Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions

What were you doing ten years ago? Franz Ferdinand had just inked a deal with Domino Records and were set to embark on a support tour with Interpol – they memorably played The Village on Wexford Street. In what now seems like a blink of an eye, they became a ubiquitous presence as festival headliners in their own right.
The Glaswegian quartet immediately cut a dash with haircuts as angular as their riffs. But who would’ve thought their clever clogs pop would strike such a powerful chord around the world? Propelled by early anthem ‘Take Me Out’, the indie world became engulfed in Franz mania. Alex Kapranos penned choruses that proclaimed “Ich heiße super fantastisch!” and fantasised about being interviewed by Terry Wogan. While he never actually met Wogan, the band stealthily notched up a couple million sales for their art-rock troubles.
The danger is that, in the post-post-modern pop landscape of 2013, Franz Ferdinand’s return could feel dated and perhaps even slightly daft. For instance, strange though it may seem, lead single ‘Right Thoughts’ initially sounds too strictly Franz Ferdinand-ish.
Repeated listens, however, reveal a groovy little monster. It slowly colonises your head and heart with those cute “doo doo doos” in the chorus. 
It also serves as a pertinent reminder that, despite the tidal wave of terrible landfill indie in the subsequent decade, there’s nobody else that matches Franz Ferdinand’s playful sense of humour, with the ear for a killer groove and fully-formed sense of identity they exhibit.
So this record is not just more of the same. ‘Treason! Animals’ marks a shift into floatier terrain, with its urgent Krautrock-infused pop, over which Kapranos puzzlingly declares himself to be “the king of the animals”. ‘The Universe Expanded’ goes off further into deep space, dreamily posing some very big questions. From there it segues gorgeously into ‘Brief Encounters’.
Lyrically, they are inspired by the lead character in Alasdair Gray’s Lanark series of novels, a chap who grows hard scales to protect himself from his hypersensitive, soft-as-a-bag of chips sel. 
Kapranos has commented that perhaps this is the album that sees his band growing their own protective armour and it’s typical of Franz Ferdinand to package big ideas with nifty choruses and almost frivolous melodies.
They haven’t done a Kid A or delivered anything that will with certainty preach to the unconverted. Nonetheless Kapranos and his suited and booted henchmen have matured into a thoughtful, considerable outfit who yet aren’t afraid to have some fun. Roll on the next ten years.

Key Track: 'Love illumination'