Foals

Foals are a British rock band from Oxford, United Kingdom, active since 2005. Their music is associated with alternative rock, art rock, dance-punk, indie rock, math rock and new wave.

Formation and early line-up

The band forms in Oxford in 2005. It is formed by Yannis Philippakis and Jack Bevan, both former members of math rock group The Edmund Fitzgerald, along with Andrew Mears of Youthmovies. Mears leaves the band after their first single to focus on Youthmovies.

The band’s later line-up includes Yannis Philippakis on vocals and guitar, Jimmy Smith on guitar, Walter Gervers on bass and Jack Bevan on drums. Other members listed with the group are Andrew Mears, Edwin Congreave, Jack Freeman, Walter Gervers, Jack Bevan, Yannis Philippakis and Jimmy Smith. Edwin Congreave plays keyboards and leaves the band in September 2021. Walter Gervers leaves in January 2018 and is later reported to have re-joined the band in May 2023.

Recordings and releases

Foals release seven albums: Antidotes (2008), Total Life Forever (2010), Holy Fire (2013), What Went Down (2015), Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, Pt. 1 (2019), Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, Pt. 2 (2019) and Life is Yours (2022).

In early 2007, the band releases the limited edition 7-inch singles “Hummer” and “Mathletics”, both produced by Gareth Parton. Their debut album, Antidotes, is worked on in New York in summer 2007 with producer Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio, though the band chooses to mix the album itself. The album debuts at number 3 in the UK Albums Chart and also charts in Japan, France and the Netherlands. Non-UK editions include the earlier Parton-produced singles.

Total Life Forever and recognition

In August 2009, Foals begin recording their second album at Svenska Grammofon Studion in Gothenburg, Sweden. Total Life Forever is produced by Luke Smith, formerly of Clor. The band describes the record as having a sound they call “tropical prog” and compares it to “the dream of an eagle dying”. Its title comes from an element of Ray Kurzweil’s theory of singularity, and Yannis Philippakis has said that his long-standing interest in futurology informs many of the songs.

The promotional single “Spanish Sahara” first airs on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show on 1 March 2010. The band launches a new website and album campaign built around puzzles, imagery, lyrics and sound clips, followed by the single “This Orient” and the release of the album in 2010. “Spanish Sahara” later appears as a physical single with an edited remix featuring strings from the London Contemporary Orchestra. Total Life Forever is nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize.

Collaborators and presentation

Foals work with several recurring collaborators, including producer Gareth Parton on their early singles and video director Dave Ma on the “Spanish Sahara” visual. Dave Sitek also produces the initial master version of Antidotes, which the band rejects in favour of its own mix.