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.
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Titan Arum
Foals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sleep this off
your mind is just a loaded gun
you see
assasins on the walkway home
you eat yourself
from bones to bones
to tounges to toes
contractors nor the council
can find the time
to peice your head again
the terror we must
the terror we must
avoid and behold
avoid and behold
avoid and behold
avoid and behold
The opening lines of Foals’ Titan Arum, “Sleep this off, sleep this off, Your mind is just a loaded gun”, speak to the idea of self-destructive behavior and the toll it can take on one’s mental health. The singer is urging the listener to take a step back and disengage from whatever is causing them distress in order to avoid making things worse.
As the song progresses, the imagery becomes increasingly surreal and dreamlike, with references to assassins lurking and the listener consuming themselves till nothing is left. The refrain of “the terror we must avoid and behold” feels like a statement on the duality of being alive in the modern world; we are constantly exposed to frightening news and events, but must find a way to carry on in spite of it.
Throughout the song, there is an undercurrent of urgency, it feels like a call to arms to acknowledge one’s own struggles and take action before it’s too late. Ultimately, Titan Arum is a powerful exploration of mental strain and the importance of taking care of oneself in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep this off
Take some rest and alleviate your mind of your current troubles
sleep this off
The problem at hand will not solve itself immediately, so take time to rest and recover
your mind is just a loaded gun
Your thoughts can be dangerous and harmful if not handled properly
you see
You witness or perceive something unsettling
assassins on the walkway home
There are dangerous and threatening individuals in your path towards safety
you eat yourself
You are self-destructive and consume your own well-being
from bones to bones
You strip yourself of all that supports and protects you
to tongues to toes
You exhaust and exhaust yourself until nothing is left
contractors nor the council
Both support systems and authority figures fail to address your issues
can find the time
No one seems to prioritize helping you
to piece your head again
To restore your mental wellbeing and repair the damage done by past events
the terror we must
We have a duty to fear and be wary of the dangers around us
the terror we must
It is necessary to acknowledge and prepare for potential threats
avoid and behold
We must act to evade harm while remaining vigilant of our surroundings
avoid and behold
We must be cautious, but not blind to the reality of danger
avoid and behold
We must balance being proactive in preventing danger and being aware of the risks around us
avoid and behold
We can avoid danger while also acknowledging its presence
Contributed by Audrey I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.