Befriended by Johnny Copeland after meeting him on tour in Europe, Swiss national Fankhauser went over to America and lived with Copeland for a while and the influence is there for all to hear. There are two Copeland covers sitting with one Solomon Burke, a Larry Addison and six Fankhauser originals on this very strong album.

Opening with the big, brassy Ain't Gonna Give It Up, Fankhauser serves up a funky blues with a jazzy guitar break and a throaty vocal. Throw in some Latin trumpet and standard rock guitar at the end and you have a smorgasbord of sounds. The first Johnny Copeland song is Cut Off My Right Arm, a soulful blues that brings both Copeland and Robert Cray to mind. Excellent sax solo and snappy guitar that is not overcomplicated. Members Only, the Larry Addison song, is a slow, piano-led track and it is a highlight even if the lyrics are a bit syrupy at times. This is very reminiscent of John Hiatt.

The title track has a raucous Elmore James style opening that leads into a swinging blues. The guitar solo is ace and the whole thing builds up into a very good song. Home Town (Thun) is an acoustic bayou-influenced effort in the style of JJ Cale and R&B gets a look in on the second Johnny Copeland song, Flyin' High (Yesterday). This swings and will get you going – simple and effective.

Welcome To The Real World is another funky blues that shows Fankhauser's social conscience and the lyrics will give you something to think about. It is funky and has great organ and sax playing. Who's Gonna Sing The Blues For You? is unusually slow but it is a very powerful piano offering plus the obligatory horns of course. The tempo is raised again for Going To Dallas, a big band swinging blues. I have to say that Fankhauser has missed his time. His style is that of days gone by although there is a contemporary streak in there as well. The final track is the Solomon Burke penned Down In The Valley which is given a funky treatment and this gives an idea of how Fankhauser sounds in the live environment and very good he sounds too.

David Blue
Net Rhythms