Alex Kapranos, left, and Bob Hardy of Franz Ferdinand pose, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, in London. — Photo: Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP
How can we better understand and accept our fears? Indie rock band Franz Ferdinand is tackling this topic in their newest album, The Human Fear.
In the eleven songs of their sixth studio album, released on Friday (January 10), the Glaswegian band approaches different fears while staying true to their style, blending melodic hooks, concise guitar riffs with elements of indie rock, post-punk and disco.
"Making this record was one of the most life-affirming experiences I’ve had, but it’s called The Human Fear, lead singer Alex Kapranos said in pre-release remarks circulated by the label.
"Fear reminds you that you're alive. I think we all are addicted in some way to the buzz it can give us."
Kapranos, who says he didn't initially plan the work as a concept album, said listeners might not "necessarily notice on first listen" that the songs are all essentially exploring the same theme.
Upon a closer listen, the song Tell Me I Should Stay, for example, turns out to be about the fear of losing a loved one, while Bar Lonely is about the fear of a relationship ending.
The cover is also special, featuring the same strong orange line used on previous album covers, helping people to recognize it as a Franz Ferdinand album, Kapranos says. But it also reflects a certain unease, with the band members twisting into a spiral.
The band rose to fame in 2004 with their debut album Franz Ferdinand, which was celebrated by the music press as both sophisticated and entertaining.
Songs like Take Me Out and The Dark of the Matinée became indie classics and landed in the international charts, securing the band a long-standing presence on major festival stages. – dpa
