Franz Ferdinand, 2017 Credit: Press/David Edwards
Song of the Day: Franz Ferdinand “Always Ascending”
Two years after the departure of founding guitarist Nick McCarthy, Franz Ferdinand have re-emerged with a new album Always Ascending (released February 9th), a new lead single, “Always Ascending,” and a re-invigorated sense of purpose. Not that the band was ever for lacking a sense of purpose. But after losing a founding member, it was time for a re-think. The remaining original members — frontman Alex Kapranos, bassist Bob Hardy and drummer Paul Thomson — regrouped, and gained two new members in keyboardist Julian Corrie and guitarist Dino Bardot. From there they started edging even closer to the disco-rock influences that informed the more experimental songs on 2009’s Tonight album. Like contemporaries LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand strive to create human-based pulsating, precision dance music without drum machines or sequencers.
“Always Ascending” brings the band’s trademark spiky dance-punk into a sleek, phased-out disco future, one that still keeps Kapranos’s unique lyrical approach thoroughly intact. The “talk to me” call-and-response lyrics are instantly familiar (reminiscent of “Stand on the Horizon” from 2013’s Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action) and unmistakably Franz Ferdinand. Great to have them back.
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder downDon’t be concerned
It’s just the way that gravity works round here
All slowly rising, falling patiently
Feel no
Feel no fearCirrus caress you
Cumulus kiss you
Raindrops of crystal
Whisper “we’ll miss you”
But go
Let goAlways and always and always ascending
The opening line leaves an uncertain ending
Always and always and always ascending
The chords seem to pause, but ah never gonna resolveNever going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolveTalk to me
Talk to me
C’mon talk to me
Talk to me
Yeah talk to me
Talk to me
AhAnd wake me up
C’mon wake me upWaking up dry
Waking up dusty
Feeling remorse
Feeling thirsty
Bring me a cup
Bring me waterWe can ascend
From this arrangement
We can see fate
As entertainment
Bring me a cup
But bring me water
Yeah, bring me waterAlways and always and always ascending
The Shepard misleads so you think you’re transcending
Always and always and always ascending
Pause the progression, but ah never gonna resolveNever going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolve
Never going to resolveTalk to me
Talk to me
C’mon talk to me
Talk to me
Now talk to me
Talk to me
AhAnd then wake me up
C’mon wake me upWaking up dry
Waking up dusty
Feeling remorse
Feeling thirsty
Bring me a cup
And bring me water
Yeah, bring me water
Yeah, bring me water
Bring me water
Bring me water, yeahPut your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder downCirrus caress you
Cumulus kiss you
Raindrops of crystal
Whisper “we’ll miss you”
But go
Let go