Scottish power pop heavyweights FRANZ FERDINAND became instant heroes in the UK
with their debut single Take Me Out (more than 1,28 billion streams on Spotify) and
theirEponymous Debut LP in 2004. Five albums followed, with last year’s Human Fear
as the most recent one.
So how did they look on magazine covers, then and now?
Band: FRANZ FERDINAND
Who: Scottish pop/rock vets who released their
6th LP, called The Human Fear, at the start of 2025.
Led by frontman/songwriter Alex Kapranos they hit the stage at Glastonbury Festival this past weekend. They played several newbies, but their 2004 breakthrough classic TAKE ME OUT (more than 1,115 billion streams on Spotify) still was the one that got the masses go berserk. They invited Scottish actor, director, singer, and guitarist Peter Capaldito sing along.
Scottish rock vets FRANZ FERDINAND released their 6th LP (in 21 years),
named The Human Fear at the beginning of this year, then started an
extensive tour.
And as the cliché goes ‘due to public demand‘ FF will keep on rolling in 2026.
Legendary siblings SPARKS, in business since 1971, have canned
their 26th album, named it Mad! It’ll be launched on 23 May.
Link between FF and Sparks?
10 years ago, in 2015 they surprised the pop world
with a sparkling, let’s do it together album, named FFS.
The Guardian (English newspaper): “The Scottish rockers hitch a ride with the Mael brothers for a collaborative album that is far more than a conceptual gag. It is a very scenic route, even if it’s probably a dead-end – it is hard to picture either band throwing their lot in with the other permanently. There’s more here than mere novelty appeal – enough to make you hope they repeat the experiment at some point.
A stunning steamroller that gets under your skin faster than
you can say “this is bloody bonkers “. Its red-hot-blooded rush
doubles your adrenalin production on the spot. Blimey. Ecstasy.
Track: ACETA
From their debut EP,
that’ll land in February.
Aceta speaks to someone overwhelmed by anxiety. Someone feeling stuck, unable to
move forward, and uncertain about why. The song aims to bring comfort, offering a
reminder that doubt is a natural part of life and that it’s important to embrace these
turbulent phases, as they always pass with time.
Imagine Idles, Yard Act and Kneecap
throwing punches at each other.
Mind-blowing uppercut. Wowzers.
Band: MARSEILLE Who: Juvenile rock wolves
from Derbyshire, UK.
New single: HISTORY
The song is a love letter to the
dreams we all had as children.
TUTV: These young British gunslingers echo the early hopped-up days of global rock champs Oasis. They have the Gallaghers‘ sassy swagger, cocksure verve and champagne supernova groove. And the vocalist is Liam‘s son, well he could be.
They look cool, they act cool and they sound supersonic cool. They don’t look
back in anger, they want to conquer the future. D’ you know what I mean?
. Instagram – Echo Bass Records
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Track: AN ARTIST IS AN ARTIST
Their first single in 3 years and according to
a press message “the surprising first taste of
what’s to come from the band in 2025”.
An Artist Is An Artist is an instant striking stroke pushed by a mind-boggling
speedy velocity, Skin‘s hyperactive rapping, a paranoid saxophone and a
flabbergasting chorus. Not the titanic bombast we’re used to. Mind you,
still loud enough to wake your neighbours. Fucktastic flare-up.
Band: CHARM SCHOOL Who: The latest project from Andrew Sellers who, originally from Louisville (KY),
has paid his dues in both the NYC and LA DIY music scenes, and his various bands
have played with seminal acts like Joan of Arc, Grizzly Bear & At The Drive-In.
Track: WITHOUT A DOUBT
Cut from their upcoming LP, titled ‘Debt Forever‘,
out on January 24th. More info here.
Album artwork
Sellers about the track: “It’s by far the most pensive, melancholic song on the record, and it seems fitting that it’s coming out right now, amidst all the turbulence in the world. The main theme of this new record is financial uncertainty (or just uncertainty in general), so the main thing I remember about this song is the refrain “Please don’t let me run out of money” coming out randomly during practice one day.”
Interpol guitar echoes are the backbone of
this glorious mid-tempo gem. Close your eyes
and lose yourself in this riveting masterstroke.
The song was inspired by a bet Hersh had with a guy for
a dollar that revolved around the idea that the seasons
don’t change us.
Kristin Hersh strums her acoustic guitar
as she did/does her wayward way for years
now, on this sonic hypnotizer. It gets under
your skin without asking permission.
Instagram – All Albums
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Band: CMON CMON Who: Brussels/London-based indie rock trio,
who started to realize their childhood dream
in their 40s.
It’s the second shared song from their upcoming, new EP, titled Headwind.
It follows CC’s excellent 2023 debut album The Crack And The Light.
Striking artwork by Belgiandesigner Lisa Van de Vyverwith
cover images by Swedish photographer Moa Karlberg.
Turn Off The Lights is exhilarating guitar pop that sticks
on the spot. It has all the entertaining ingredients to be
added to your on repeat list.
An effervescent flow, a dominant and steadfast drum beat, an awesome guitar solo, romantic vocals, blithesome harmonies and a resonant chorus. Sonic warmth in winter.
CC hit the bullseye again!
