Fossil Collective – Flux EP
Fossil Collective return from their two year absence with this excellent four track EP. Flux is a work of quiet authority, a real statement of intent in fact. The duo’s batteries seem fully recharged, augmented even by new member Antonio Mucedero. Not that Flux is any radical departure from the Fossil Collective sound. Rather a crystallisation of the bands steadfast direction ever since they disbanded Vib Gyor in favour of the slightly more acoustic led Fossil Collective. From songs that would have graced Wembley (eg ‘Red Lights’) with their passion and sheer exhilaration, Fossil Collective may yet still achieve arena-sized success by following more of an Elbow or Fleet Foxes blueprint.
Put simply, Flux is beautiful. I have always appreciated the EP format as the perfect vehicle for any bands songs. Flux goes for refinement and focus rather than scattershot variety. ‘Disarm’ is effectively the lead track, setting the scene for the whole collection. No pumpkins were smashed during the recording of this song. Instead this gorgeous opener combines the gentlest of picky guitar playing with David Fendick’s soothing falsetto. ‘Disarm’ almost threatens to pass by innocuously like a Sunday afternoon before it shifts up a gear during its closing minutes. Here Fossil Collective remind me of The Boxer Rebellion’s gossamer Cold Still period. It’s the power of restraint, that quiet confidence that is more effective than any shouting.
‘Final Call’ wouldn’t be out of place as the concluding piece on a career defining album. Yet, as it states, “it’s a final call, not a last goodbye” We still have more music to come. Indeed it soon becomes apparent that ‘Float’ is the EP’s cornerstone. Epic in breadth and scope, (if epic is the right word for something this gentle?) ‘Float’ builds, and layers adding numerous false endings to really merit that status.
“Only walking backwards,
don’t give up on us,
all roads lead to nowhere,
there’s the lesson learned.”
This could be the soundtrack to a relationship at a crossroads, or a reflection of Fossil Collective’s career thus far, i.e. continually banging out brilliance to a world/industry that stopped taking notice. Indeed the whole EP seems to be themed around a challenging journey whether forwards or backward (home?)
‘I Remember It Now’ concludes the EP. This is the pastoral one, the comfortable one. Midlake meets Justin Vernon, with angelic vocals. If you’ve never heard Fossil Collective before do so now because their songwriting is intricate yet naturalistic. In Fendick they have one of the rock voices of a generation. His vocal conjures a melange of Thom Yorke, Jonsi, and Andrew Montgomery (Geneva) but it’s the harmonies that win the day, so good you could almost drink them.
How are they not massive?
There’s still time. Flux is a work of understated majesty. We already know they have flag waving stadium-shakers in their locker. This EP is more a showcase for Fossil Collective’s intimate, intricate side. If they can blend both aspects within their next long player the Mercury is theirs. My unswerving love will have to suffice for now.
Flux is available now at iTunes and other digital outlets. (Soundcloud etc). At time of press we are not sure there is a physical release.
Vib Gyor – We are not an island.