Gigwise Meets Franz Ferdinand

‘Lucid Dreams’ for those who are yet to hear it is a fantastic piece of music and undisputedly the most attention grabbing song on the new album. It was originally released on the Fifa 2008 video game as a three minute pop song but was warped and mutated in the recording studio into a DFA aping techno monster. For those going to see Franz Ferdinand touring in March it’s sure to be a set highlight. “We’ve played it live in its original three minute form at Latitude last year. It’s something we’re working on at the moment, trying to work out a way to realise the potential of that song on stage.” Has the band had much chance to get on the road and test out the new songs? “We did a tour of the Australia, the States and Canada before Christmas and played some dates in Europe over New Year. We’ve been playing about six or seven of the new songs next to the older material. The crowd seem to like them and they are fitting into the set well so that’s good. There are videos on Youtube and people have been leaving really nice comments on there. So it’s been good so far.” Franz Ferdinand are set to embark on a headline tour of the UK in March but what are their plans for the rest of the year? “It’s pretty much touring full on for the rest of the year.” And festivals? “Well I think Bennicassim has been confirmed and there will be more in Europe and the UK hopefully.” And the rumour that you are headlining Glastonbury’s Other Stage? “Well they are just rumours, nothing is confirmed.”

Early reviews of ‘Tonight’ have been a mixed bag with praise heavy 8/10’s mixing with indifferent and bored 3’s and 6’s, how do these reviews affect the band members? “I don’t really read the reviews to be honest. I see some of them and people tell me the marks from other places but I don’t seek them out. It doesn’t matter really, we’ve made the album we want and one that we are proud of and that’s all that matters.”Perhaps some of the less favourable feedback has been in backlash to the supposed ‘death of indie’ that every bore with a keyboard has been talking about in January, “Yeah well it does look like things are coming to an end, or the end of a cycle should I say. These things move and change all the time and it wasn’t that long ago that nobody was listening to indie bands at all. I don’t think we’ve ever fitted into a genre or a group particularly but it will be interesting to see how things turn out this year. I like bands like The National and Of Montreal, they keep me sane when we’re on tour and they’re bands who aren’t affected by trends or fashion.”

Despite disappointing sales for big third albums last year (Razorlight, Kaiser Chiefs) and this supposed drop off in guitar bands popularity Franz Ferdinand have made a bold and proud album which should see them take more than a few people out this year. ‘Tonight: Franz Ferdinand’ is out now and the band tour the UK from February 28 to March 9.