Photo: Ethan Weatherby
Franz Ferdinand have come bounding out of the shadows with new of their sixth studio album, Always Ascending - and now have tour dates to boot. See ticket details below
The Glaswegian's, who are based in London, tour in Feberuary 2018. They will kick off in the beautiful West Coast of Ireland before driving over to Dublin then across the Irish sea to Manchester for dates all around England and a stop at their native Glasgow. Wales is left out in the cold.
The album, Always Ascending, was recorded at the legendary RAK Studios, which has a Neve console; a make of sound desk that Dave Grohl is so praiseworthy towards in the Sound City documentary. The desk helped shape Nirvana Nevermind and so many other great albums.
The band also used Motorbass studio in Paris, probably under the recommendation of Philippe Zdar who produced this new FF LP. He's a strong guy to have worked with as he's credited for working with Beastie Boys, Phoenix and a whole host of other incredible artists.
We're yet to hear the album - just one song that's streaming below - but according to the PR, they're " broadening their palate, as exuberant as it is euphoric, creating a sound that singer, Alex Kapranos, refers to as “ simultaneously futuristic and naturalistic.”
We have heard some of the new songs live, though - and it makes us think the PR is no exaggeration of their form. They were on a brief European tour road-testing new material in the summer, and stopped in at Electric Castle in Romania.
Of the show, we said: "Franz' hit-laden set included three new songs – ‘Paper Cages’, ‘Lazy Boy’, and ‘Always Ascending’ – all of which sounded phenomenally well-crafted and hinted towards yet another brilliant studio album. The reaction from the crowd was as rapturous as it was to their biggest hits, and the inclusion of these new cuts means their live set has never sounded so lean."
And upon hearing the single 'Always Ascending' it also hints that they're in a truly strong place creatively and bodes well for the album. So many variables have come together to create a delightful reintroduction to a great band. It's a great dance tune, there's futuristic sonics, Kaparanos' distinctive croon - and some of the most inventive vocal arrangements in indie rock. It works on so many levels.The album is out on Domino on 9 February.
Tour tickets are on sale Friday 3 November at 9am. Check here for tickets
Saturday 10 February Galway, Ireland Leisureland
Sunday 11 February Dublin, Ireland Olympia Theatre
Tuesday 13 February Manchester Albert Hall
Wednesday 14 February Nottingham Rock City
Friday 16 February Newcastle 02 Academy
Saturday 17 February Glasgow 02 Academy
Monday 19 February Leeds 02 Academy
Tuesday 20 February Birmingham 02 Academy
Wednesday 21 February Bristol 02 Academy
Friday 23 February Cambridge Corn Exchange
Saturday 24 February London 02 Brixton Academy
Sunday 25 February Brighton Dome
The tracklisting for ‘Always Ascending’ is as follows:
'Always Ascending'
'Lazy Boy'
'Paper Cages'
'Finally'
'The Academy Award'
'Lois Lane'
'Huck And Jim'
'Glimpse Of Love'
'Feel The Love Go'
'Slow Don’t Kill Me Slow'
