Foals - What Went Down

I’ve never been a fan of Oxford quintet Foals’ brash style of rock so I was surprised to find myself hooked on their comeback single What Went Down last month. Safe to say the album lives up to the hype of its phenomenal title track, simultaneously throwing up a whole range of surprises from its arsenal of alt-pop ballistics. Mountain at My Gates and Birch Tree are calm openers, similar to 2010’s Total Life Forever but exchanging keyboards and synths for guitars that, despite sounding dangerously Coldplay B-side-y, fit in comfortably. The dramatic Albatross raises the tempo like a call to arms for live music fans; no doubt one hell of a show will come from this album. Snake Oil is angsty and confrontational – somewhere between the Black Keys and Drenge – whilst the chirpy Night Swimmers dances on the fine line between timeless indie anthem and Radio 1 A-list wannabe. The album’s epic closer A Knife in the Ocean, is seven minutes of crashing cymbals and twinkling synthesizers, closing a dramatic record with powerful finesse. What Went Down may not be what Foals dedicatees have been expecting but it’s a bold step forward for a band quickly claiming their rightful spot in this generation’s musical landscape.