Alan Fletcher is a multi-talented actor, photographer and singer-songwriter whose role as Dr Karl Kennedy, in the Australian soap Neighbours, has won him a legion of fans in the UK and across the globe. Having performed with his former band The Waiting Room since 2005 and released his debut EP “Dispatches” in June 2022, Fletcher’s musical career is going from strength to strength. A charismatic performer, Fletcher or affectionally known as “Fletch”, is a firebrand of energy, good humour and intellect, whose latest album “The Point” is an impressive piece of art, that connects music lovers from all walks of life and places the entertainment value back in music. To promote the release of The Point album, Fletcher embarked upon a UK Tour on the 27th February 2023- 9th April 2023 with Australian-Americana band Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes, which has received rave reviews and reaffirmed him as as a class act.
Produced by Lachlan Bryan (from Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes) and Damian Cafarella, and released February 2023 The Point levitates from the same lineage of John Prine, Guy Clark and Jason Isbell, and bridges the gap between traditional Americana and the spoken word and the theatrics of alt-country. It’s an album that sees Fletcher drawing influences from the sculptured sonics of all the greats, whilst carving his unique woodland of earthy folk-infused blues.
The Point is an album that lifts the spirit, soothes the soul and warms the heart with a glowlight residue. It’s an album that takes you on a journey of troubadour tales, sentimental flashbacks and heartfelt anecdotes. It’s a colourful collection of grassroots musicianship, that revisits the origins of Americana and adds an individual brand of idiosyncratic introspection.
As a singer-songwriter, Fletcher wears his heart on his sleeve, whilst delivering with such piognancy, authenticity and powerful precision. He’s an artist who invites you to the sepia screening of his soul, whilst rolling its film from the panoramic shots of nostalgia.
Listening to The Point takes you back to the spiritual essence of life, that reflects through the lens of gritty realism, whilst peering at the stars. It’s an album that travels through the seasons of time, remedying the emotional leakage of lost realities with a sprightly spring in its step. What’s wonderful about The Point is it’s complete accessibility to a wide range of audiences, that ventures down the rocky roads of alternative rock, and connects on a multitude of levels.
Engaging, delightful, wistful and original, The Point is classically crafted whilst contemporarily composed. It’s an album that covers a wide spectrum of emotions, that shakes and stirs with infectious honesty.
It’s also an album that injects a refreshing dose of humour, kitchen-sink existentialism and wry wit. As an artist, Fletcher is the real deal, whose astute observations, heightened sensitivity and affable nature has provided the portal of his creativity which has shined throughout this wonderful album. The Point goes beyond its musical expectations and offers a fully-fledged affair of theatrical animation, philosophical musings and dark-romanticism.
It’s a melancholic sunshine, that rises from the skies of neo-folk, ponders from the haven hills of alt-country and celebrates from the cabaret campside of alt-blues.
As the opening self-titled track, The Point tinkles from the twilight of neo-folk and swirls from the shadows of neo-blues. It’s an exquisite track, whose weather-beaten vocals brave the storms and soak up the elemental forces of life. Along with the piano-esque synths and orchestral breeze of riffs, The Point ebbs and flows towards the shores of baroque rock.
All That I Can Do plucks from the heart of alt-country and sings from the soul of pensive poetry. It’s a nocturnal narrative of nomadic wonder that obscures in the darkness, and shimmers from the swirly strums of neo-blues. It’s a great track, that foot-taps through the earthy pathways of neo-folk, and wanders freely into the wilderness.
Hey You is a sentimental soul-bearer, that pulls on the heart-strings of alt-country and nestles in the corners of neo-blues. Through the poignant lyrics and stripped down acoustics, Hey You reaches out and catches the cascading cosmic dust a billion light years away. It’s a captivating catharsis that connects on a universal level, whilst gazing at the constellations with a tear in its eye.
How Good Is Bed goes back to the roots of rock n roll and revives the Hard Days narrative reminiscent of The Beatles, whilst drinking the blues with The Rolling Stones. It’s a catchy number that jams from the inebriation at last orders, whilst drifting to the early hours of the morning after. Infectious and humorous, How Good Is Bed delivers with a free and easy improvisation likened to all the best story-tellers, that streams across an earthy soundscape of neo-folk. It’s a light-hearted affair that foot taps down memory lane, putting the world to rights, whilst celebrating the slumberous state of sleep.
Covering the classic track by John Prine, Fish and Whistle, sees Fletcher singing on the same platform as the elder statesman, whilst adding a more chimerical and birdseye view. Vocally rich and rugged, Fish and Whistle is testament to Fletcher’s skill at drifting between earthbound realms of neo-folk and elevating towards a more ethereal horizon. Along with the translucent tones of the neo-blues, Fish and Whistle draws you in and keeps you hook, line and sinker.
Leavin‘ strums from the shadows of neo-folk, whilst burning from the charcoal of alt-country. It’s a crestfallen affair that fire-walks barefoot through the embers of neo-blues, whilst cleansing its soul. Through the heartfelt lyrics and melancholic delivery, Fletcher creates that bona-fide love song, that has thematically been part of our collective psyche since the beginning of time.
Lost and Found strums from the campside of neo-folk, whilst smouldering from the aftermath of yesteryear. Through the swirling strums, Lost and Found rises from the ashes of neo-blues, and flies high like a phoenix being reborn again. Along with the thought-provoking lyrics and vocal prowess, Lost and Found shows us once again the skill and emotional depth that Fletcher effortlessly conveys and manages to connect with his audience on a multitude of levels. He’s a master of his craft, who isn’t afraid to let his guard down and send us an intimate invite to his soul.
Somebody is a fantastic tongue in cheek, humorous and off the wall snippet of musical theatre condensed in a husband and wife duet. It’s a 1st class piece of magic that entertains from the wings of the wild-west and rumbles from the ragtime blues of a forgotten age. Through the piano-esque synths, Somebody sits in the recesses of Honky-tonk, while raising the bar of alt-country music. Along with the stunning vocals and onset chemistry of this fabulous couple, Somebody places the fun-factor back in music, whilst offering a witty and infectious dialogue.
Jack tip taps from the saloon bars of jug-bands and congregates in the hillsides of neo-blues. Through the jangly riffs and dusky vocals, Jack side-saddles down the gravelly roads of Bluegrass, whilst chewing on the sonic straws of alt-country. It’s traditional Americana reworked to create an anecdotal delivery of animated vocals and cowboy poetry, placed on the backdrop of old time country music. Through the dual vocals and gust of harmonica, Jack wanders down the embankments of neo-folk, setting up camp beside the mountains amongst the fireflies and stars. It’s an affectionate tribute, an ancestral alliance of curiosity and intrigue, wrapped up in a warm blanket of love and nostalgia.
Quiet Time strums and whirls in a melancholic breeze of grass-roots music in all its splendour. It’s observational poetry that sign-posts in all the directions of alt-country, neo blues and neo-folk, whilst creating a ballad-esque soul soother. Through the insightful lyrics and sedated soundtrack, Quiet Time dims the lights, and reflects upon the gritty realities of life, whilst resting in its haven of harmony.
Dance Through Time tinkers in the backyard of blues, and tip-toes under the shimmery shadows of the melancholic moon. It’s a wonderful track, that twirls in the courtyard of country western and rests in the philosophical porch of neo-folk. Through the tender and pensive vocals, Dance Through Time glides through the passage of time with a beguiling brand of grace.