Fontuna Redux
Mukthiland, 2021
8/10
The singer-songwriter Fred Hostetler returns with a 3rd album, where he collects his released singles and adds some remixing and additional recordings to put a fresh coat of paint on already great tunes.
“Taming The Wolf” opens the listen with Hostetler’s version of blues and soul emitting much warmth and melody in a dreamy sort of way, and “Shelter From The Storm” follows with proficient slider guitar as folk tendencies enter the climate change themed album highlight.
In the middle, “Ain’t No Sunshine” puts plenty of bluesy riffs and soulful singing into the Bill Withers classic, while “Lady Luck Fortuna Redux” flows with much haze entering the pretty, poetic landscape.
Deeper still, “He’s Gone Rogue” is a playful mix of acoustic guitar fingerpicking, layered drums and pedal steel adding much mood, and “I’m A New Man” exits the listen loud, thumping, and packed with rock’n’roll flavor.
Hostetler has an impressive resume that includes playing in Blue By Nature in the ‘90s and working alongside legends like Jeff Beck, The Knack and Billy Squire, to name a few. Since returning to music in 2018, he’s put together an impressive body of work, and these 7 songs certainly are further proof of his fluid and timeless blues prowess.
Travels well with: Pete Thelen- Best For Last; Jeff Fetterman- Southern Son