New Wax


Lucky Fonz III is Amsterdam singer/songwriter Otto Wichers, whose songs seem influenced by American folk yet they still show subtle glimpses of his homeland. There seems to be an abundance of quality European artists who delve into folk-tinged fare... Thomas Denver Jonsson and Christian Kjellvander are two that come to mind, along with the great success of Jose Gonzalez. Wichers belongs somewhere on that list amongst a surprisingly rich talent pool of European folk musicians. Self-releasing his debut in 2006, Wichers writes songs that don't exhibit as much of a country vibe as those of Jonnson and Kjellvander. At times his voice sounds a bit like Zach Condon of Beirut yet less operatic, while musically, Wichers material is a lot less Balkan gypsy and a lot more traditional folk with hints of pop. With gentle acoustics, an array of keyboard sounds, and the occasional horn serving as the foundation to most of most tracks, Wichers' newest release Life Is Short is a bit of a slow burner, although it does have a few uptempo moments. For the most part, the songs inch by at a deliberate pace, and most of them clock in at less than 4 minutes yet seem much longer, but not in a bad way. It's the kind of album that is perfect as background music but also holds up to careful scrutiny as an expertly crafted work. Life Is Short is only available digitally here in the United States, so if you'd like to purchase it, head over to iTunes. -- Capt. Obvious

Listen:
MP3: Lucky Fonz III - Draw Me A River
MP3: Lucky Fonz III - Christmas Lights In A Cave