Franz Ferdinand on “Always Ascending”
Selfish Art
Jun 22, 2018
Photography by Cara Robbins
Issue #63 - Courtney Barnett
Find It At: {article-find} {name} {/article-find}
Alex Kapranos begins with a blank slate—an honest to goodness real blank slate. No preconceived ideas. No thematic direction. No cares or concerns for where Franz Ferdinand has gone in the past or where they’re expected to head in the future. The band, he says, has to be selfish that way.
Nearly 15 years have passed since “Take Me Out” stormed up the charts and placed Franz Ferdinand squarely in the musical mainstream. In the time since, Kapranos says he’s learned to silence the critics as well as the praise. The band’s interest is the only influence worthy of their collective attention.
“If it turns me on. It’s that simple,” says Kapranos about knowing which direction to go. The band’s fifth album, Always Ascending, is rooted in the band’s raw rock sensibilities even with its dance hall setting.
“It’s a truly selfish decision, really. On behalf of all of us, it’s selfish as a group. As we sat around and sort of talked about, as a band, what kind of record would turn us on, make us feel good, that we would want to play, that we would want to perform, that we would want to listen to ourselves, we said we wanted something that’s raw for the dance floor. That’s what gets us going. If it gets us going, it’s probably going to be somebody else into it as well.”
Kapranos divides his songcraft into two distinct yet equally important parts—what he terms “splurge” and “work.” The first is the unpredictable half, the frustrating yet exciting component in which songs appear from nowhere. The other half is the tedium, the tweaking of what arrived out of thin air.
“One part is totally getting lost and ending up in a place that you’re not planning to get to,” he explains. “I think if you set down a destination when you’re writing, you often end up in, well, that destination. It’s not much of a surprise. The second part is the discipline. It is the more rigorous methodology of going through the splurge, the flood, and channeling it. That’s when you bring order. That’s when you use it to create something and give it conciseness.
“It’s funny, because in the splurge, you create 95% of what you’re creating,” he continues. “Ninety-five percent of the creativity happens in that instant, unfettered moment. But in regards to the actual work, 95% of the work is the hard bit at the end that focuses it, makes it and gives form. It allows you to create something that you want the rest of the world to actually listen to.”
Franz Ferdinand have changed personnel since their last album as multi-instrumentalist Nick McCarthy stepped away for family reasons in 2016. Julian Corrie and Dino Bardot are the new additions, but Kapranos says the creative process hasn’t changed in the slightest. Serving the song is the foremost responsibility for the band, no matter what happens internally or externally for the band—and Kapranos says this album has plenty of examples.
“There’s a song on the record called ‘Lois Lane,’ which was one of the earliest songs that I wrote, but it was not electronic at all. I originally wrote it with an acoustic guitar, and there’s no guitar at all on the finished version of it. It was also written in this very free way. When I was writing that, I had no idea it was going to end up necessarily as an electronic piece of music or more of a dance floor piece of music. It was just a song. I think that when you start to write, that’s what you need to do: just write songs and let the other stuff come later.”
[Note: This article originally appeared in Under the Radar’s Spring 2018 Issue (March/April/May 2018), which is out now. This is its debut online.]
Support Under the Radar on Patreon.
Current Issue
Issue #72
Apr 19, 2024 Issue #72 - The ‘90s Issue with The Cardigans and Thurston Moore
Most Recent
- Ella McRobb Releases New Single “Slow Motion Heartbreak” (News) — Ella McRobb
- Light Verse (Review) — Iron & Wine
- Linn Koch-Emmery Drops New Single “No Hands” (News) — Linn Koch-Emmery
- Crumb Share Video for New Song “The Bug” and Announce New Tour Dates (News) — Crumb
- Sam Evian on “Plunge” (Interview) — Sam Evian
Comments
Submit your comment
July 1st 2018
10:51pm
that’s so interesting! I love them
July 16th 2018
12:56am
güzel yazı
July 31st 2018
9:22pm
I was in my car driving to work the first time I heard “take me out” on the radio. I remember thinking to myself as it began playing, “I really like the pronounced guitar on this track.” Then a quarter of the way through the song something crazy happened. The song transformed right before my ears into a completely new song. New tempo and all. I thought to myself, “What the hell is going on? Is this the same song.”
I’d never heard anything quite like it before and I LOVED it. I went out the very next day and bought the cd (yes, I’m old). It’s good to read they’re still around and kicking, even if they have “changed personnel.” Thanks for the interesting read.
September 29th 2018
6:27am
I enjoy to read awesome content from this site. I bookmarked this site. Thank you so much for this amazing content.
November 6th 2018
12:58am
The art of selfishness you share very well, I am very impressed with this art.
February 16th 2019
4:05am
All the information in this post is very impressive and useful for all of us. So thanks for sharing this kind of brilliant post.
https://www.kavya-arora.in/,
http://www.ritudas.in/
February 21st 2019
12:07am
I have known this site in the past but still, it didn’t fail on giving more knowledge to its visitors. http://www.chamiya.in/
May 13th 2019
2:59am
I am really flabbergasted with your drives just as really satisfied to see this post.
May 19th 2019
8:44pm
I like Franz Ferdinand…
July 8th 2019
3:04am
nice article, thanks for sharing
August 27th 2019
3:46am
Our Gurgaon Escorts best suit for the passionate company of yours to attend to business parties, social events, parties and of course a fun-filled lascivious partner in the bed.
