Foals

Another hot tip for 2008 is Foals (MySpace). They are a new band from Oxford, UK. In an interview with the BBC, Foals spoke about their sound, which BBC has also described as 'punk-funk'

"We play guitar in a different way from pretty much any other mainstream indie band," declares Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis.

"We have a piano which is used in a different way to how most other bands would use it."

Guitar effects pedals are employed to "mimic the sound of the solar system", he continues, attempting to explain what sets this five-piece apart from the average rock band.

"We're just different."

They have a fresh sound, though the song Cassius reminds me of Franz Ferdinand. They also wouldn't have sounded out of place in the 1980s with their brand of punk. From a review in The Indepedent

That Foals aesthetic is one of discovery and invention, driven by a need to create something relevant within today's cultural landscape. In an industry obsessed with rehashing past styles, Foals looked to unexploited resources of musical inspiration to incorporate into their sound.

and

The band's debut album, Antidotes, is an explosion of colour and one of the most astonishingly original records of the past decade. It is a patchwork of influences, from Afrobeat and math rock to German techno and Steve Reich's minimalist loops, all woven together with a pop sensibility and a desire to defy the restraining influence of the mainstream.

Hmmm...



CD cover for upcoming album Antidotes (from 24 March)


clip for 'Mathletics'


clip for 'Hummer'


clip for 'Cassius'


More from Foals' YouTube wearefoals channel