Foals set to record in Hawaii

By Damian Jones
Newsbeat reporter

Yannis warned fans not to expect a repeat of their debut album Antidotes

Foals are planning to decamp to Hawaii to record their second album.

Frontman Yannis Philippakis told Newsbeat the Oxford five-piece will be heading for sunnier shores to make a "surf rock inspired" record.

He said: "We've got a lot of raw material for the next record and we're talking about maybe going to Hawaii to record the album."

The band are planning to start writing their next LP in the New Year, following their forthcoming UK tour.

Exotic location

Explaining why the band are looking for a more exotic location, Yannis said: "We thought Hawaii because we want to enjoy ourselves and we are great believers in the environment around you having an effect on the kind of music you make.

"I think if we are somewhere sunny and relaxed, it'll be a good environment to make a record."

I watched the film Delicatessen and there's a lot of musical saw in it which I found really inspiring Yannis Philippakis

The singer also warned fans not to expect a repeat of their debut Antidotes with their next album.

"If people get to the next record and feel instantly comfortable and like they're on familiar territory then I think that we wouldn't have succeeded in what we're trying to do which is to try and progress with each record," he explained.

"In order to progress we have got to try and allow new influences in."

Of those influences, Yannis said that the band have been listening to a lot of surf pop and krautrock. They've been inspired by French films too.

"I watched the film Delicatessen and there's a lot of musical saw in it which I found really inspiring," he said. "So you could well hear a musical saw on one track. I think it could sound pretty amazing.

"We try and treat playing in this band like a 10 legged sponge.

"We try to take as much influence from everything from David Attenborough's nature shows or films or just experiences. We don't just take influences from music, we try and take influences from everything we experience."

Vintage instruments

In order to progress, Foals have purchased a series of vintage instruments.

"We've bought some new organs and some old 70s bass echo units and reverb units," Yannis enthused.

"I've been getting quite obsessed by older vintage analogue gear largely because they're far more fun to use than computers and they have quite a different feel."

Foals are currently in the middle of a tour of the UK

The Oxford five-piece are currently touring the UK with Holy F***, who they recently worked with on a 12 inch split covers single.

"It's like a limited 12 inch for the tour we both get to sell," Yannis explained.

"We did a cover of their track Super Inuit and they've done a cover of Balloons.

"We decided to do it because I used to really like bands who had special tour merchandise. I'm all for the internet and access to free music but I personally do really like having a tangible record in my hand.

"So we thought this was a good way of giving the fans something back."

Foals' new single Olympic Airwaves is out on 6 October.