CD review: What Went Down

They might be described as a thinking person's rock band, yet if there's anything obviously cerebral about British act Foal's fourth studio album, it is perhaps in their calculated attempt to engage in a wide variety of guitar based approaches.

Led by vocalist Yannis Philippakis, Foals offers big, distorted guitar riffs (a la the title track), cleaned up rock funk (Albatross) and widescreen sonics (Birch Tree, Give It All).

A band with no shortage of dark muscularity, Foals is also unafraid to indulge in the seemingly uncool, twisting more than a few songs into 1980s dance rock territory (Night Swimmers) courtesy of Philippakis' high pitched crooning and incessant 16th note rhythms.

• Foals. What Went Down. Warners/Transgressive.
• 3 stars (out of 5)
• Single download: London Thunder
• For those who like: The National meets Paul Young