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Part 1 of Foals’ ambitious dual album project was always going to be hard to follow. But with Part 2 Everything Not Saved Will be Lost, the propulsive Oxford band delivers a solid –but all too familiar – release only 7 months later.
Self-described in an August press release as a “state of the world address” born out of the confusion of our contemporary climate ‘of few concrete certainties’, one gets the sense Foals have a somewhat grandiose view of the thematic weight of their music. Lyrically, Part 2 ENSWBL is not as profound as it appears. The lead single “Black Bull” – nominally ‘a bruising expression of conflicted masculinity & delusions of grandeur’ sets the tone for Part 2. It is bigger, brasher, and ultimately sloppier – both in terms of production and lyrics – than Part 1. The band’s continued insistence on self-production may have something to do with this.
Despite lofty intentions, the band has stayed firmly within their comfort zone. Philppakis’ raw visceral vocals laid over frenzied guitar riffs, heavy synthetization and extended interludes should be a winning formula. Whilst the album makes for a fun listen, Foals have done all this before, and done it better. At its worst, the album is a mediocre retreading of earlier tracks. Its standout moments are few and far between, and as a whole the album is enjoyable but not particularly memorable. “Dreaming Of”, “Ikaria” and “10,000 Feet” could be most generously described as filler.
The seamless segue from cinematic opener “‘Red Desert” into the frenzied “The Runner”; the memorable riff of Wash It Off; and a bold foray into more bluesy territory with ‘Like Lightning’ ensure that not all is lost. Part 1’s teaser track “Surf Pt. 1” pays off nicely with “Into the Surf”, which incidentally offers a welcome change in gear in terms of both pace and lyrical content. Here front man Yannis Philippakis becomes more grounded, abandoning the attempts at profundity that plagues earlier tracks in favour of exploring his Greek heritage through dreamy homages to emigration and dying at sea. The album’s greatest triumph is in its finale. “Neptune” is a 10-minute atmospheric delight. Here we are offered a taste of experimentalism as the band breaks free of their tried-and-tested formula, diving into an eerie, delightfully mystical musical landscape.
For all its shortcomings, listening to Part 2 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost shows Foals for what they do best. A daring exploration into the chaos of our contemporary political and environmental climate? Hardly. A decent rock album filled with high-energy bangers that will give fans something to look forward to hearing live? Absolutely.
