FOSSIL COLLECTIVE INTERVIEW - 17.09.2013

                     

This week I was lucky enough to interview Johnny from the band Fossil Collective. The group from Leeds have recently returned from a tour of the states in support of The Boxer Rebellion. Coming home this summer to play some festival dates at Green Man and End Of The Road festival. Their debut album 'Tell Where I Lie' reached the number one position in the USA 'New Album Charts' and single 'Let It Go' became single of the week on iTunes Canada. Currently working on new material I managed to grab a few words....

*You recently toured the US, how did it all go?

We had an amazing tour and met so many new fans. I think a highlight for me was our show with the Boxer Rebellion in Chicago. The queue for the merch table after the show was something else. It took about 2 hours to finish talking with everyone and then we all went and partied at a little pub round the corner. Happy memories.  

*When writing and recording 'Tell Where I Lie' did you have a positive feeling about it and think that it would receive such recognition?

We never really worried about the recognition, but knew we had good songs. The more important thing for us was to be honest and for the songs to represent such a creative time in our lives. When we finally released it and it did so well it took us by surprise. I remember our manager ringing us to tell us that it had gone number 1 in the US Billboard new artist chart. We were in a travel lodge at the time, it was surreal. 

*When writing songs do you have a certain process or style in which you approach it?

An idea can come from anywhere really, it can start often with the guitar but also a drum beat (under my arrest started this way). The most important focus for me is that the song holds up if you stripped it back to just a guitar and a melody, is it still strong without production or gimmicks?!

*The album has some really beautiful songs, what is your personal favourite to play live and which do you feel most proud of?

I like playing the magpie live as it has a great outro for us and is one of the few times we really push it, we use two drum kits on this and i love the energy we get from this. I'm most proud of 'Wolves' at the moment (it can change) I just think we really nailed it on this one. 

*And what inspires you as an artist?

Everything - love, life, stress. The album was inspired by all of these but with a nod to our love for nature and the outdoors. We're both more comfortable in the countryside than a city so we wanted to reflect this in the music. 

*On the upcoming uk tour are you guys playing with a full band lineup or as a two piece?

No, we're lucky to have some very clever musicians that come with us. We're a 5 piece live normally.  

A few quick ones:-

*Most overrated band/artist dead or alive?

The Kooks

*Most underrated band/artist dead or alive?

Villagers

*Download or physical copy?

Vinyl

*And your all time favourite album?

Air - Moon Safari

*So you're playing a date in Exeter on your tour, (October 6th, Exeter Phoenix) what do you like an audience to take away from catching you live?

To feel like they've really connected with us. We put a lot of honest emotion into our set so I hope this is what they take away.

*And lastly whats next for Fossil Collective?

We're just about to release a new EP. Can't tell you too much, but it's 4 tracks and we'll have the release details very soon. It's a collection of songs that we've written over the last couple of months as we start the song writing process for album number 2 which will come towards the end of 2014. 

Fossil Collective begin a 12 date UK tour on September 27th. Be sure to go check them out at http://www.fossilcollective.com/live/

Debut album 'Tell Where I Lie' available now.

http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/dirty-hit/fossil-collective/icat/fossilcollective/

Download a free 4 track ep at the below link

http://www.fossilcollective.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/fossilcollective

Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/user/fossilcollective

HALF MOON RUN - DARK EYES REVIEW

HALF MOON RUN - DARK EYES (INDICA RECORDS) 2012


This is the debut album from Canadian three piece outfit Half Moon Run. These guys have been around since 2010 and have really set the bar pretty high with an album of this caliber. I have listened to the album a few times now and each time this collection of varied songs are offering something new. With their first single 'Full Circle' being elected as a free weekly download via the itunes store, I decided to give it a go. Kept it on my phone and played it for a few weeks before resisting the urge and buying the album. So I guess both the band and sadly itunes have served their purpose in that sense. Intricate acoustic guitar picking followed by a delicate vocal from singer Devon Portielje announce 'Full Circle' the opening track on the album. An infectious drum beat, bass and added electric guitar full of reverb make this collection come to life. The chorus is irresistibly catchy and you will find this with the next track on the album to, 'Call Me In The Afternoon'. It has one of those melodies that includes a backing vocalist adding another spin to a track that you swear you've already heard somewhere before. This track oozes single material. I can see it being a record label's ideal candidate as a second single. It also shows the extent of musical ability for all members. Singer Devon displaying his percussion skills by using a pair of drum sticks and a tom instead of a guitar for the track. With a similar ethic the drummer plays keyboard and drums during the song. All members adding contributions in the vocal department throughout the entire album in fact. Similarities to other artists are always going to occur, but that doesn't make this album unoriginal. Slower songs on the album venture towards a Jeff Buckley/Radiohead sound which is always some feet if its pulled off well. In this case it very much is, which sits very well with me indeed. Stand out tracks including 'Unofferable' convey this very concept with a clean guitar sound that you can imagine being played in a candle lit empty cathedral. A thudding floor tom that keeps a beautiful pace until the song ends but never short of echo effects. The song 'Nerve' towards the end of the album has a simple keyboard part but again a nice tempo which feeds yet another great catchy chorus. The melodies on this album are brilliant, sometimes one vocalist, other times two and at times even all three. Keeping this mix along with a quality of good lyrics is always a great recipe for decent songs. There is a dark element to some of the lyrics and tracks alike on the album clearly, but a distinctive lead vocal that almost makes you forget at times perhaps a portrayal of pain should be perceived. An unusual feeling to experience I suppose in the context of certain songs but the passion may be an element that just stands out at the fore front of the singers voice. None the less it works for sure. If you like an album that has a mixture of both fun, yet pop-esque pleas alongside dark qualities then you will love this album. As far as debuts go in my eyes, these guys have a done a really good job. An album well worth checking out by a band that have the foundations to do really well.

Gareth Hack.
07.08.2013