Foster The People may have disappeared for a while after their name became associated with one of the hottest summer jams of 2010, “Pumped Up Kicks.” (The track made both my Top 40 Songs and Top 20 Local LA Songs of 2010 lists.) However, they are coming back in full force as they have not one but two residencies this month – with each one located in a different county!
Although it initially seemed as if this was a group willing to ride the wave with just one hit song, the truth is that FTP have been slaving away on a record during the past six months. Impressed by their songwriting chops in pop, Columbia didn’t hesitate to snatch these guys up to work on some new material on their label.
Perfectly timed with their residency at Detroit Bar (Mondays w/ Pacific Hurt) and The Echo (Wednesdays) this month, a new song has finally surfaced via FTP’s Facebook this weekend. The new track titled “Helena Beat” still has a light bounce to it and the falsetto choruses are still there, but the song rings in clearer with both the crisp vocals and the Ratatat-like electro-kissed introduction this time around. Whereas “Pumped Up Kicks” had more of a typical blueprint for song structure, the synth lines in this tune are more ambitious and not afraid to mingle with other pop elements. For instance, the 2:54 mark is especially a nice surprise.
Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” EP is slated for release on January 25th via Startime International. Take a listen now and grab the mp3 below!
WILD TONIC 