Post Fossils 3 release , one of my friends used to pass this sarcastic comment - "erokom cholte thakle ebar Alt + F4 mere debo". It had such a minimalist approach to criticism/ ground reality (or a frustration) that I gave a tribute to that statement on my Facebook wall on the eve of Fossils 4's official release. Me, my friend and perhaps many like us, wanted changes in Fossils' approach to an album. We expected the album to be beyond the tertiary brilliance on Inlay cover pics and the characters it portrays, beyond the story / theme it wants to say through the course of 8 or 9 songs; we could do away with "Sada Jama lok". All we wanted are 8 awesome songs, which would live with us forever, which are enriched with avant grade lyrical quality of Fossils 2, musically on par with exquisite and path breaking Fossils 1. How often did we hear in past - "Fossils 1 ek baar e hoy boss, o jinis just hoye gechhilo, ar hobena". I think this statement has more to do with the frustration of not meeting the expectation in following album that Fossils 1 had set, than how brilliant Fossils 1 is. I will not write off Fossils 2 from its glory. Fossils 2 was such a lyrical extravaganza that Bengal had never heard of, or could dream. Audience took time to understand the depth and lyrical power of Fossils 2. May be that's why another belief started to creep in among listeners about typical Fossils' album . That is - "Fossils er album ekbaar shune bhalo lagena, multiple listening chai." I think, even Rupam too would agree, musically Fossils 2 did not have the bite of the earlier installment. Then Fossils 3 released and obviously there was sky high expectation as usual. Perhaps we expected a bit too much from Fossils that time, perhaps we expected the better components of previous two albums to be present in Fossils 3. What it ended up with is actually a story of a protagonist.As I said before, we wanted "poriborton" and I am glad that Fossils too responded to those demands. Few major points that I would like to highlight here :-
1. Fossils got rid of Steve Fallone. I am glad they did. Did that guy from US has anything to offer than the tag of his citizenship. I am thankful to him for one reason only. Had Fossils not thought of US (or steve) pre 09/11, I think we would not have this numerical series since Fossils 1. Listen to whole album of Fossils 3 or "Harano Padak" from Fossils 2, and one feels the mastering has gone for a toss. Fossils could not have done anything better than going for Anupam and to give him that enough space/chance to be in groove in live gigs , prior to sneaking into studio.
2. Getting rid of Asha audio. You could feel the freedom in Fossils 4's sound.
3. Moving to Grunge majority with a very hardcore melodious base. I think that prompted Rupam to sound lot sweeter ; which was missing in Fossils 3 or at some parts of Fossils 2 as well.
4. To keep it simple and organic, not fall in to the trap of overplay. With Allan coming back into the team after Fossils 1, it just had to happen.
5. I heard Tanmoy first time on ETV Bangla Bandwagon. Ironic it is , he was playing "Acid" cover that day for "Atmahatya". This guy is a sheer talent, miles ahead of Bubun as a musician. The new dimension that Tanmoy added to Fossils 4 is not only Unputdownable; in years to come, I am sure we might even call Tanmoy the star of Fossils 4.
With all these brownie points, Fossils had lesser chances of faltering. And Boy, did not they just nail it in Fossils 4. It is an album to buy, to be heard, to be discussed and loved. We have not heard something like this for a long long time in Bengal. This is almost like a Musical boom.
I would start the journey with the last song of album, which is my fav from Fossils 4 as well. Mrityu it is. Mrityu is like open door, hard core, dirty , bed breaking sex. It is that good, I could not find any other way of depicting it. It grows high and pumps up the expectation in every second verse and continuously overwhelms it on the next one and then sets you up for a blast at the end. The song hits you like a bang on the first listening and then keeps increasing its margin on every further listening. Rupam has written quite a few songs on death. But they were mostly on post death consequences. Mrityu talks about the niggling pain of going through the process of dying each day and waiting for the last day to arrive. if I directly jump into the penultimate verse of Mrityu, I will say I have not heard Rupam sounding so helpless as the character of the song for a long long time. And then on the last verse, the epic redemption comes back almost like a recoil energy. Tanmoy and Chandra have a done a mind boggling job in this song, while I salute Allan for putting those riffs all accorss the track. The grooves at the end of the song is almost like a fitting end to an epic album, which oozed in eargasm all through.
My next fav is Mahakash.
Rupam is the king of bengali Ballads, he has always been. The song has such calmness and a spacey feel to it. The song is like the Free zone part 2. As if Rupam as a song writer has grown from where he had left us in Free zone (from the solo album Nishkromon). Has it some thing to do with retirement too from the Job life ? or a retirement from a materialistic world which demands responsibilites every minute ? Musically the song does not deserve comments or words from any one, because everything will fall short in praise. Better if you can keep on pressing space bars on forum. Perhaps that would be a fitting tribute to the song.
Khoro amar Fossil.
Historic; every one knows why :) . The song is the reason why the band was named so. I read the lyrics years ago in epitaph. I used to crack this joke on that "teerey esho sahoshini, othoba dubey jao" bit. I used to call it a "Bond Girl"song :D (who can forget Ursula Andress or Halle berry coming out of the sea in Bond flicks). Jokes apart, that very next line reminds me of a line from Kabir Suman's song 'Jua' which says - ''Tumi ki kakhono amar bhaggo hobe". I love the whole grunge feel and simplicity of the song. Suicidal , Provoking, at the same time devoid of angst and obviosly nostalgic Can we call it a Love anthem post Hashnuhana ? I think we can.
Shoytaan and Bnaador
Let me thank Mr. Roy and ABP first. Had those asses never opened their mouths we would not have got these two. Both of them have that typical R.A.T.M feel of angst. Specially Shoytaan. Some delicious alliteration word play from Rupam's end. Mafia Media, Susheel Shomaaj, Pretattar Patent, Kharij Khyamta. And then it breaks into an epic Rap section where Rupam gives his all. When I listen to Shoytaan , I imagine a jam packed Najrul Manch all singing this track lungs out and Rupam is going bonkers on stage. Angst of Bengali youth ? Yes it wins. Oh I forgot, to mention. One big thumbs up to Anupam for Bnaador.
Bari esho and Haajar Bichhana.
Again two old songs. Bari esho Perhaps still sounds a little like 'Killing in the name of' by RATM at the beginning. But I must say, Fossils have done lot of work on it. Lyrically Bari esho brings back Rupam of 90s in the album. That same at your face angst in love, or hatred. One more thing to keep in mind, Bari esho was written way way before the Park street Rape case. "Jani Khudartho sex ar oboshaad er jongol e bhese ajo, Nirapod moroker swapod desh e". The song has finally found it's place in a Fossils album when the time demanded one. Haajar Bichhana will be a live gig treat. Perhaps a potential gig opener. I just love the Guitar tone used in this song. Rupam sounds extremely mature in Haajar bichhana. Almost like a teacher. I found the mix of Karaoke and solo very soothing at the climax.
Resolution.
Lyircally kind of in line with "Bangali koreche Bhogoban re". In line because, in dearth of confidence and on land of broken dreams, one ridicules himself/herself just like "Bangali koreche Bhogoban re" depicts the wishlist of a quasi european/quasi american bengali mind. Resolution does not have much to offer musically. Perhaps the weakest one in the album.
Sthabor Awsthabor .
Finally to wrap it all an epic instrumental. It reminds me of Coldplay's sound. That same spacey, organic and 'all-stalled' feel.
I wish i could do research on this album in coming days, because this album deserves plethora of discussions. Because this album has put the smile back on my face. Lot have been commented against me on this blog by Fossils fans in past. I hope they understand now, I was only looking for quality.
