NewSong

Former law student turned singer/songwriter Chris Velan makes another switch on his fourth album Fables for Fighters. He infused his previous albums with reggae and world music influences acquired when producing for Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars, but showcases his guitar melodies on folk-indie pop album Fables_. The hand-clapping cadence and ukulele rhythms of opener “Any Number of Ways” and sugary glockenspiel chords on “You Don’t Know (What You’re Asking of Me)” establish infectious pop reminiscent of Australian musician Ben Lee. However, the repetitive lyrics weigh down the album. “Same Clothes” drones on with 19 phrases of “these same clothes” packed into four and a half minutes. High points include the closer “Far from Here,” the only slow song on the album, and “You’re on Your Own Now,” which echoes Velan’s earlier work.