Vintage disco: Franz Ferdinand return to the dancefloor
It’s strange to think that Franz Ferdinand’s self-titled debut was released all the way back in 2004. Back then, their electrifying, funk-infused indie was a shock to a worn-out system – reinvigorating a music scene that had previously been obsessed by thrashing guitars and mardy, mop-haired pin-ups.
Nearly 15 years later, and the Glaswegian five-piece are still going strong. Their fifth studio album, Always Ascending, was released earlier this month and – like its predecessors – has proven to be a reliably solid collection of mechanical, synth-driven art pop.
To celebrate the release, drummer Paul Thomson shared an exclusive mix of the record’s influences for Huck. “This is a selection of tracks all pulled from records I purchased on tour in the US last April, from Tallahassee where our bus broke down on day one, as luck would have it, right next to a record store – to Baltimore, my favourite city for buying records,” he says of the collection. “It’s a scatty kind of a trip but it reflects that tour pretty well. Please enjoy.”
Gwen Guthrie – “Getting Hot”
Inflagranti feat. Ayakamay – “Kachi Kachi”
Renato – “Alo Alo”
Abel Paz – “Tokyo N20”
Warp 9 – “Light Years Away”
Nancy Martin – “Can’t Believe (instrumental)”
Madteo – “Voracious Culturaliser”
FYI Chris – “Xenomorph”
Destiny’s Child – “Bills Bills Bills (Accapella)”
Zigg Gonzalez – “High Jackin’”
DJ Sotafett & Jaako Eino Kalevi – “Drippin’ for a Tripp (Main Bar mix)”
The Johnson Spiritual Singers – “I Believe there’s a Heaven Somewhere.”
Franz Ferdinand’s Always Ascending is out now, and they play London’s Brixton Academy this coming Saturday. For a full list of tour dates, check out their website.
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