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 9^th), 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 down

Don’t be concerned
It’s just the way that gravity works round here
All slowly rising, falling patiently
Feel no
Feel no fear

Cirrus caress you
Cumulus kiss you
Raindrops of crystal
Whisper “we’ll miss you”
But go
Let go

Always 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 resolve

Never 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 resolve

Talk to me
Talk to me
C’mon talk to me
Talk to me
Yeah talk to me
Talk to me
Ah

And wake me up
C’mon wake me up

Waking up dry
Waking up dusty
Feeling remorse
Feeling thirsty
Bring me a cup
Bring me water

We can ascend
From this arrangement
We can see fate
As entertainment
Bring me a cup
But bring me water
Yeah, bring me water

Always 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 resolve

Never 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 resolve

Talk to me
Talk to me
C’mon talk to me
Talk to me
Now talk to me
Talk to me
Ah

And then wake me up
C’mon wake me up

Waking 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, yeah

Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down
Put your ladder down

Cirrus caress you
Cumulus kiss you
Raindrops of crystal
Whisper “we’ll miss you”
But go
Let go