Foals EP

Released in late 2007, the Foals EP (often associated with their early singles on Transgressive Records) serves as the definitive bridge between the band's math-rock origins and their debut full-length, Antidotes. Recorded during a period when the band was notorious for their high-intensity live shows in Oxford and London, the EP features the seminal tracks 'Hummer' and 'Mathletics,' both produced by Gareth Parton. These tracks are characterized by their 'clean' aesthetic: no distortion pedals were allowed in the studio, resulting in the signature 'spiky' guitar sound. The inclusion of a live version of 'Balloons' highlights the band's reputation as a formidable live act, while the Surkin remix of 'Hummer' nods to their proximity to the French electronic and blog-house scenes of the time. Critically, this era of Foals was seen as a sophisticated alternative to the 'landfill indie' of the time, blending the influence of American math-rock bands like Battles with a distinctly British dance-punk sensibility.