Watching From The Safe Side was recorded in Lucerne and Los Angeles. It's the first album Fankhauser has recorded with his touring band of Richard Cousins, bass, Tosho Yakkatokuo, drums and Hendrix Ackle on keyboards. The album contains eleven new tracks, mostly penned by Swiss- born Fankhauser and record producer Dennis Walker, as well as two songs by the late great Johnny Copeland, Blues Ain’t Nothing and Love Song. Philipp’s lyrics are thoughtful and carefully crafted, as on ‘It’s Over Now Baby’, “Once more you stumble in, as the sun is coming up, Well don’t take off your coat, this time I’ve had enough.  I’m past the point of caring, where were you last night, You done me wrong again baby, that ain’t right”.

Fankhauser is a good, authentic singer, both soulful and strong when needed and very gentle at other times. His guitar playing is neat and understated which is appropriate to the style of the songs on this album.  Philipp has been heavily influenced by his friend and mentor, Johnny Copeland but has retained his own original style. His daughter Shemekia says, "I thought it was definitely cool for a German-speaking Swiss guy to come and live with a Black American family fresh out of Harlem. I've always been impressed with Philipp's musical ability; I mean he totally has it down! You know, it's only through the love of music that one can perform it convincingly and Philipp, clearly, has done his homework. He knows the music”.

I cannot possibly add to that testimony but for some of our readers the album might lack a bit of punch and funk so check it out first. 

Dave Scott, Blues Matters