Foalsreturn with two new albums in 2019:Everything Not Saved Will Be LostPart 1andPart 2, a pair of releases, separate but related, they share a title, themes and artwork.Part 1will be released in March withPart 2following in the Autumn. Profoundly tethered but possessing their own personalities, the two albums capture the most compelling, ambitious and cohesive creations thatFoals featuring Yannis Philippakis (vocals), Jimmy Smith (guitar), Jack Bevan (drums) and Edwin Congreave (keys) have ever produced. “They’re two halves of the same locket,” frontman Philippakis explains. “They can be listened to and appreciated individually, but fundamentally, they are companion pieces.”
Eager to break the traditional pop song structure which they felt they were becoming increasingly tapered to, the 20 tracks defy expectation. There are exploratory, progressive-tinged tracks which occasionally break the 10-minute mark alongside atmospheric segues which make the music an experience rather than a mere collection of songs. Yet the band’s renowned ability to wield relentless grooves with striking power also reaches new heights.
“I listened to it from start to finish when we had it mastered and it’s a fucking bangsman,” drummer Jack Bevan onPart 2toNME. “It is a proper banger. I just don’t think that people will expect that of Part 2′. To me, as a cynical bastard, if someone was going to put out an album in two parts then you’d top-load it on the first one and then have all the boring stuff on the second one. Actually, we’ve flip-reversed it.”