Foals fans could soon be getting their hands on “the best Foals record yet,” according to frontman Yannis Philippakis. Speaking to NME, Philippakis said work had barely begun on the follow-up to the band’s 2022 release Life Is Yours, but “we really want to have some time at home and apart to individually get replenished and be inspired — not make one out of a knee-jerk sense of obligation. We want the next record to be really special.”
With bassist Walter Gervers back in the fold, Philippakis believes the group is poised to come up with something truly unique. “I think it could be the best Foals record yet,” he said. Fans are used to the band’s sound evolving with each new release, and with Philippakis teasing the next one “won’t be anything like ‘Life Is Yours'” it’s clear they aren’t content to rest on their laurels.
The Foals frontman has been busy with other projects in the meantime, including his collaboration with legendary Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen, which will be released under the name The Yaw. Describing his first meeting with Allen, Philippakis said it was in a smoky Paris studio where “Tony was just sitting there in a fog of smoke. I don’t think the whiskey bottles had been opened yet but they were in proximity. He wasn’t super friendly straight away!” Despite the inauspicious start, the pair quickly clicked and began jamming together.
Elsewhere, Philippakis has also written music for a new play called “The Confessions,” which he was drawn to because of its story of a woman’s journey from growing up in Australia to experiencing shocking events that led to her moving to England. “Alex described this moment when her mother was nearly pushed off a cliff with murderous intent, and I told him that I could write music for that moment,” he said.
Foals recently featured on Paramore’s “This Is Why” remix album along with a host of other artists. As for when fans can expect the next Foals album to arrive, that remains up in the air. But with Philippakis promising “something special” it’s likely to be worth the wait
Read the full article on NME here: Read More