Label: Transgressive
Release Date: 23/04/07
Rating:
From contemporary acts such as The Rapture to the minimalist compositions of Steve Reich throughout the 60s and 70s, the Brighton based five-piece boast an original and eclectic array of influences. Despite this, the anaemic techno-tinged indie of Foals' new single 'Hummer' fails to set them apart on their own musical merits.
From the outset, there is an overriding feeling that many elements of 'Hummer' have been used to more successful effect for acts that have preceded them. The marching beats and chanted vocals (reminiscent of Franz Ferdinand and The Automatic's catchiest moments) lack the support of a memorable chorus or lyrical hook to propel it out of being a little too pretentious for its own good. Elsewhere, the razor-sharp repetitive bleeps that drive 'Hummer' along are crushed under the weight of jagged tones of lead vocalist Yannis. Instead of the end result being an infectious piece of new wave inspired indie, it comes off sounding like nothing that acts also specializing in this type of sound, such as Tom Vek, couldn't deliver with muscular production and greater conviction.
The fact that the B-side ('Astronauts And All') fails to add any other dimensions to their sound further proves the redundancy of Foals in a climate where various acts are coming out with superior material in a similar vein to this release.
James Evans
Foals Myspace
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