Always Ascending
The departure of founding member and guitarist Nick McCarthy appears to have refocused Franz Ferdinand—they\'ve traded guitar-driven indie anthems for synth-heavy disco-rock. High-energy comeback single “Always Ascending” opens the album with a climax of pulsating post-punk beats while polished dance track “Feel the Love Go” is fuelled by a filthy saxophone riff. Alex Kapranos’ velvet vocals breathe life into lyrics about the American healthcare crisis (“Huck and Jim”) and the self-serving side of altruism (“Lois Lane”). Well into their career, Franz Ferdinand sound as invigorating as ever.
At its best, the fifth album from the UK indie-rock stalwarts is sleek, catchy, and enjoyably overwrought, the sound of a snappy hype band no longer burdened by relevance.
Son Lux finds transcendence on the eclectic Brighter Wounds, while Dashboard Confessional’s Crooked Shadows, though undoubtedly polished, is just… fine. These, plus Franz Ferdinand and The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon in this week’s notable new releases.
Eccentric Scottish art-punks reclaim the indie throne with fabulous fifth offering.
“Feel the history of the ground,” purred Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos from the stage, as pretty much everyone in the audience did as they were told and planted their backsides on the grimy floor, before springing up again.
Also:Richie Havens – Richard P. Havens, 1983, Susanna – Go Dig My Grave, Will Varley – Spirit Of Minnie, Mighty Mo Rodgers & Baba Sissoko – Griot Blues, and a compilation of tracks from 1965
Since the release of their debut, Franz Ferdinand have teetered between the raw post-punk that won them acclaim and attempts to broaden that sound.
Franz Ferdinand's first album in in five years — not counting 2015's excellent Sparks collaboration, FFS — finds the suave pop band explorin...
Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand exploded onto the music scene with their global hit "Take Me Out" in 2004.
With a line-up change and Phillipe Zdar on controls 'Always Ascending', the Glasgow band's fifth album, marks a mild reset for Franz Ferdinand.
Always Ascending speaks to existential angst that prompts a grim outlook on the pursuit of happiness.
All it takes is the first three rapid strums of the guitar, and listeners' ears perk up for what still holds as one of the best dance rock songs of the...
Review of Franz Ferdinand's 'Always Ascending: The LP is a victory lap, an enjoyable but unimpressive group of dance pop songs with a surprisingly dark tone
Franz Ferdinand’s fifth album is called Always Ascending, which suggests that the Scottish art-rock band are girded and bound for new career peaks.
Despite a change of line-up, the art-rockers plough familiar furrows. Album review by Kieron Tyler