The once aloof Oxford five-piece Foals has changed dramatically since their debut album Antidotes.
With their latest album Total Life Forever they shed their skin and expose themselves for the first time. They are no longer hiding behind cryptic lyrics like in Antidotes; it seems that we have discoverd a transformed Yannis. The mask is slowly coming off and us, the listeners, are gaining a new insight into the mind of these young, growing musicians. The songs are deeper and fleshier, less jangley guitars, and more strategic layering of instruments. The lyrics are even more melancholic than the last album.
Total Life Forever is not purposefully an act of conflict against the first album. You can still hear elements of the first album blending effortlessly into the second album. There is a linear progression.
Now, not only has Foals sound changed but their stage presence has changed as well. Where as once they used to face inwards toward each other not engaging with the crowd, they have now broken out of their shell and are more comfortable making eye contact with the audience, engaging with them, making them feel as though they are a part of the show.
With each show and each song we continue to see Foals grow and reveal a bit of themselves more and it’s an exciting thing to witness.
This is one of the many songs that displays the shift in Foals lyrics and mood of songs. While some favor the dancer friendly hits such as “Cassius and “Balloons,” “Spanish Sahara” digs deeper. From lyrics to the build up of an exploding ending, we are seeing and hearing Foals bare their bones and for the world.
