Foals – Life Is Yours (Vinyl LP)

Sun-soaked synths, restless rhythms and the sound of a band chasing the feeling of being alive.

Released in 2022, Life Is Yours is the seventh studio album from Oxford's Foals, and a deliberate shift towards bright, dancefloor-ready indie pop. After the darker, heavier atmosphere of their previous records, the band embraced shimmering synths, funk-inflected basslines and propulsive rhythms, creating an album that feels tailor-made for summer nights and packed rooms.

The title track sets the tone with its infectious groove and breezy sense of possibility, while Wake Me Up bursts into life with disco-inspired guitars and a chorus that practically demands a dancefloor. 2am captures the hazy euphoria of staying out long after you should have gone home, and 2001 delivers a nostalgic rush of sun-drenched pop.

Despite the lighter mood, the album retains the intricate musicianship that has always set Foals apart. Yannis Philippakis' angular guitar work and the band's tightly interlocking rhythms remain central, even as they make room for a more polished, electronic sound.

The album's creation was shaped by the strange experience of writing music during the pandemic and imagining the freedom of life beyond lockdown. That sense of anticipation runs through the record: it's music about movement, connection and reclaiming the simple pleasure of being out in the world.

Life Is Yours earned Foals another wave of critical acclaim and became a celebration of their ability to reinvent themselves without losing their identity. It's upbeat, colourful and packed with momentum - a record that makes sitting still feel like a missed opportunity.

Essential for fans of indie dance, alternative rock, synth-pop and bright, rhythm-driven guitar music.