Back in November 2010, I had the opportunity to review The Fossil Collective’s “Honey Slides” EP (link), and I knew that I wanted to pose some questions to the band. So, after a few e-mails and many time consuming obstacles on my behalf, I would like to personally thank David Fendick for taking the time to Answer 5.
1. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
Neil Young, Midlake, Fleet Foxes, Elliott Smith, Charles Bukowski (“Honey Slides”)
2. What is the genesis (and meaning) of “Fossil Collective”?
Well the project is primarily Jonny and myself, but the “collective” part means we open it up for other local musicians to help us out, which we have done on the debut EP (“Honey Slides”).
3. Composing and recording as a duo now, what is the process of composing and laying down the tracks for “Honey Slides EP”?
We usually focus on stripping it down acoustically and nailing a good vocal melody, which was always the case in our previous band (Vib Gyor). As far as building the songs up, we are very open-minded and tend not to stick to any rules - just see what comes out. It's something we really enjoy doing, so we don't ever think 'what would other people like to hear?'
4, Any live performances planned? What could we expect on the stage?
Not at the moment. It's all about getting the best album written that we can, before we hit the road.
5. I have heard whispers of a full-length album, so I need to ask, what's next for Fossil Collective?
We have a really good relationship with iTunes US and they have asked us about some kind of exclusive album release through them, so we are very busy writing new material. Expect the album out by the end of the year.
My thanks (and apologies) to David Fendick, who shared this amazing EP with me a while back, which you should not pass up on taking a listen to.
Hailing from the UK, Fossil Collective is the duo of David Fendick and Jonny Hooker. Fendick described this project as “the phoenix rising out of the ashes…” Originally members of Vib Gyor, which ended up charting on iTunes Top 100, success would be short lived; the band dissolved, but Fendick and Hooker would not faff about complacently. Recording their debut EP at their home studio, “Honey Slides” (24 August 2010), they offer up three incredibly interesting songs. To boot, they enlistied Ashley Dean (who has directed videos for I Like Trains and Lone Wolf) to make their first video, “On & On.” This is definitely a nascent band that you should definitely pay close attention to and support.
Not your generic indie of the moment, Fossil Collective infuses modest amounts of folk to their music and are devoid completely of the current 80s mania (or even the growing 90s mania); there is no feigned posturing or attitude on the EP as many current artists are making a cliché of. What you get is heartfelt music that has a savvy pop sensibility, without being trite. The three songs are nicely arranged, ingeniously produced, and yet another testament that bands do not need bells and whistles, just solid craftsmanship. Without a doubt, you cannot listen to this EP and not come away thinking that Fossil Collective has song writing chops.
“On & On” (the video below) has some beautiful and forceful strumming, with a 60s-esque vocal arrangement. With a steady beat, you can easily imagine this song being performed by two musicians – the layered arrangements just add to the visceral power of the song. “Without a Fight” slows down the pace, and has that feeling of resignation that the title implies. Again, the skeleton of the song is solid on its own, while the other arrangements augment the visceral power of the song – but it is the lead guitar’s arrangement that is really going to catch your attention. The last track, “When Frank Became an Orb,” picks up the pace slightly, but does not return to the physically energetic level of “On & On.” Starting with some vocal arrangements, before the acoustic guitar sneaks in, it is when the beat drops that song really starts to take shape. This time around it is the crooning and the string arrangement that really carry the visceral power of the song, making this the most contemplative song on the album. I would be remiss if I did not say that the guitar arrangements on this song are the savviest on the EP.
“Honey Slides” really caught my attention because though it is only three tracks long, it really captures a broad range of how this duo approaches music – unlike many bands out there, they can shift from relying principally on rhythm or melody or vocals to carry their songs. (Let’s admit it, ninety-percent of bands can only do one or the other.) There is no cookie-cutter formula, nor is this any jumping on a bandwagon – what you get is viscerally powerful pop music that is moving and infectious. Head over to iTunes, search for Fossil Collective, and support the band.
Track Listing: 1. On & On 2. Without a Fight 3. When Frank Became an Orb
