The band was formed in 2005 by Philippakis and Bevan, both former members of math rock band The Edmund Fitzgerald, and Andrew Mears of Youthmovies. Mears left the band after their first single to focus on Youthmovies. In January 2018, it was announced that Walter Gervers was also leaving the band.
In early 2007, the band released the limited edition 7" singles Hummer and Mathletics, both produced by Gareth Parton. In the summer of 2007 Foals began working on their debut album in New York. It was produced by Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio, however, the band decided to mix the album themselves, stating that Sitek made the first master copy of the album sound like "it was recorded in the Grand Canyon". Yannis has stated multiple times during various interviews that Foals and Dave Sitek are on good terms, even though the copy by Sitek was rejected by the band.
Foals released their debut album, entitled Antidotes, on 24 March 2008 in the UK and 8 April 2008 in the US. The album was a commercial success in the United Kingdom, debuting at No. 3 in the UK Albums Charts. The album was a minor success in other countries, charting in Japan, France and the Netherlands. Non-UK versions of the album include the early Parton produced singles.
In August 2009, Foals started recording their second album at Svenska Grammofon Studion in Gothenburg, Sweden. The album, Total Life Forever, has been described by the band members as sounding like "tropical prog" and "like the dream of an eagle dying". The band have described the album as being "a lot less funk" than they had originally planned. The album was produced by Luke Smith, formerly of Clor, and its title is named after an element of Ray Kurzweil's theory of singularity. The band's frontman Yannis Philippakis has professed a long time interest in futurology, with it informing numerous songs on Total Life Forever.
On 1 March 2010, the promotional single "Spanish Sahara" was first played on Zane Lowe's show Radio 1. Foals' new website was updated that night with the release of a video for the track directed by longtime collaborator Dave Ma. On 6 March, the Total Life Forever site was officially launched. Puzzles revealed images, lyrics and sound clips of songs from the album. The last clip appeared on 12 March, and resulted with a password entry for the Foals' new website. The site was opened on 13 March and presented the whole new art concept and media including samples of songs, photos and videos. Lead single "This Orient" was released on 3 May 2010. The album was finally released on 10 May 2010. "Spanish Sahara" was later released as a full physical single in September 2010, featuring an edited remix starring the strings of London Contemporary Orchestra. The album was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize.
http://foals.co.uk
Electric Bloom
Foals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An empty morgue with gurning hearts and hollowed crowns
And all I see is marching bands
Marching bands which never rest in broken stands
Butcher birds with useless throats
We're not safe of dying kings with plastic knives
[Chorus]
It's just another, it's just another
Captains made with metal tags
Flags brought down of hollowed crowns
It's everything without a time?
It's just a, it's just a
[Chorus]
Goodbye all, your marching bands
Laid to rest in broken stands
Butcher birds will fly away
This is not a warning call, your final shot
All I see is butcher birds will fly away, electric bloom
The lyrics of Foals' song "Electric Bloom" are enigmatic and thought-provoking, with a strong sense of foreboding and impending doom. The song seems to be addressing societal and political issues, warning of a coming disaster. The opening line, "This is a warning shot, your final call," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as if the singer is trying to wake people up before it's too late.
The imagery in the lyrics is striking and intense, with mentions of "empty morgues with gurning hearts and hollowed crowns," "marching bands which never rest in broken stands," and "dying kings with plastic knives." These images suggest a world teetering on the edge of collapse, with broken systems and leaders who are incapable of leading effectively. The repeated mention of "butcher birds" is particularly intriguing, as these birds are known for impaling their prey on thorns or spikes, echoing the sense of danger and vulnerability expressed in the rest of the lyrics.
Despite the ominous tone of the verses, the chorus of the song takes on a slightly different tone, repeating the phrase "It's just another hospital" over and over. This repetition gives the impression that everything is becoming routine, that these disasters and tragedies are happening so frequently that they're losing their impact. The final line, "All I see is butcher birds will fly away, electric bloom," is ambiguous and open to interpretation, but it again implies that something is about to happen, that a climax or denouement is approaching.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a warning shot, your final call
This is a serious warning, your last chance to avoid something.
An empty morgue with gurning hearts and hollowed crowns
A lifeless place filled with people who are sad and empty inside.
And all I see is marching bands
All I see is a group of people moving forward in unison, possibly without purpose.
Marching bands which never rest in broken stands
People who continue to march forward, even though their platform is unstable or broken.
Butcher birds with useless throats
Birds who cannot sing, but are still dangerous predators.
We're not safe of dying kings with plastic knives
Even the powerful can be killed by something seemingly insignificant or weak.
It's just another hospital
A mundane, unremarkable place that everyone knows.
Captains made with metal tags
Leaders with identities that are defined by their status symbols.
Flags brought down of hollowed crowns
The symbols of power and authority being destroyed and devalued.
It's everything without a time?
Something that has no context or relevance to anything else.
Goodbye all, your marching bands
Farewell to the people who move forward together without thinking or stopping.
Laid to rest in broken stands
People who finally stop moving forward, even though their platform is unstable or broken.
Butcher birds will fly away
Predators who will eventually move on, leaving nothing behind.
This is not a warning call, your final shot
This isn't a warning anymore, it's the final opportunity.
All I see is butcher birds will fly away, electric bloom
The only thing that is certain is that the predators will eventually leave, and nature will continue on.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edwin Thomas Congreave, Jack William Bevan, James Andrew Smith, Walter Gervers, Yannis Barnabas Emanuel Philippakis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gustavosaucedo9916
This is a warning shot, your final call
An empty morgue with gurning hearts and hollowed crowns
And all I see is marching bands
Marching bands which never rest in broken stands
Butcher birds with useless throats
We're not safe of dying kings with plastic knives
It's just another hospital
It's just another, it's just another
Captains made with metal tags
Flags brought down of hollowed crowns
It's everything without a time?
It's just a, it's just a
It's just another hospital
It's just another, it's just another
Goodbye all, your marching bands
Laid to rest in broken stands
Butcher birds will fly away
This is not a warning call, your final shot
All I see is butcher birds will fly away, electric bloom
@Baguenaudeur
For years this is the song I've been using to test my audio equipment because how instruments keep changing channels 😂
@ivanfsan5019
haha me too bro, the intro i mean
@lujanbignone596
i feel so sorry for the people who is missing this, so sorry
@gonzaarmt2818
Tarde o temprano caerán en este disco (?
@michael75005
just discovered this song... I missed something real bad
@jovenaleman
@@michael75005 you should try the all the alvum holy shit
@pauljohnpinkybennett3557
Seems quite a lot of heads have missed out on this one. Nomads, that's what they are.
@seb_foster
2-D! what u doin' here?! this isn't ur family!
@user-nt1jw7xu1x
I love this song so much, it’s like the song of my life. it consists of anxiety and panic attacks, vivid emotions and at the same time an existential calm and illusion of freedom
@filoi2309
My country is currently in war, and this song is perfect for the moments. I love you guys so much