Franz Ferdinand
Always Ascending
[Domino]
One of the more seemingly built to last of the post-punk informed indie troupes of the mid-aughts. Franz Ferdinand once did God’s work – inspiring a new generation of haircuts through exposure to the curiously danceable Neo-Marxism of Gang of Four and the work of Franz’ innumerable Caledonian forbearers (Orange Juice, Josef K, The Fire Engines et al).
This sixth album finds the aging Glaswegians in respectable fettle. Perhaps it’s the group’s kinship with Sparks, the established elder statesmen of weird-pop, that has imbued the quartet with a greater comfort at the prospect of rock n’ rollin’ on the wrong side of forty.
For Franz Ferdinand, middle age has brought with it an expansion in sonic scope to mirror any widening of waistbands. This embrace of diversity being somewhat uncommon amongst British indie darlings of their era – most of whom opt to either dolefully shill cadaverous imitations of past triumphs or desperately attach themselves to the chart tropes of the moment. Franz Ferdinand only feel desperate when briefly, transparently, aping the sound of Indie for the aged big cheeses; LCD Soundsystem. Always Ascending is more satisfying when it flirts with sounds associated with the Eno-adjacent (from Bowie to Byrne to Brian’s own Roxy Music) or affords some extra space for Alex Kapranos maturing baritone.
Words – Danny Wilson
Like This? Try These:
Roxy Music – Roxy Music
Brian Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy
XTC – Black Sea
