The British band Foals’ debut record Antidotes was called a “special album,” so it’s no surprise that this second release surely follows suit.  Like Local Natives and Vampire Weekend, these chaps really dig their David Byrne — the impressively funky title track would fit right in on Talking Heads ’77. The danceable opener “Blue Blood”, features Afropop inspired guitars; the bouncy chorus of “This Orient” (“It’s your heart that gives me this Western feeling”) continues what seems to be an ongoing conversation between the UK and its former colonies. In “Black Gold”, the band leans towards New Wave in a style that owes more to The Fixx and Duran Duran before channeling Thom Yorke and co. on a gorgeous chorus that is either extolling or lamenting the fact that “the future  is not what it used to be.”

This particular special record has some real oceanic and beautifully sparse moments. You’ll want to bask in the musical odes of “Afterglow” (“You were better than whatever came before”) for even longer than its six minutes allows.  The equally lovely and catchy “Miami” and “Alabaster” bring on more mushy sentiment.

In hip-hop parlance, college radio should have mad tracks to blow up here.  Best enjoyed as the soundtrack to a summertime evening rooftop shindig, or while digging into a science fiction tome.  Highly recommended for fans of the aforementioned bands, as well as Modest Mouse and Sigur Ros.

(Sub Pop Records, 2013 Fourth Avenue, Third Floor, Seattle, WA 98121)