'Math-rock' eh? Who came up with that one? Foals are a band often lumped in with the generic term created to describe a more intricate and 'intelligent' stream of indie-rock. Whilst it's a crap term, this interesting Oxford band have hardly helped shift the tag with a song-title like 'Mathletics'. Well, they have a new promo song doing the rounds called 'Spanish Sahara', a departure from the intricate intensity of their 'Antidote' album and the first fruits of their 2010 set due out in May, entitled 'Total Life Forever'. A single, This Orient', is released on May 3rd.

Tours normally go hand-in-hand with a new album and lo-and-behold, the lads kick one off in Liverpool on April 29th and continue to their hometown on May 12th via the usual big cities including Glasgow, Manchester and London's Camden Ballroom. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 12th March and should cost around £13.50 (or £15 for London).

The new material has been circulated at a few 2009 gigs already and, according to one or two friends of mine who saw them recently, sounds less frenetic than 'Antidotes'-era stuff like 'Red Shoes Pugie' and 'Cassius'. Tickets will not hang around of course.