The Blues speaks a universal language. Just ask Philipp Fankhauser, whose break came in 1994 when Johnny Copeland asked him to relocate to the States to handle lead vocals for his band. What should have been the European’s big break in the blues world slipped away when Copeland died in 1997. Three years later, Fankhauser packed his bags and hightailed it back to Switzerland. 

He’s remained active on the European blues scene, initially as leader of the Checkerboard Blues Band and then as a solo artist. Fankhauser is a roots-music headliner with Top 10 releases in his home continent, and Love Man Riding is his 11th album. This clean, confident, professionally constructed set focuses on Fankhauser’s salt-and-pepper soul vocals wrapped around tunes that are restrained but melodically rich. 

Veteran producer Dennis Walker not only manned the board but co-penned six selections here, and American bassist Richard Cousins (of Robert Cray’s band) complements the predominantly European backing band. Fankhauser’s love of Brazilian music shifts the fulcrum south of the border on his cover of the Seventies hit „Rio de Janeiro Blue“ and the Cray-styled  „Lonely in This Town“. Thankfully, he keeps the blues bubbling on both cuts, and neither drastically alters the album’s course. Horns and female backing vocals spice the dynamics, making the lovely ballad „I’m Finished Here“ one of the disc’s best tracks. 

The album generally stays on low boil, but Fankhauser and Walker aren’t trying to blow anyone’s socks off. Rather, their collaboration highlights the singer’s dusky vocals, controlled phrasing, and strong, subtle songs that resonate with quiet authority.

Blues Revue June/July 2009  

Hal Horowitz