UK rockers Foals first made a presence with 2008’s Antidotes, a twitchy math rock workout that led to success in the States and even greater success in their home territory. Foals’ two albums since, 2010’s Total Life Forever and 2013’s Holy Fire, showed a more developed, mature approach in their songcraft. Though the chiming guitars and dancey beats still appear, Holy Fire sees Foals gravitating towards a more spacious sound with more diverse influences.
“My Number,” the second single from Holy Fire, finds Foals embracing pop music unabashedly. The song’s swagger, supported by a ridiculously strong groove, calls to mind funk-inflected ’70s hits like David Bowie’s “Golden Years.” Frontman Yannis Philapakkis’ vocals, which aren’t always the strongest, are in full-blown radio mode. The joyous melodies climax at the chorus, where Philapakkis provides some counterpoint, shouting “we don’t need each other now”. Never has such an assertion sounded so uplifting.
Foals’ “My Number” is the sound of a band who, when left to their own devices, moved towards a more poppy sound to much success. The result sounds neither contrived nor unoriginal, but joyous and fresh. It’s also catchy as hell.