"The Point" is Alan Fletcher's first album release under the Americana/Alt Country banner and follows on from the release of the EP, "Dispatches", in June 2022.
Produced by Lachlan Bryan and Damien Cafarella (Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes) at End of The Road Studio in Melbourne, "The Point", showcases Alan's particular take on the world – drawing influences and inspiration from singer songwriters such as John Prine and Guy Clark.
"When I began this journey with Lachlan and Damien I expected to, with luck, write and record a few songs that might get a release. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would have produced such a substantial body of work over the last 18 months", says Alan.
For over 27 years, Alan has portrayed the character, Karl Kennedy, on the iconic Australian television drama, Neighbours, which makes its anticipated return in 2023. He has also appeared in Cop Shop and in the US series, The Love Boat.
Alan's first forays into music were with the rock band, Waiting Room, in 2004 - releasing two albums and a single. The band has toured the UK ten times in eight years performing to sell out crowds and maintaining a weekly residency in Melbourne for 12 years.
Alan Fletcher - "The Point" - is out through MGM Distribution
TRACK BY TRACK - "THE POINT"
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"The title track commenced life as a light spoof on religion. I quickly realised that the song had much more potential. Do we not spend our lives asking the biggest question, what is the point of it all? I'm not trying to make a didactic statement here simply express my pleasure that I have found MY POINT".
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Track 2: ALL THAT I CAN DO
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"Some people believe they aren't suited to settling down and no one can ever tame their free spirit. They can be so convinced of their invulnerability that to succumb when they least expect it is a revelation. Even if it is too late".
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"My mother was a spiritualist who believed in the transmigration of souls or reincarnation. She was my spiritual guide in life and always promised that she would be watching over me and guiding me after she had passed. It is a very seductive thought that I would like to believe. HEY YOU is a plea for some indication it is true".
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"Health experts are united in their belief that bed rest is a powerful tool for betterment of mind and body. On top of that it is a fun place to be! How Good is Bed is a tribute to my favourite place in the world".
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Track 5: FISH AND WHISTLE
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"I include this John Prine cover in recognition of the profound influence his music has had on me. Fish and Whistle was the first Prine song I ever heard".
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"My producer Damian Cafarella brought this poignant song about end of life to me, and we honed it together. I was always enamoured with Damian's observation "I've been leavin' since I came". The positivity and acceptance in the song is its hallmark".
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"For 27 years my script file for Neighbours had a cartoon on it's cover. It depicted a man standing at the Lost and Found counter in a store and the server asking, "Do you recall when you lost your dignity?" The cartoon has always tickled my fancy and it inspired this song".Track 8: SOMEBODY"My wife and musical partner Jennifer, (Mrs F), and I have happily survived 32 years of marriage by being very careful about laying blame at each other's feet. Much easier to blame SOMEBODY".
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"In the 1960's I spent almost every school holiday on my Grandparent's farm in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. I only ever knew my Grandfather, Jack, when he was an old man and I have only sketchy details of the life he led from birth records and my older brother's recollections. I know he fought in the Great War at the tender age of 15. I know he led a hard pioneering life in a harsh environment, and I have my own observations when he had retired. The rest is speculation to an extent. JACK is my tribute to him. You don't have to know someone very well to admire them and want to honour their memory".
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"A song gifted to me by my producers Lachlan Bryan and Damian Cafarella. Quiet Time reflects on the upsides and downsides of 'settling'. If it is true, that 'Living is horizontal falling' (Jean Cocteau) then is standing still a failure to live?"
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Track: 11 DANCE THROUGH TIME
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"A song of unrequited love and friendship. Is friendship without obligation the greatest love of all?"
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