Always Ascending(album)- Franz Ferdinand Review

Franz Ferdinand has been undergoing a slow but steady stylistic change, starting with the garage rock of their eponymous debut and continuing through all of their six albums to end up here, with unique electro rock that moves from funky to slow and graceful. I liked the first two singles, Always Ascending and Feel The Love Go enough to buy their cassette, and while Lazy Boy was a bit of a disappointment, I've listened to that cassette a few time, and it's pretty good overall. So obviously, now I'll get into some detail, and tell you why I liked it...


The album starts off with two singles, the five minute, piano and guitar infuse throwback masterpiece of Always Ascending, and the cool but a bit bewildering crunch of Lazy Boy, which feels a bit unfinished. Paper Cages and Finally are both charismatic anthems, the first powered by keyboard and the second by guitar, both launching between different tempos and volumes very well. The Academy turns from a somber acoustic and cello-backed tune to more upbeat, slightly cheesy harmony, with confident acoustic guitar complemented by some basic drumming. Lois Lane is very electronic song, with shimmering and shifting synthes backed by a funky bass and drum beat. Huck and Jim is a mix of basic guitar-backed uplifting harmonies, breakdowns that showcase the drumming of Paul Thomson, and some out of left field hard-hitting, punky rap rock. Glimpse of love is chock full of classic synthesizers, backing guitar and keyboard flourishes to match the smooth and energetic vocals. Feel The Love Go is almost five minute electro rock masterpiece of burbling synthesizers, perfectly measured drumbeats and muted guitars. Slow Don't Kill Me Slow ends the album on a relatively slow, hazy and atmospheric tone, with reverb choking every single instrument right to the last crash of the cymbals.

This album certainly is a major change for Franz Ferdinand, edging towards more of and eclectic, throwback sound. No song on this album really stand out beyond the title track and Feel the Love Go, but it does make a good, comprehensive whole, warranting it multiple future plays in my cassette player.