was initially envisioned as an outlet for the singer-songwriter’s more introverted explorations and darker musical tendencies. What began as a series of bedroom demos soon expanded into a full-blown band featuring a revolving lineup of standout musicians culled from Los Angeles’ fertile DIY community.
With the 2018 release of Goodbye, the band’s first LP, Numb.er quickly gained a reputation as one of LA’s most exciting new bands. Several singles followed, as did a residency at the iconic Echo in Los Angeles and national and European tours with like-minded artists like the KVB and A Place to Bury Strangers, which helped solidify the band’s bona fides as a dynamic, must-see live act.
Now, after a lengthy hiatus, Numb.er is finally poised to deliver their sophomore effort, Regressions. Fribourg began writing for the album in their Paris hotel room while doing design work for legendary fashion house Celine in 2019. These early hotel demos — crafted with crude Logic beats, a Moog synthesizer, and DI guitar — served as a sort of sonic diary highlighting the sense of alienation and melancholy the singer experienced while living alone in a foreign city. After returning to Los Angeles in early 2020, Fribourg teamed up with producer Mike Kriebel (Institute, Drab Majesty, Vrsex, P22, Death Bells, Thee Oh Sees…) to bring these rough sketches to life, forming the basis of what would eventually become Regressions.
However, not long after recording wrapped, the COVID pandemic shook the world and sidetracked Fribourg’s initial release plans. Forced to live with these unreleased recordings in the midst of a global lockdown, Fribourg spent the ensuing months decontextualizing and recontextualizing the record through a manic process of cutting tracks, remixing and retitling others, creating all-new artwork and a new tracklist, imbuing the album with an entirely different meaning and mission statement. The end result is an intensely personal sonic document of Fribourg’s experiences with isolation, political angst, love, and death in an increasingly unfamiliar world. Regressions is out October 6th on Third Coming Records.
credits
released October 6, 2023
Produced and recorded by Mike Kriebel
Mastered by Mikey Young
Recorded at Golden Beat Studio
Additional recordings at Balboa Studios
Artwork and layout by Jeff Fribourg
Regressions was written by Jeff Fribourg and Numb.er in Los Angeles, CA. and Paris, France between 2017-19. Regressions was recorded in Los Angeles, CA during the months of July and August 2019
Numb.er is the sonic brainchild of Los Angeles based visual artist Jeff Fribourg.
Fribourg
developed their love affair with synthesizers as a founding member of LA psych-kraut favorites Froth.
However, it is with Numb.er that they fully explore their eclectic musical inclinations — elements of punk, shoegaze and post-punk, never committing to a singular worldview....more
supported by 16 fans who also own “Regressions LP”
It's uncanny just how good Actors is at emulating that Post-Punk synth sound from my younger days.
Each listen just gets better and better. I feel slightly ashamed for not having heard this album until a few short days ago. modestwriggles
“Strangers” is packed with wonderfully menacing electro-goth—late-night horror movie music for vampire dance parties. Bandcamp New & Notable May 8, 2023
New on Grimalkin, this EP from Phantómódel is an irresistible batch of gothy post-punk that is delightfully harrowing. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 16, 2019