Fischer-Z – Triptych (CD)

John Watts, as an artist who is constantly reinventing himself, has found that many of his works from the last 50 years of his musical career deal again and again with the same driving themes that are as relevant today as they were 50 years ago: love, power, people, and how they interact with each other.

The upcoming album, aptly titled “Triptych,” brings these themes together by combining the three areas previously released on individual EPs into a complete album.

Watts, known for songs such as “Red Skies Over Paradise” and “Cruise Missiles,” continues to focus with his band Fischer-Z and “Triptych” on current political crises and their social and interpersonal effects.

With songs such as “NEFERTETE” and “THE HAMBURG BEAT,” he covers the entire spectrum of human relationships, from the euphoria of first love to tragic endings. “THE PLEA” is about a Russian conscript protesting the senselessness of war. John Watt’s psychological background also flows into the work: for example, in the profound “THE ANAESTHETIST,” a song about depression.

In the summer of 2022, Watts and his band, including Jamie Bush (drums), Marian Menge (guitar), Steve Forward (bass), and Adrien Rades (keyboard), retreated to a studio in the south of France for a week. Here, the recordings focused on the essential elements—John Watts’ voice and his unique talent with the guitar.

The acoustic guitar became the driving force behind the album, offering the freedom to explore different themes and styles without compromising the cohesion and sonic integrity.

Fischer-Z’s 14th studio album marks a return to familiar sounds and themes with a fresh new twist, offering an impressive retrospective of John Watts’ life and career to date. This makes the album a real must-have for old and new fans of the band alike.

Tracklist:

1. NEFERTETE
2. AMORAL VACUUM
3. THE ANAESTHETIST
4. THIS WOMAN AND I
5. A PLEA
6. SENSUAL BEINGS
7. MAN MAN MAN
8. STILL ON THE TRAIN
9. TWILIGHT ZONE
10. THE HAMBURG BEAT
11. BERTA
12. BLUE SOUND