From the first song on the CD "The Night Falls Fast" you can not escape the fact that Andy Fleet is a composer who is perfectly capable of writing entire soundtracks for film and TV. Andy Fleet decided his life should go in a totally different direction after he lost his new born son James. This CD is dedicated to his deceased child.

In addition to the piano lessons he gives to young children, he focused on composing new songs, which ultimately led to this debut album. For the instrumental title track, he is joined by New Yorker Andre Cannière on trumpet to create a nostalgic atmosphere which sets the general scene for this album.

Andy Fleet takes his place behind the piano, the instrument that is explicitly central to most songs on this CD. Jazz and blues legends such as Cole Porter, Randy Newman, Donald Fagen and Allen Toussaint are the main sources of influence for this still relatively young London artist.

In the songs Get The Boys Round and the emotionally very moving Fifty-Four Candles (the number of minutes that his son lived) Andy Fleet creates feelings of comfort, sympathy and musical magic with his warm soothing voice. Sometimes you are reminded of a still very young Elton John, someone he might be not so keen on being compared with.

In terms of piano playing, we turn to Billy Joel, especially in the song Genya. Despite the links to blues and jazz, the music on "The Night Falls Fast" is more in the modern popular music class altogether.

For the song Tonic, one of the most beautiful songs on this CD, he could rely on the vocal support of singer Jane Fraser and on the funky swinging Been There Drunk That, Jo Doolan was the lead singer of service.

Finally, we must recommend the still and very quiet She’d Say Something to illustrate what Andy Fleet has to offer. This CD is a must for a quiet night in with a glass of wine.