12. February 2025
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Media Review

Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear

Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear
3.4

Rating

 3.4/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Wide range of songs
  • Better songs in the middle of the album

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Some too weak spots

It is almost seven years since Franz Ferdinand released their previous album. Always Ascending had been shared in February 2018. On 10th January 2025, the band is finishing this hard time for their fans, sharing a new record. I already had a listen to The Human Fear.

 

Franz Ferdinand – About The Artists

Franz Ferdinand is a Britpop and indie-rock band from Glasgow in Scotland. They have been founded in 2001. The band was originally should be named after a racehorse called Archduke Ferdinand. They then went for the archduke of Austria–Hungary. With Alex Kapranos (vocals, guitar, piano) and Bob Hardy (bass, percussion), the band still has two founding members. The other musicians are Julian Corrie (keyboard, synth, guitar), Dino Bardot (guitar) and Audrey Tait (drums, percussion). The two first Franz Ferdinand albums have been the most successful ones. Especially the self-titled debut, which has been a four time platinum in the United Kingdom, has boosted their career. A key driver has been the three time platinum single Take Me Out.

Nonetheles, even the most recent albums of the band came with very good chart placements. No Franz Ferdinand album has peaked worse than third in the British charts. They are also very successful in Australia, Europe and the United States.

 

Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear – Track by Track

The eleven track album lasts 35 minutes.

1. Audacious

The first track of the album confuses me. Audaciousi sounds like a Christmas pop song. The stanzas have a stronger indie touch and feel quite contrasting. The song has been a single release, but based on that song, the album still feels being released at least a month too late. Let’s have a listen to the next one.

 

2. Everydaydreamer

The melody of the stanzas of Everydaydreamer has still a rather tranquil touch. However, the chorus adds a more pop-ish flavor, the constant rhythm is also adding quite a lot to it. The song is nice, but it does not really strike in my point of view.

3. The Doctor

2:20 minutes, which make me smile – The Doctor has more of that indie-rock feeling and rather reminds me of previous Franz Ferdinand tracks. The rather short song has a new flow and a catching melody. It also has some potential to boost the masses on the upcoming tour.

4. Hooked

The Doctor started to work with electronic and synth sounds, Hooked even pushes for that even more. The post-chorus is very repetitive, but it has a cool touch as well. Not too bad.

5. Build It Up

Build It Up is having a more gentle and melodic sound again. Especially the chorus has a nice groove, which makes you move to the 2025 music of the Scottish band. This one is definitely a song, which long-time fans of the band will enjoy.

6. Night Or Day

Another song previously released is Night Or Day. The song is definitely one of the highlights of The Human Fear. A nice melody is mixed with some surprising elements. Furthermore, the chorus is one of the key catches of the record and adds a nostalgic feeling.

 

7. Tell Me I Should Stay

In this longest song of the album (4:45 minutes), Franz Ferdinand ask to Tell Me I Should Stay. The song starts with a prolonged piano only part. After about a minute, the sound becomes wider, Alex Kapranos joins in on the microphone and his bandmates follow. The duration of the song might suggest a ballad, but it is rather a dramatic storytelling with a touch of progressive rock. The chorus rather reminds of a 1960’s or a 1970’s song.

8. Cats

Cats presents a wittily melody, which comes with good vibes and a nice rhythm. The song also has a nice story to tell and thus turns into one of my favorites the longer I listen to it.

9. Black Eyelashes

You just cannot state that Franz Ferdinand in 2025 don’t go for a wide range of topics and sounds. The ninth track of The Human Fear is named Black Eyelashes and its style rather reminds me of Russian and Oriental sounds. This very characteristic and unique write inevitably draws attention while listening to it. I just stick with listening to it and enjoy it.

10. Bar Lonely

The tenth song of the record is the rather bass-driven Bar Lonely. There is a touch of 1970’s glam rock in here, which also creates a nice ease and very present vibes. I like it.

11. The Birds

Finally, I struggle a bit with the chucker-out The Birds. The song does have a typical Franz Ferdinand touch, but especially the permanent guitar hook is bothering me. The vocal style is also rather monotonous and thus does not lead to enjoyment from my side as well. Only the very last part of the track has some different energy.

 

Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear – Track by Track

I struggle with The Human Fear. There are a couple of songs I cannot relate to at all, and too few songs which really leave a mark. The album does reach its climax around Night Or Day, but overall I expected more of Alex Kapranos and his bandmates.

Favorite Song: Cats

 

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