Franz Ferdinand Are More than Optimistic Retro
Scotland's Franz Ferdinand will never shake the curse left by the legacy of their 2004 debut, which wowed listeners with its punchy guitars and post-punk energy. The band hasn't succeeded, or even attempted, to write a hit which would match their "Take Me Out". None of the subsequent albums copied old patterns; the band boldly explored new directions, and so does their sixth record, The Human Fear.
Moving forward has always been Franz Ferdinand's motto. Moving away from the punk sound on The Human Fear is a logical step, which these Scots already tried on their previous albums. Thus, the new songs retain an upbeat dance groove, and the funky bass lines pleasantly distract the listener from lyrics full of worry and anxiety about the realities of everyday life.
The combination of dance rhythms, raw guitar riffs and modern electronic elements gives the album a modern touch. The opener "Audacious" and the rocking "Build It Up" offer the band's typical elemental energy, while the atmospheric "Hooked" features dark, electronic beats and shows a desire to experiment. Conversely, on the sombre "Bar Lonely", frontman Alex Kapranos once again proves his knack for combining introspective verses with punchy choruses depicting a pervasive sense of isolation.
He goes even further in "Black Eyelashes", where he rather casually sings to a quirky arrangement reminiscent of Greek folk songs. The real anxiety arises in the last track "The Birds", which most closely echoes the band's post-punk origins. In contrast, in the excellent "Night Or Day", Franz Ferdinand launches into a dancing revelry full of dynamic guitar riffs and piano swing.
What can you appreciate about the album as musicians?
Musically, the album follows the well-known Franz Ferdinand style, but with a modern twist. Drummer Audrey Tait brings a fresh rhythmic foundation to the songs, which can be heard especially on energetic tracks like "Audacious" and "Never Enough". The production is clean and precise, still maintaining the raw energy that is typical of the band. Electronic elements enrich the overall sound and add more depth to the tracks, such as in the hypnotic "Hooked".
Frontman Alex Kapranos' lyrics are as brilliant as ever, combining clever wordplay with deeper explorations of the human psyche. The album focuses on the theme of fear in all its forms – fear of failure, loneliness and change. "Bar Lonely" evokes feelings of isolation, while "Everydaydreamer" offers encouragement and a chance to overcome one's own fears.
Despite a few dull moments ("Cats" or "Tell Me I Should Stay"), the album as a whole is quite impressive and proves that Franz Ferdinand still have a lot to offer.
Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear
Domino Recording, 00:35:21
inide rock/post punk/swing
80 %
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