August 29th 2019
11:19pm
The article which you shared here is very useful for all. Thanks for sharing this to us.
September 2nd 2019
6:39am
Experienced adult entertainers Delhi Escorts Our Delhi Escorts advantage reliably needs to serve our clients better assistance, http://delhidating.co.in/gurgaon-escorts/
September 23rd 2019
2:43am
Are you live in Delhi or in other states? Don’t worry guys, Do you think to come to Bilaspur to spend holidays, then you should come a one-time in Bilaspur Escorts and, You should take advantage of our service, we provide escorts girls at very affordable prices. It is our duty to satisfy our customers completely. Our service is available 24/7 hours. More information visit here.
September 23rd 2019
2:46am
Are you live in Delhi or in other states? Don’t worry guys, Do you think to come to Bilaspur to spend holidays, then you should come a one-time in Bilaspur Escorts and, You should take advantage of our service, we provide escorts girls at very affordable prices. It is our duty to satisfy our customers completely. Our service is available 24/7 hours. More information visit here. ]https://www.poojaescorts.in/bilaspur-escorts.html”] Bilaspur Escorts[/url]
December 3rd 2019
10:22am
Hi Guys Looking Me For Call Girls In Gurgaon,I Am Females Escorts Provider In All Location To Gurgaon,In Or Out Calls Facility Available
Gurgaon Escorts, Most of the individuals in Escorts Service In Gurgaon, Hotel Service work and spend more time 24Hrs With Gurgaon Escorts 8882506148.
February 8th 2020
11:16pm
Cheap Rates call Girl In Gurgaon, we offer the best escorts service in low rate with safety, we provide Female Call Girls with complete satisfaction.
https://www.escortsserviceingurugram.in/
June 4th 2020
7:14am
charming encounter another male supplement scam
using the internet features exposed a new together with wonderful means for personals to look for an individuals day-to-day lives spouses. dating foreign girls overshadows tha permanent dating with the progres through the their communities. on one hand, a great number of singletons obtain are keen on and thus contentment on the website. you will find, internet personable big date swindles will also understand. There are great rewards and less than ideal ones to numerous things and you won’t notice any exclusions. It is very common on just a few social news affiliate networks and also free escort and chat with world wide web sites.
in addition to single males and females have single and desire thirstily to buy a wife on-line, others dream those people, be successful personal believe that courtesy of discussion or just by using other types of particular legal services internet based, And chances are they’ll may raise a person will for money using practically simple needs. the net memorable particular date agreed tricks continually head to like that. they may not be scouting around another woman they are keen on but they are only concerned with money.
It is good to listen to that the majority on online dating sites can be how to meet chinese women fully to make human relationship, love or simply relationship. for those who apply on a get relationships niche site, you won’t need to worry about delightful date swindles. employees of the web page and simply or perhaps cooperated district a relationship bureau definitely ward you from online dating services con artists usually. but bear in mind, for anybody discussion on top of that discussion males onto free social networks or free internet dating, discovering how an tips about how to protect the self originally from unique big date these scams is tremendously essential.
one of many more safely going out with skills, websites one is not posting earnings to anyone you only talk and also night out via internet. a common reasons like web based fraudsters are probably for the money. scammers may think up all kinds of top reasons to borrow money from you. so very just be sure to add yield inside lure. one may barely notify both yourself: an individual shoppers night had to have very good, household members, in addition,yet friends and family. If they bump into a little conflicts, there needs to be someone that may help him / her. but not til you have enough familiarity with each other, does one combat assets legal matter with the caller a person a relationship.
this band are brilliant to protect your personal information, Such as house bring up, ones own contact number, charge card facts and techniques etc. but if your magic-formula information and facts are exposed to fraudsters, may well his or her sufferers.
hopefully, Believe is likely to instinct and parents in time. possibly something atypical or maybe a anomalous, inform your family members or turn to people who can help you. the most typical procedure is to stop the addict or maybe contend to a different one. you have to, you can saving time and turmoil, paying over a relationship websites is a better option.
June 20th 2020
6:47am
Way cool! Some very valid points! I Know you composing the remaining section of the bit of the site along with this post is very excellent.
August 13th 2020
8:06am
sort of enjoy favored and rate range.
August 14th 2020
2:13am
Gurgaon independent call girls are the best when it comes to providing calls to clients of independent services because they know what they do to create the right way for people to be content. Gurgaon Escorts run the business with their stylish, independent service girls, who are superior to all other call girls in the city.
Click Here: https://jeromezsepulveda.kinja.com/gurgaon-escorts-in-your-service-1844722664
October 23rd 2020
8:21am
Really informative and inoperative, Thanks for the post and effort! Please keep sharing more such blog.
January 16th 2021
9:54pm
I’m giving Delhi escorts service to help with Maine for day-night or full delicate according to your suggestion I’m all yours. I’m a splendid, entrancing, capable, cognizant lady with the unimaginably praised figure. I’m shockingly a lot of masterminded with my lead so anybody can advance ahead with me. I’m beautiful women in Delhi that is offering you that dazzling possibility as a Independent Delhi goes with. I’m completely fledged during this industry,
January 25th 2021
4:25am
Really very happy to say, your post is very interesting to read. I never stop myself to say anything about it. You’re doing a great job. Keep it up.