FOALS - COLLECTED REWORKS VOL 1
Tammy shares her thoughts on the latest Foals release, Collected Reworks Vol. 1, and lets you know whether she thinks you should listen or not.
Reworks and remix albums can be hit or miss as either reimagined artistic genius in the form of bangers or the wasted efforts to take already flawless songs and try to enhance them with overcompensated bass drops and unnecessary laser beam synths. The latter sentiment does not, however, apply to Collected Reworks Vol. 1 for Oxford rock heavyweights Foals. Collected Reworks Vol. 1, the first in a trilogy of releases, in essence is a celebration of their mammoth 15 year spanning career from debut album Antidotes, the pivotal Total Life Forever, the undeniable Holy Fire, and the fan favourite What Went Down as redefined by a selection of the world’s finest producers.
It’s not the first time Foals have recruited talent to tackle their catalogue. Just last year Everything That Is Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1 was rereleased as a remixes package with Alex Metric, Purple Disco Machine and George FitzGerald amongst the names putting their artistic spin on the album tracks. The former two return for Collected Reworks Vol. 1, appearing alongside London’s colourful Hot Chip, premier producer Lxury and Australian EDM giants Rüfüs Du Sol (who embarked on the same creative group assignment for their 2019 album Solace Remixed). The collection launches in with Hot Chips take on electrifying hit ‘My Number’ encompassing their signature kaleidoscope ecstasy driven waves across nearly 10 minutes. Lxury take on ‘Give It All’ with an Animal Collective spin of vibrant swirls, whilst Alex Metric brings the club claps and beat builds to ‘Mountain at my Gate’, the vocal lines sleekly sinking into the sonic abyss. In contrast, the same song reappears further down the track list with French producer, SebastiAn focusing on aggressive beats and punchy pulses levitating the vocals to, fittingly, mountainous heights.
‘Spanish Sahara’ sees the same chameleon treatment, reworked thrice on the 13 track body. Swedish house producer, John Dahlbӓck strikes at the core with dancefloor heat, Topher Jones presents a high-octane rendition graffitied with intense strobes and Deadboy strips the production back for a restrained gradient build and slow burn finish. Scattered throughout, ‘Into The Surf’ gets the Miami beach party treatment from Hot Since 82, ‘In Degrees’ encompasses 80’s discotheque power in the shade of purple, and Ewan Pearson underscores the ambient ‘Olympic Airways’ in a radiant hyper-colour.
Notably, ‘The Runner’ is a standout for the album thanks to Rüfüs Du Sol, with James Hunts speciality jungle drums a refreshing addition to the track. For those that are aware of Rüfüs Du Sol’s incredible catalogue, this reimagining of ‘The Runner’ morphs the song from being a Foal’s classic to being the Australian three pieces own, amplifying the best elements of both artists.
Collected Reworks Vol. 1 gives Foals the royal treatment and is a testament to their diverse catalogue and the possibilities for their sonic progression. Here’s hoping Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 produce the same level of talent and imagination.
Tammy Walters
★★★★☆