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Lush vocal harmonies, excellent musicianship and magic song craft feature in Monkey & the Fish's 2nd studio album, 'A Place Of Hope'.

An eclectic mix of tracks with folk, roots and reggae influences are welded into a continuum of work in this evocative production. Singer songwriting duo Chris Fisher and Marcelle Townsend–Cross create a special presence and signature sound that reflects the 20 years they have performed together.

Through 2016 Monkey & the Fish 'regrouped' as a 5 piece and worked on arranging and recording at Bush Rock Studios Goonellabah. The line up includes seasoned session players George Urbaszek on bass and Glenn Kellett on trumpet. Kellett's horns feature through instrumentals and brass section arrangements on the new album. Guest musicians include Pete Wilkins and Scott Hills on drums, Sonia Henderson on trombone and Paul Agar on pedal steel.

'A Place Of Hope' has two songs, including the title track, whose lyrics were written by Chris Fisher’s mother, poet and artist Iris Violet Rose Fisher. Sadly Iris passed away in 2016. The album has been produced with respect to her creative and inspirational life. Iris’s art provides the basis for the album’s cover with a painting of a scene on the Myall Lakes.

The album was co-produced and arranged by Fisher and respected former Far North Coast engineer and producer Dave Highett, now based in Bangkok, Thailand, who also mixed the recording. Mastering was with Michael Worthington, Soundworthy studios, Ballina.

A bonus track on the album, ‘Hand In Hand’, was written and recorded during the hectic days of the historic Bentley blockade against coal seam gas in 2014. It is a rousing activist anthem with contributions by some of the Far North Coast’s most well-known performers including Laura Targett (violin, vocals), Luke Vassella (vocals), Holley Somerville (vocals), Mookx Hanley (banjo), Jeremy White (electric guitar, vocals), Peter Lehner (vocals) Paul Joseph (vocals) and Julian Smith (bass). This track also features Bundjalung language spoken by Roy Gordon and Lewis Walker, plus Walker’s didgeridoo.

Another special collaboration of this album is 'Smell Of Rain', featuring voices and Pitjantjatjara language of kids and community members from Yunarinyi and Kenmore Park Anangu School.

While it deals with some serious issues, this is an uplifting album which is aptly titled. Engaging lyrics resonate themes of love and respect for family & the natural world and reflect personal and universal stories that connect with audiences.