Band: SNAPPED ANKLES Who:London-based synth mavericks, incorporating
elements of performance art and art rock. Masked
and dressed up as threes on stage.
Track: SMART WORLD
Third single from their new upcoming album Hard Times Furious Dancing. Out on
28 March.
Snapped Ankles never let you down
when you love to sway yourself gaga
to electro dancefloor uplifters like
this acid house one.
Band: RATTLE Who: Musicians Katharine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley formed in
2011 after meeting on the live circuit whilst both playing in other bands.
Artist: ERIC SCHROEDER Who: Very productive San Diego-born songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist who released no less than
5 albums in just 4 years and a new one is waiting
in the pipeline.
Track: EMILY
Piece from his new, forthcoming LP
named Cat’s Game out on April 11.
The lyrics speak to a lost love, as he sings, “I long to be where the colors tease, and her love concedes” with wounded swagger benefitting the paradoxical paradise of psychic devotion. There’s a unique form of bittersweet American poetry in Schroeder’s ability to make you feel the weight of longing with every lancing line.
A guitar-infused reviver from start to finish.
Catchy as hell. Emily will bounce around in
your head for quite a while.
Depeche Mode vibes, a touch of New Order and Bauhaus echoes.
Apocalyptic danger in the dark. The world is in a really bad place.
Have a last doom and gloom dance before it’s all over.
Artist: TRISTAN ARMSTRONG Who: Skilled composer and lyricist finding beauty in the quotidian struggles of urban life. His music combines a sense of earnest romanticism and poignant introspection, with a guitar-centric aesthetic.
Track: THE LONELY AVENUE
A cathartic release of rock-and-roll energy inspired by the dualities
of urban life and a longing for home. Written during his early days
in Toronto after moving from Vancouver Island.
Expect a tsunami of riffs and a pulsating
bass engine juiced with avid vocals.
Artist: MR BILLY FRITZGERALD Who: Dublin-based solo artist writing lush indie-pop songs
that simultaneously bathe in the faded light of heartbreak
while pulling you on to the dancefloor.
Track: LET US BE (SINGLE)
Song from his upcoming debut album,
titled ‘A Grand Romantic Gesture’, out on
Feb 20th.
Lyrically the track explores the theme of being with someone when everyone else thinks it’s a bad idea. Billy draws on his own experience, while growing up and learning how to be in a relationship and developing those tools, inevitably and regrettably, people get hurt along the way. Here he delves into this, as he declares love and devotion while facing down the barrage of words against the union. A true Romeo and Juliet story.
Tremendous intro. Infectious upper
juiced with sparkling guitar play,
a puissant, foot-tapping drum beat
and intensive vocals.
Track: HERE WE GO CRAZY
Title song of his upcoming,
15th longplayer.
Mould about the album: “On the surface, this is a group of straightforward guitar pop songs. I’m refining my primary sound and style through simplicity, brevity, and clarity. Under the hood, there’s a number of contrasting themes: Control and chaos, hypervigilance and helplessness, uncertainly and unconditional love.”
Last weekend they played a live show for Amazon
Music UK’s Sounds In The City Sessions, in Manchester.
They were joined by The Smiths’ guitar legend Johnny Marr (who has a
longstanding habit for getting on stage as a guest with other artists) for
3 songs. One of them The Smiths‘ 1986 classic Big Mouth Strikes Again.
Alex Kapranos (frontman): “Making this record was one of the most life-affirming
experiences I’ve had, but it’s called The Human Fear,” he continued. “Fear reminds you
that you’re alive. I think we all are addicted in some way to the buzz it can give us. How
we respond to it shows how we are human. So here’s a bunch of songs searching for
the thrill of being human via fears. Not that you’d necessarily notice on first listen.”
Uncut Magazine says: “It’s a deeply fun record that radiates vivacity and,
most endearingly, sounds like a band who still truly love what they do.”
Promo photo
TUTV: The Scots stick to their successful guns. It’s FF by numbers. Entertaining numbers, that is. Enough poppy earworms to make your ears happy for a while, although no songs you’ll add to your all-time-classics playlist. A couple of romantic slow/mellow ballads serve as moments to reload. Fun record, but the cliché ‘for fans only is 100% accurate here.
Scottish power pop heroes FRANZ FERDINAND share
their 6th album, titled The Human Fear with the world
on 10 January 2025.
Alex Kapranos (frontman): “Making this record was one of the most life-affirming
experiences I’ve had, but it’s called The Human Fear,” he continued. “Fear reminds you
that you’re alive. I think we all are addicted in some way to the buzz it can give us. How
we respond to it shows how we are human. So here’s a bunch of songs searching for
the thrill of being human via fears. Not that you’d necessarily notice on first listen.”
Scottish power pop heroes FRANZ FERDINAND share
their 6th album, titled THE HUMAN FEAR with the world
on 10 January 2025.
Promo photo
Alex Kapranos (frontman): “Making this record was one of the most life-affirming
experiences I’ve had, but it’s called The Human Fear,” he continued. “Fear reminds you
that you’re alive. I think we all are addicted in some way to the buzz it can give us. How
we respond to it shows how we are human. So here’s a bunch of songs searching for
the thrill of being human via fears. Not that you’d necessarily notice on first listen.”
