HAPPY NEW YEAR - FP PLANS FOR 2005 AND BEYOND !!

January 12, 2005

First of all, a belated Happy New Year to all FP fans from fawcettpoustie.com ! We have been a little quiet of late since the band took a hard earned rest after the release of the utterly brilliant Heading For The Bright Lights album, and Nick headed off on a round the world adventure. Little had been heard of Nick, or Chris for that matter, since the release of Heading, and it came as something of a surprise to us when Bally Rotter Records unexpectedly released the second single from the album, Mexican Hat on Monday.

It came as even more of a surprise when we received a call from Chris Poustie, also on Monday, informing us of the band's early plans for 2005 !

As had been known for some time, the band (Nick, Chris and Harv Flood) will be meeting up in Thailand during March-May to take a vacation together, and to discuss plans for FP in 2005.

Chris said that essentially the year is being regarded as a rest year between albums, to re-charge the batteries and take some well deserved R&R. The band last had a vacation in 2001 (see pics) when the three of them met up in Thailand and spent some time on an island called Ko Samet.

Having said that however Chris has also hinted that there may yet be an FP release in 2005 afterall ! According to Chris the band will be discussing the possibility of working on an instrumental album in 2005 that would be the length of a regular album, but would be composed of two classical movements, as opposed to a collection of songs. Chris seemed enthused by the idea but cautiously added that the plan is still very much open for discussion with Nick and Harv, and that it is still only in the conceptual stage - with no writing haven taken place.

Chris said that 2006 would likely see the return of FP proper, with the release of a fully-fledged new studio album, but said that the "classical album", for want of a better description, could produce one of the most amazing and experimental works the band would ever attempt. Chris likened his anticipation for this project to days prior to recording the band's first album Nancy's Tea Party, when the band had it all to learn, and all to discover. He said that his intention would be to approach the album very much as an experiment and to not worry too much about whether the end product was polished or commercial, rather to create something different that would offer the band a totally new challenge.

The two "movements" would be written separately by Nick and Chris and the hope is that the album would be completed in time for a late 2005 release, with the following album being recorded in the Summer of 2006. Presumably recording of the "classical" album would start after the band vacation when Nick returns to England after his 8-month, round the world exploration.

Chris also promised to get together with Fawcett and Flood and to give a band interview to FP.com in March/April !

Keep checking back to fp.com in the meantime for any further updates or exclusive shots from the band's holiday in Thailand ! In the meantime check out these great holiday snaps from the band's last vacation in 2001 !