FFS
Long: This hook-up between Franz Ferdinand and Sparks plays to their shared strengths: artful pop, wry sophistication and killer choruses. Franz’s spiky guitar thrills and Sparks’ synth-theatre make good bedfellows on songs about pale and interesting strangers, a dictator’s wayward offspring and Hello Kitty machine guns. For all the arch humor, a measure of pathos means FFS never sound *too* pleased with themselves–not even on the operatic, titled-with-a-wink “Collaborations Don’t Work”.
Franz Ferdinand and cult band Sparks have toyed with making a collaborative album for years. The result, FFS, is not a meeting of equals: It's a marquee-name band throwing their weight behind a cult act that clearly inspired them, and the cult act showing who's really in charge.
Franz Ferdinand and cult band Sparks have toyed with making a collaborative album for years. The result, FFS, is not a meeting of equals: It's a marquee-name band throwing their weight behind a cult act that clearly inspired them, and the cult act showing who's really in charge.
Franz Ferdinand and Sparks team up in gloriously eccentric fashion to serve up a real pop oddball.
Franz Ferdinand and Sparks team up in gloriously eccentric fashion to serve up a real pop oddball.
Some musical partnerships are just meant to be. Take Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks, making colourful and unorthodox pop together for fast approaching half a century, their muse as strong as ever. Now take FFS: a union with Franz Ferdinand born from mutual appreciation,
Some musical partnerships are just meant to be. Take Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks, making colourful and unorthodox pop together for fast approaching half a century, their muse as strong as ever. Now take FFS: a union with Franz Ferdinand born from mutual appreciation,
The Scottish rockers hitch a ride with the Mael brothers for a collaborative album that is far more than a conceptual gag
The Scottish rockers hitch a ride with the Mael brothers for a collaborative album that is far more than a conceptual gag
This union of Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand and Canadian keyboard duo Sparks is sometimes glorious, at other times wearing, says Neil McCormick
This union of Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand and Canadian keyboard duo Sparks is sometimes glorious, at other times wearing, says Neil McCormick
Intriguing collaboration proves rewarding, if, occasionally, a little arch. CD review by Russ Coffey
Intriguing collaboration proves rewarding, if, occasionally, a little arch. CD review by Russ Coffey