Fossa - Sea of Skies
by Erick Mertz
published: 21 / 5 / 2015
Label:
Fantastic Plastic Records
Format: CDS
intro
Melancholic debut EP from soft UK songcrafters Fossa that hints at much more
So rarely are listeners of modern rock embellished with a sense of beauty. It’s the fear of cliches. Yet Fossa (noun meaning “anatomical pit or depression”) arrive with their debut, 'Sea of Skies', an aptly-titled EP filled with a wash of softness and woe. The four songs are structured classically, layering mostly acoustic guitars with a smattering of digital elements (check out the cacophonous crashing about on 'Butterfly') that create a dire sense of depth (heartache, your name is 'Swan Song'). While there are hints of bands like melody makers Grizzly Bear, or Talk Talk, my needle pushed more to Wild Beasts, the playful falsetto vocals and volitant (listen to 'Five Days' and tell me otherwise) stream of conscious lyrics directly out of that hedonistic musical playground. I would be remiss to name one track without endeavoring to name them all (which isn’t impossible, considering there are four) so play the opener 'Sea of Trees' on a drive and see if you’re able to say on course. Soft isn’t a dig, nor is sincere. What Fossa accomplishes with melody, a simple subject like whirlwind discovery of love and loss is astounding. What am I left wanting? More. The textures and images on 'Sea of Skies' are enough to keep the imagination on a string, and when the record changes you are left with nary a recourse other than to start over.
Track Listing:-
1 Sea of Trees2 Five Days
3 Butterfly
4 Swan Song
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/fossamusichttps://twitter.com/fossamusic
https://soundcloud.com/fossamusic
Label Links:-
http://www.fpmusic.org/soundcloud
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart