CD Review
Artist: Foals
Album: Antidotes
Label: Warner Music Canada
Release Date: April 8 2008 

Reviewed by: Tessa Perkins (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada) 

The debut record from Foals offers a fresh minimalist sound that is a mix of percussion, synth, and guitars. Singer/guitarist Yannis Philippakis describes the guitar sounds as "a cloud of insects forming these strange harmonies." Their unique sound is based on "taking the best bits of other music and forming a new whole" which produces a fresh sound not based on any single band's music. The band members were bored with interchangeable electro records, so they decided to make the kind of music that they wanted to dance to. Although their music is very technical with a focus on sonic tidiness, the patterns are also very catchy and danceable due to the repetitive lyrics and beats.  

There are few lyrics in each song, and the ones there are tend to repeat themselves and blend into the music so that they are not the focus of attention. The band wanted their lyrics to "heighten the music, not to smother it," and at that I think they have succeeded brilliantly. The vocals compliment the music very well, and they are somewhat distorted and unclear, but this allows them to fade into the background and become just another sound in the mix. Each song is not so much a narrative as a single, surreal image that is brought to life through the music.

There is a sixth member of the band, Tinhead, who created the art for the album which contrasts soviet imagery and flowers. The art reflects the music well as both are an example of the "cut 'n' paste approach. I would describe the band as postmodern alt-dance-rock. Sometimes a band just doesn't fit into one definable genre category, but that usually means they are pioneers of something new or creative geniuses that have something new to offer the music scene.

The surname Philippakis means "little lover of horses" in Greek, and it is what inspired the band name. This five-piece band from Oxford, England has definitely created a unique sound, but whether it will become popular enough to give them stability and longevity is yet to be seen.  

1. The French Open
2. Cassius
3. Red Socks Pugie
4. Olympic Airways
5. Electric Bloom
6. Balloons
7. Heavy Water
8. Two Steps, Twice
9. Big Big Love (Fig. 2)
10. Like Swimming
11. Tron
12. Hummer
13. Mathletics