Down There!

The Artist

Folly Group are a London band who came up through the city's crowded post-punk scene with a noticeably rhythm-first approach. Instead of building songs around guitar riffs, they lean on interlocking drums, extra percussion and taut, looping basslines, pulling from dance-punk, funk and the polyrhythmic grooves of the late-1970s New York underground. Their vocals tend toward urgent, chant-like delivery that sits inside the groove rather than floating above it. After early releases and a reputation built on sweaty, physical live shows, Down There! arrives as their debut full-length, a test of whether that kinetic energy can hold across a whole record.

The Album

Down There! arrived in 2024 as the band's first album, following a run of singles that set up their percussive, dance-floor-minded sound. The production keeps the focus on rhythm and space, letting drums and bass carry the weight while guitars and synths add jagged color around the edges. The record feels designed to capture the push and pull of a live band locked into a groove, rather than a heavily layered studio construction. Thematically, it circles modern city life: cramped living, restless neighbors, economic pressure and the anxious hum of a place that never quite lets you rest.

Listen For

Rhythm as the lead instrument. On the opener "Big Ground," notice how the drums and percussion set the agenda before anything melodic takes hold. Ask yourself which instrument you would hum back afterward.

Vocals as part of the groove. Pay attention to how the singing on tracks like "Pressure Pad" often works rhythmically, as chant and punctuation rather than smooth melody.

A city full of strangers. "East Flat Crows" and "Strange Neighbour" sit side by side in the sequence. Listen for how they sketch urban living and the people just on the other side of the wall.

Organic versus synthetic. Across "New Feature," track where hand-played percussion rubs against more electronic textures, and whether the two blend or pull against each other.

Tension and release. On "Freeze," listen for moments where the band pulls instruments out of the mix or holds back, and how the groove feels when it slams back in.