Franz Ferdinand – ‘The Fallen’ / ‘L. Wells’ (Domino) Released 03/04/06

It’s clear that Franz Ferdinand are made of sound stuff and this latest single release confirms it in so many ways. “So they say you’re a trouble boy/ because you like to destroy” begins ‘The Fallen’ – a subversive tale of the under-the-nose deeds of a Tesco robbing, champagne drinking cavalier. Nobody wants to talk to our anti-hero “Because you robbed a supermarket or two/ well, who gives a damn about the prophets at Tesco”, orates Kapranos’ in his Glasgow/Edinburgh axis revelry, signalling approval of “…the fallen are the virtuous among us/walk among us/never judge us”.  The rest of the Ferdinand’s provide a rambunctious beat as pointy as Sarah Jessica Parkers nose and backies that are as bewildering as they are psychologically familiar, its just a shame its only 2 minutes 47 seconds long.   Backed up by a ridiculous Technotronics based Justice remix it comes with additional A side ‘L. Wells’ recently recorded in Melbourne and ‘Jeremy Fraser’, sung by Nick McCarthy and Brown Onions. A band clearly having fun and inviting everyone else to join in.