THE Human Fear is unmistakably a Franz Ferdinand record – and they make no excuses for that.
The Scottish band’s first studio album in seven years still has their distinctive and unique guitar sound.
Singer Alex Kapranos says: “It’s good to sound like Franz Ferdinand — it is liberating and I feel comfortable with the identity of the band.
“Making this record, I was forced to go back and listen to what we had done before. And it felt good.
“Many of the artists we love always stay true to their identity like Nick Cave and PJ Harvey.
“And I love that, when you listen to The Human Fear, every song is unmistakably us.
“Starting this record, accepting that it’s good to sound like Franz was liberating, because we also go to places that are very different from previous Franz records and it is easier to do that when you’re comfortable with who you are.”
While their sound is consistent, Kapranos says it is all change behind the scenes since their 2018 album, Always Ascending.
For starters, it is a different line-up. Original drummer Paul Thomson quit suddenly in 2021 and has been replaced by Audrey Tait.
Then there is new rhythm guitarist Dino Bardot and keyboard player Julian Corrie, who both joined in 2017.
Kapranos also became a dad to a son in May 2023 with his wife French musician Clara Luciani.
On a video call from his Paris home, he proudly tells me: “I have a wee boy now — he’s 14 months. I found becoming a dad very inspirational.
We all have fears in our lives, those big existential fears that strike us when we’re kids or teenagers.
Alex Kapranos
“The album wouldn’t have been what it was if it wasn’t for the wee guy arriving. In fact, the song Hooked, which the album title comes from, is about that.
“It starts off with this line, ‘I’ve got the fear. I’ve got the human fear.’ And in the chorus, I sing, ‘I thought I knew what love was, and then I met you.’
“My pal told me that I wouldn’t know what love was until he arrived and I was dismissive as I know what love is. I’d been in love. But I wasn’t prepared for the Intensity of it.
“When the physical waters broke, these emotional waters broke in me. It was a shock and overwhelming, having that love suddenly flowing out of me. And it was a love that I’d never experienced before.
“Then, the other part of the song is about fear. We all have fears in our lives, those big existential fears that strike us when we’re kids or teenagers.
“But when my son was born, those fears felt insignificant because all I wanted to do was protect this new life from everything. Now, I find saying goodbye very difficult. Going away on tour is heart-breaking.
“I haven’t been away for more than two weeks so far, as when I come back there’s a new tooth or something. I don’t want to miss any of that stuff at all.”
The Human Fear’s first single, Audacious, is an exciting comeback and as catchy as their 2004 mega-hit, Take Me Out.
Kapranos agrees: “I do love that song and when I’m playing it, either in the studio or on stage, I find it the most uplifting experience that you can possibly have. And I love that about music.
“I love that you can be in the most sombre, terrible, bad mood, and then you can put on a piece of music, and it can totally transform you.
“It can change your day and change your outlook on life. Even when you are talking about a dark subject matter, music can still lift you.
“I find that going on stage is the greatest thrill that you can ever experience. And I still find it remarkable that you can share that with people at a gig, a festival or through your records.” Kapranos says the band have been reinvigorated through their new line-up and recent shows.
“Paul leaving was a surprise and I wasn’t expecting it at all,” he confesses. “But we’ve all got to make our decisions in life — we’re all adults.
“I’m very happy that he was strong enough to be able to choose what he wanted to do.
“But being a new band really did re-energise us,” smiles Kapranos. “Audrey’s the best drummer in Scotland, without question, and that’s why we asked her to come and audition with us.
“She is a remarkable person as well. In a band, you’re not just a set of musicians, you’re a gang.”
Kapranos and bass player Bob Hardy are the only remaining founding members.
I wanted every song to be able to compete with everything we’d just done on Hits To The Head [Franz’s 2022 greatest hits album].
Alex Kapranos
He adds: “It’s wonderful to have somebody like that in the band, and I feel the same about Dino and with Julian, and, of course, with Bob, who I’ve known for 25 years.
“It’s a group of friends touring around the world together. It’s like a pirate crew.
