Following a five-year hiatus, alternative rock darlings Franz Ferdinand returns with their fifth studio album, ‘Always Ascending.’

Alternative rock darlings Franz Ferdinand officially return with their fifth studio album, Always Ascending. “Take Me Out” from their 2003 self-titled debut is a certified classic, while the homoerotic “Michael” isn’t too far behind.  Focused on the present, Always Ascending arrives after a five-year hiatus. All in all, the results are more positive than not.

“Always Ascending”

Five-minute opener ✓ “Always Ascending” commences creatively and enigmatically.  The first lyrics that appear – “Put your ladder down” – recur a countless number of times.  The iterations appear in the background, as Alex Kapranos sings an off-putting, unique intro.  Following an unstable, unsettling ride initially, “Always Ascending” gains some stability.  A hard-hitting, alternative dance-rock groove anchors the main portion of the song, while Kapranos’ lead vocals grow more assertive and more exuberant. “Always Ascending” ends up being creative, interesting, and quirky.

“Am I gonna get up? / Am I gonna get up, get up? / Never! / Never! / Never! / Never! / I’m a lazy boy, I’m a lazy boy.” “Lazy Boy” keeps the groove going strong. Chocked-full of repetition, lyrically, there’s not much here.  Still, it’s infectious, and Alex Kapranos remains ‘a force to be reckoned with’ vocally. The groove and fun continue on “Paper Cages.” The production allures – the piano ostinato and the exuberant synths.  Furthermore, lyrically, there’s more to latch on to compared to the lazy “Lazy Boy.”

“Finally”

“Finally” has more of a vintage sound – think 60s rock.  Anachronistic to an extent, it’s not a bad characterization in the least.  Like everything that has transpired so far on Always Ascending, Franz Ferdinand continue to deliver.  On the mysterious mid-tempo ballad “The Academy Award,” Kapranos awards the prestigious award for “good times.” There’s repetition (“Show me the body”), not to mention the key phrase, “And the Academy Award for good times goes to you.” If nothing else, it’s clever.

“The motivation of altruism is selfishness / The desire for the pleasure of the reward / Ah, the fine young cynic / You cried.” “Lois Lane” is certainly more poetic than most of Always Ascending.  Maybe poetic isn’t the right word, considering the song is obviously named after a DC comic book character.  “We’re going to America / We’re gonna tell them about the NHS / When we get there we’ll all hang out.” Franz Ferdinand get more experimental on ✓ “Huck and Jim,” using groove and production switch-ups, as well as unique harmonic schemes.  Arguably, this is the most unique record to this point beyond the title track. 

“Won’t someone bring / Bring me just a glimpse of love.” Following a slow introduction, ✓ “Glimpse of Love” cooks.  Up-tempo, the beat is driving, and the keyboard/synth game is on-point. Adding to the charm of the record is Kapranos himself.  According to him, “Love is going to come as a photographer / Yes, a photographer.” Quirky lyrics, Kapranos goes on to explain what he’s talking about, and it’s definitely sexual.

“Feel the Love Go”

Franz Ferdinand is in full force with ✓ “Feel the Love Go”,the second single from Always Ascending. A disco-infused, dance-rock groove makes it infectious from the start. Alex Kapranos serves up relatively low-key vocals on the first verse. The energy level increases tremendously on the pre-chorus, and, is completely turned-up on chorus. Notably, the second verse scales things back once more, save for the consistent, danceable beat. The bridge allures, creatively offering contrasts with its harmonic changes. It’s here a great saxophone solo comes in, expanding the colorful palette of sounds.  An extended instrumental closes out the record.

After opening lengthily with the title track, Always Ascending closes lengthily with ballad, “Slow Don’t Kill Me Slow.” Like the majority of the album, the production and vocals are major selling points.  Kapranos sounds particular strong on the chorus and bridge sections.

Final Thoughts 

While Franz Ferdinand aren’t nearly as big as they once were, they remain alluring past their lucrative prime. Always Ascending isn’t ‘the second coming’ or a massive resurgence for Alex Kapranos and company.  It is, however, an enjoyable, well-rounded album with some notable experimentation. Not everything feels epic, but more often than not, the majority is deserving of praise and worth checking out. 

✓ Gems: “Always Ascending,” “Huck and Jim,” “Glimpse of Love” & “Feel the Love Go”

Franz Ferdinand • Always Ascending • Domino • Release: 2.9.18

Photo Credit: Domino