Back when I was touring the UK a lot before the pandemic, it was always nice running into the Foals boys at our shows and at weddings, bars, parties, and wherever else. Oxford at that time (and then London) felt full of possibilities and whenever I arrived it seemed as if Foals was more and more a part of the landscape and culture. The surge that carried them to where they are now was fast and dramatic. First tour I did with Youthmovies, Foals were on the same indie label that would go on to release my stuff (RIP, Try Harder Records). By the second tour, they were one of the biggest up-and-coming bands in the UK. Then, next tour, just one of the biggest bands, period. Their new record, Life is Yours, feels like (and was intended as such) a return to the crowded, bustling streets after isolation. It's ecstatic and beautiful and if you listen to it on headphones or in a car with good speakers, it sounds like a dragon's heart beating. My favorite song on the album is called "Flutter." You should go listen to it. When the riff comes in, like a slow and massive wave rolling shoreward, it feels like a remedy to all the shit that's rained down on us the past couple years and that is a much-appreciated thing. Proud of you guys. You did well. Keep rising. Love, -AG
