This week we feature Foals debut Antidotes. A huge record from my time living in London that I continue to love revisiting. Coming out of math-rock's crossover into charting popularity, Foals first album fused an effective balance of rhythmic complexity with an instinctive ear for anthemic satisfaction. Where the likes of Battles specialised in swirling, progressive instrumentals, Foals kept their compositions tighter, shorter. Their music is exhilerating, and energy matched in their live shows and when I happened to play Cassius during a previous show, I was knocked out of my seat at how punchy it remains.
Along with the record, I'm featuing some other bands with notanle rhythmic complexity, and also noting how easy it is to bridge from the repetitive looping themes in math rock to eclectic electronics and back again.
Playlist
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Caught By the Fuzz by Supergrass on The Strange Ones: 1994-2008 (The Echo Label) -
Shakin All Over by The Whiffs on Another Whiff (Dig! Records) -
Tonight by Katy J Pearson on Tonight (Heavenly) - Break
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The French Open by Foals on Antidotes (Transgressive) -
Cassius by Foals on Antidotes (Transgressive) -
Tonto by Battles on Mirrored (Warp) - Break
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Baby by Four Tet on Baby (Text) -
Next to Me by Jamie Isaac on Next to Me (Marathon Artists) -
Scary People (Reimagined) by Georgi Kay, CD Player on Scary People (Reimagined) (Monoki) -
Polyester by ANNNA on Polyester (Self Released) - Break
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Two Steps, Twice by Foals on Antidotes (Transgressive) -
I Wish I Was Someone Better by Blood Red Shoes on Box of Secrets (Jazz Life) -
Positive Tension by Bloc Party on Silent Alarm (Vice) - Break
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Sea Without Blue by POLIÇA on When We Stay Alive (Memphis Industries) -
Barefoot In the Park (feat. ROSALÍA) by James Blake on Assume Form (Republic) -
Coldhearted, Lately by Khushi on Strange Seasons (Warner) - Break
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Big Big Love (Fig. 2) by Foals on Antidotes (Sub Pop) -
Balloons by Holy Fuck on Holy Fuck/Foals Split 12 (Transgressive) -
Calling Me by The Rapture on Pieces of People We Love (Schnauzer) - Break
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Spanish Sahara by Foals on Total Life Forever (Warner) -
Videotape by Radiohead on In Rainbows (XL Records) - Break
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Gotta Smile (Folamour Remix) by Nightmares on Wax on Gotta Smile (Folamour Remix) (Warp)