Foals' Yannis Philippakis announces new EP with Tony Allen

Foals frontman and guitarist Yannis Philippakis has revealed a new EP with the late drummer Tony Allen, known for his work with Fela Kuti, under the moniker Yannis & the Yaw. The EP, titled Lagos Paris London and set to r2elease on August 31st, has been in development for over eight years. Philippakis started the project in 2016 during sessions in Paris with Allen and multi-instrumentalists Vincent Taeger, Vincent Taurelle, and Ludovic Bruni.

Reflecting on the EP's completion after Allen's passing in April 2020, Philippakis said, "There was an imperative to finish it in a way that I had never felt with another record." He continued, "There’s an eternal quality to these drum tracks, and you feel a continuity of his life and energy through them. He wanted people to hear this, and it’s good to be able to do it for him — but of course it’s slightly bittersweet."

The lead single from the EP, 'Walk Through Fire,' shows Allen's percussion alongside Philippakis's vocals and guitar work. Philippakis described Allen's role as a "percussive conductor at the heart of the tornado." Lyrically, the track nods to Fela Kuti's protest songs, blending indie energy with Allen's rhythmic influence.

Lagos Paris London is a part of Philippakis's new project under Yannis & the Yaw, with plans for future collaborative projects under this name. Meanwhile, Foals concluded their tour supporting the 2022 album Life Is Yours. Allen's album There Is No End was released in 2021, featuring contributions from various artists.

The EP's tracklist includes:

1. Walk Through Fire
2. Rain Can’t Reach Us
3. Night Green, Heavy Love
4. Under The Strikes
5. Clementine

Check out 'Walk Through Fire feat. Tony Allen (Official Lyric Video)' below: