Foals and Explosions in the Sky
Today I have some music for you by a band that I haven't really talked about in an incredibly long time. I'm thinking its maybe been two or three years since I last talked about these guys. A shame for sure, but this song resurfaced among my playlists, and the memories made me come here to write about it.
This song is by a band called Foals, a group out of England. This is a band who has been around for quite some time, and they have such an odd reputation to me. It seems like they are a band that everyone knows, yet nobody knows who they are. Foals has performed at so many huge festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella, and they have a good number of accolades under their belt. But at the same time, I have found that when I ask people if they listen to Foals, the answer is usually a no. But I kind of like it when bands have reputations like that. It makes the music so much real and pure to me. It's like having a well-kept secret that many others are also trying to keep secret. An odd concept, but one that accurately describes how I feel about Foals.
Now Foals is one of the best examples I can think of when it comes to instrumental driven indie rock. Everything about their music serves as a definition of that title. This song is definitely one of the more instrument is driven pieces, rather than vocals or lyrics. There is a heavier emphasis on creating an atmosphere with this song and telling a story through the music. The song starts out slower and softer, allowing us to ease into the cadence and movement of the song. The introduction is a bit more chilled out and simple. We get something sounds a bit like a heartbeat accompanied with a simple chord played by what I think might be a keyboard or piano. Yannis Philippakis enters with his gentle and fragile vocals, singing honest and heartfelt lyrics.
The song starts to crescendo, picking up the pace and the level of sound and intensity. The beat of the song itself doesn't change, but the rhythms become faster and more active. Instruments start getting added, and the vocals rise in volume and intensity. Only to calm down to something that falls in the middle of the two previous extremes. This song is full of waves of crescendo and softening, ultimately leading to a reverberating space of sound and passion.The instrumentation at this culminating point in the song is brilliant as well. This is where the "indie rock" genre title comes in because the song starts to take on guitar and drum based feel. Cymbals crash and buildup to what can only be considered a beautiful climactic moment of electronic sounds, guitars, softer drums and beautiful melodies. The way the instruments and melodic lines all layer and weave into each other is nothing short of being a liberating and freeing sound. There is a genius juxtaposition we hear in the song, as we initially hear restraint and vulnerability which grows into a more chaotic and intense sound.
Something about this piece is mysterious and morbid, haunting and cinematic, but remains an epic journey through sound. If ever you want a song to get lost in, this is one that offers to sweep you away and enchant you. The splattering guitar rhythms and haunting vocals leave you in a world of zoned out beauty to which we have woken up again with the song's ending. Foals has crafted a beauty with this song, and I am so glad I got to talk about this song today.
Today's instrumental song is by a band known as Explosions in the Sky. This is a band that is well known for creating instrumental masterpieces with instruments that are generally used by bans. Guitars, drums, bass guitars, etc. And Explosions in the Sky tells a story with every song they release. Sometimes they are stories of happiness and hope, other times they are melancholy and moving. BUt regardless, Explosions in the Sky tells us more with the music than words, and for that, I remain impressed and in awe of the band. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
This song is by a band called Foals, a group out of England. This is a band who has been around for quite some time, and they have such an odd reputation to me. It seems like they are a band that everyone knows, yet nobody knows who they are. Foals has performed at so many huge festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella, and they have a good number of accolades under their belt. But at the same time, I have found that when I ask people if they listen to Foals, the answer is usually a no. But I kind of like it when bands have reputations like that. It makes the music so much real and pure to me. It's like having a well-kept secret that many others are also trying to keep secret. An odd concept, but one that accurately describes how I feel about Foals.
Now Foals is one of the best examples I can think of when it comes to instrumental driven indie rock. Everything about their music serves as a definition of that title. This song is definitely one of the more instrument is driven pieces, rather than vocals or lyrics. There is a heavier emphasis on creating an atmosphere with this song and telling a story through the music. The song starts out slower and softer, allowing us to ease into the cadence and movement of the song. The introduction is a bit more chilled out and simple. We get something sounds a bit like a heartbeat accompanied with a simple chord played by what I think might be a keyboard or piano. Yannis Philippakis enters with his gentle and fragile vocals, singing honest and heartfelt lyrics.
The song starts to crescendo, picking up the pace and the level of sound and intensity. The beat of the song itself doesn't change, but the rhythms become faster and more active. Instruments start getting added, and the vocals rise in volume and intensity. Only to calm down to something that falls in the middle of the two previous extremes. This song is full of waves of crescendo and softening, ultimately leading to a reverberating space of sound and passion.The instrumentation at this culminating point in the song is brilliant as well. This is where the "indie rock" genre title comes in because the song starts to take on guitar and drum based feel. Cymbals crash and buildup to what can only be considered a beautiful climactic moment of electronic sounds, guitars, softer drums and beautiful melodies. The way the instruments and melodic lines all layer and weave into each other is nothing short of being a liberating and freeing sound. There is a genius juxtaposition we hear in the song, as we initially hear restraint and vulnerability which grows into a more chaotic and intense sound.
Something about this piece is mysterious and morbid, haunting and cinematic, but remains an epic journey through sound. If ever you want a song to get lost in, this is one that offers to sweep you away and enchant you. The splattering guitar rhythms and haunting vocals leave you in a world of zoned out beauty to which we have woken up again with the song's ending. Foals has crafted a beauty with this song, and I am so glad I got to talk about this song today.
Today's instrumental song is by a band known as Explosions in the Sky. This is a band that is well known for creating instrumental masterpieces with instruments that are generally used by bans. Guitars, drums, bass guitars, etc. And Explosions in the Sky tells a story with every song they release. Sometimes they are stories of happiness and hope, other times they are melancholy and moving. BUt regardless, Explosions in the Sky tells us more with the music than words, and for that, I remain impressed and in awe of the band. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
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