Foals are back! What Went Down is a hell of a single! After an unexpected Facebook snippet, a BBC Radio One primetime premiere we finally have a visual for the song that actually makes the whole thing even tastier.
I’ve got a longer history with this band, dating back to my time in the UK. Back then I ignored them. Even though their first two albums were good albums, looking back. But what really got me going was this song. And then there was this whole album proper rocking, proper heavy and I just didn’t expect Foals to go into that direction at all. When the album was finally released, my then boss wouldn’t stop blaring out this song through his speakers in the office. And office walls are not as thick as you’d like. I mean, it’s a great song, but, let’s be honest, there are only that many repetitions anyone would bare.
We kind of put on an exclusive record release show in Berlin then. But hours before the show, the band showed without their singer. He had somehow managed to lose his passport and couldn’t leave London – at least that was the story. So instead of having the hottest band of the hour playing their new album in full, two of them djed. It kind of left a little sour aftertaste but that has long gone. What was left was a great album. And now I’m sitting here listening to their new song and watching the video.
It’s gotten grittier. Janis is screaming. The loftiness and airy guitars that carried their first two albums has gone. It’s been trampled down by dust, grit, a haunting organ and relentless drumming. What Went Down is a haunting song. I’m really looking forward to hearing more songs from the upcoming record. Go on Foals, make What Went Down a great record!