“You become really tight, and you’ve got each other’s backs.”
The album balances energetic, danceable beats with introspective and theatrical moments.
Kapranos says: “Hooked is a super-mean dance floor song, whereas Tell Me I Should Stay is very, very different.
“It starts off with the only moments of solitude and peace on the record, then it goes into this huge uplifting Beach Boys/Mike Love moment.
“Making this record I still had a greatest hits mentality and so I wanted an album to work as whole, but every song be strong enough to work on its own as well.
“I wanted every song to be able to compete with everything we’d just done on Hits To The Head [Franz’s 2022 greatest hits album].
“Night Or Day, is a very Franz Ferdinand sounding song.
“There was a debate about which song should be the first single and Audacious was great, but I would have been happy putting Night Or Day out, too.
“The groove is super-transparent, but it’s led by the piano riff, which is Julian really coming into his own.
“It’s cool to take your identity and transform it into something that you’ve not done before.
“I don’t think we could have done that without Julian joining the band.
“I call him the ‘human arpeggiator’ because he does the things that you’d normally have to program, just with his fingers.”
The Doctor was inspired by Kapranos’s childhood when he suffered from asthma.
He says: “That song is like the fear of leaving an institution.
“When I was a kid, I used to have chronic asthma and there would be times when I’d end up in hospital and after a while I’d get used to it and wouldn’t want to leave and take on the responsibility of the world.
“That’s what the song is about.
“And also inspired by the NHS which I love.
“The NHS has saved my life on many occasions.”
It might have been a while since we had a new album from Franz but late last year they were on the road playing shows in Scotland, South America and Mexico.
“The shows have been great,” says Kapranos.
“We’ve got to know some of our fans over the years, and there are faces that you recognise who have grown with the band.
“Then there are people who came to our gigs for their first dates, and later show you pictures of their kids they’ve had together.
“I love that.
“But then at the first gigs in Scotland last year, there were a couple of lads from Glasgow, who were following us around the country.
“I was chatting to them after the gig, and found out they were 18.
“I find that mind-blowing.
“There is a new generation of Franz fans coming along and I love seeing those younger faces there as well.”
Kapranos says he’s been back and forth between Scotland and France since meeting his wife five years ago.
Britain should be proud of the musical heritage we’ve had since the dawn of rock and roll, but now that’s going to disappear because young bands can’t get out there, they can’t tour.
Alex Kapranos on Brexit
He says: “Scotland, France and a little bit of London, but I’ve been in France a lot more since my son was born.
“It’s been a total pain in the ass since Brexit. I can’t deny it.
“I’m now applying for my French citizenship because of Brexit.
“Even though I am married and we have a son together, I was only allowed to spend 90 days continuously in France, then I would have to spend 90 days out of France, which is difficult when you have got a family.
“So, personally, Brexit has been rubbish and, of course, the biggest post-Brexit s**tshow has been felt by bands.
“They can’t afford to tour in Europe any more.
“Britain should be proud of the musical heritage we’ve had since the dawn of rock and roll, but now that’s going to disappear because young bands can’t get out there, they can’t tour, they can’t take their music to the rest of the world.
“They certainly can’t take it to Europe, because of this ridiculous and unnecessary bureaucracy and cost.”
It has been more than 20 years since Franz Ferdinand burst on to the scene, redefining indie rock with their infectious hooks and art-rock edge.
How does it feel to still be a vital force in music today?
“Absolutely. The fact that we are still here making music that matters is important.
“And that a younger generation sees us as relevant.
“Bob and I have been in this band for years, but I feel closer to him than I’ve ever done.
“The band started off as an imaginary band.
“We were both working in a kitchen in Glasgow back in the early 2000s.
“I was a chef and Bob was a dishwasher, and we would do the Saturday shifts, and we would talk about this imaginary band and we would play each other music.
“That turned into this real band that did actually come together.
“And that’s what it still feels like, as a lot of it is just the two of us talking about what we want to do.
“This album is like a new start — and we are loving it.”
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