FOALS Bolt From The Stables

December 3rd, 2007 sees the release of the first commercial single from Oxford-based quintet, Foals. In possibly the most exciting and forward-thinking collaboration this year, Foals - exploding as one of the hottest bands in the UK today and increasingly known for their explosive mix of techno on guitars and riotous house party shows up and down the country - have recorded their stunning debut album with David Sitek of TV On The Radio (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars) in NYC this summer. Balloons is the first single to be taken from the much anticipated album, and features all new songs across a variety of beautifully illustrated formats – not to mention the first of a series of recordings made in a set-to-be-legendary musical partnership with the highly influential Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet. Kieran's reworking of 'Balloons' is a thrilling, eight-minute variation of the original, arresting and compulsive, and yet another side to this utterly inventive quintet. Back to the release, Foals will appear on Later with Jools Holland on November 16th. Other notable television activity of late includes last single 'Mathletics' appearing as the title music to Skins (currently showing on E4). Yannis, singer describes their guitars sounding like insects, and they are played high on the fret board. Anyone who has seen Foals live will have witnessed their explosive show, which usually ends up in mayhem; ear-rings being ripped out, teeth being broken, kids trampling over each other in stage invasions, all make for thrilling watching in today's over-exposed rock/indie market... Foals stand out from the crowd. The nano-tech precision was a result of Yannis' obsession with sonic tidiness and the reductive approach of the aforementioned Steve Reich, the man who introduced the concept of minimalism to popular music in the '60s and '70s. As well as Reich, Foals name check minimal German techno tracks such as Plumbicon by Monolake and Dead Man Watches The Clock by Dettman/Klock. "But we like all kinds of stuff," says Yannis. "Devo, Glen Branca, Battles, Arthur Russell, Nelly Furtado. Justin Timberlake. Jack listens to electronica. We like taking the best bits of other music and forming a new whole. That's not an original idea, but I think what comes out of it is fresh." Live, Foals don't so much fizz with energy as explode like a well-shaken bottle of champagne. "It's like we're all battling for supremacy on stage," says Edwin. The dance-inflected beats have seen them rock venues ranging from the kitchen at a house party to London warehouse parties. It's no exaggeration to say they are the best new band in the UK. Foals continue to tour the UK in November, and play with Bloc Party in December. Upcoming tour dates: 23rd Nov Club EVOL @ Korova, Liverpool 25th Nov Charlotte, Leicester 26th Nov Club Ifor Bach, Cardiff 27th Nov Wedgwood rooms, Portsomouth (+14) 28th Nov The Works, Kingston 1st Dec Warehouse Project w/ Liars & Kieren Hebden, Manchester 3rd Dec Central Station (14+) Rescheduled from 6th Oct, Wrexham 4th Dec Brickyard (14=) Rescheduled from 11th Oct, Carslile 12th Dec SECC w/ Bloc Party, Glasgow 13th Dec G-Mex w/ Bloc Party, Manchester 14th Dec Alexandra Palace w/ Bloc Party, London 15th Dec Alexandra Palace w/ Bloc Party, London