FRANZ FERDINAND'S new album, Always Ascending, will be released on Friday February 9, and on Saturday 10, they kick off their European tour with a 'Róisín Dubh presents...' concert in Leisureland, Salthill.
Always Ascending, which is being released via the Domino label, heralds a new lease of life for the Scottish band, and sees them re-imagining their sound and style - witness the title track, which has already been streamed. Beginning as a indie styled piano ballad, it morphs into a more dance/electro track - yet without losing the link to the characteristic FF sound. It’s still the same band who made ‘Take Me Out’ or ‘Dark Of The Matinee’, but it’s more a funk/disco/electro hybrid than guitar based post-punk.
A second track, which has also been made available via streaming platforms, is ‘Feel The Love Go’. Initially it appears to be characteristic FF, but the emphasis on electronica takes over and grows throughout the rest of the song.
The band did serve notice of their intent when vocalist/leader Alex Kapranos told the NME in October 2017: “We wanted to take the sounds that are available to us now and make the sound that you haven’t heard before – the sound of the future. When you’re recording in 2017 you need to be looking ahead to the next thing. What haven’t people even heard in 2018? How do you feel you have achieved that?"
Always Ascending was recorded at RAK Studios, London, and Motorbass in Paris, with French producer Philippe Zdar (Cassius, Phoenix, The Beastie Boys ). The album can be pre-ordered via iTunes and DSPs. It will be available on CD, vinyl, and limited edition cassette.
Tickets are available at www.roisindubh.net, the Ticket Desk at OMG Zhivago, Shop Street, and The Róisín Dubh.
