Foals
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Biography
Walking out on English degrees at Oxford University, Yannis Philippakis and Edwin Congreave formed the band Foals – later adding Jack Bevan (drums), Andrew Mears on vocals, guitarist Jimmy Smith, and bassist Walter Gervers – through a love of techno, krautrock and post-punk and set about melding their musical influences through playing house parties across the city. It culminated in a distinct mix of quickfire rhythms, jaunty melodies and an intense chemistry that was dubbed math-rock and they were quickly signed by Transgressive Records.
Produced by TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek, their debut album Antidotes (2008) received rave reviews and reached number three in the UK charts, while single "Cassius" was named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 50 tracks of the year. Described by the band as tropical prog, follow-up Total Life Forever (2009) progressed to a starker, more delicate, melancholy sound, winning a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize and reaching number eight in the UK Albums Chart. Their unique swell of frantic guitar pop made the band firm favourites with the UK indie crowd and America took note too, with their albums released on legendary alternative label Sub Pop. Holy Fire, their third album, was released in 2013 and with an appearance on Later... With Jools Holland garnering them new fans, they embarked on a UK tour supported by Petite Noir. They received another Mercury Prize nomination for Holy Fire and the album's single "Inhaler" was awarded Best Track from NME. What Went Down followed in 2015 and in 2016 Foals were nominated for the British Group award at the BRITS. In 2019, they launched a two-part album project, with their fifth LP Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1 arriving in March 2019, followed by Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1 in October. The latter album gave the band their first UK number one. They returned in 2022 with their seventh studio album, Life is Yours, sculpted by a coterie of producers including John Hill, Dan Carey, A. K. Paul and Miles James