Feb. 9 marked the fifth album release of Franz Ferdinand, titled “Always Ascending.” The band from Scotland  came into the light after the release of its second single “Take Me Out” in 2004. This brought about the post-punk revival of the early 2000s that they were known for.  Heavily dabbling in art rock, dance-punk, dance-rock and indie rock with its past albums, the band channeled some David Bowie “Blackstar” vibes with “Always Ascending.”

The title, “Always Ascending,” was the lead single of the fifth album. Released Oct. 25, Franz Ferdinand was particularly synth-heavy with the disco-rock song. “Always and always and always ascending / The Shepard misleads so you think you’re transcending” refers to the Shepard Tone, the “Love Illumination” artists’ overlap sine waves to create the illusion of a constantly rising pitch throughout the song. True to theme, the music video released for “Always Ascending” on Dec. 4 includes color shots to accommodate the vibrant lettering of the album cover and shots of the camera continuously rolling upward to display individual rooms of display on the band. Never ceasing this action, the video creatively reflects the song.

Starting with the familiar rock sound of Franz Ferdinand and an ascending bass line, “Paper Cages” is about individuality and the need for it.

“You’re so vivid and free in your imagination.” This line makes the observation that individuality is recognized like no other and questioned. “Is it personal choice / Personal conviction / Or are you living like me in paper cages?”

Franz Ferdinand demands that listeners break down the walls they build for sake of image and out of the image they have built for themselves. “Step out, step out of our cages / Step out of our paper cages.”

“Huck And Jim,” a clear reference to Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” is completely understood until the first chorus. “We’re going to America / We’re gonna tell them about the NHS / When we get there we’ll all hang out / Sipping 40s with Huck and Jim.” The NHS is the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. Obviously criticizing the path the United States has taken, the artist goes on to continue in the second chorus, “We’re going to America / We’re gonna tell them about the DSS / When we get there we’ll all hang out / Sipping 40s with Huck and Jim,” referring to the Department of Social Security this time. The book, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” is about Jim, a slave fleeing his master. Huck, a young white boy, joins Jim on his journey along the Missouri River to flee from the South, despite their cultural difference and the tension of the U.S. Optimism shows Alex Kapranos has faith in the American people, which is why he is symbolizing them as Huck and Jim.

“Feel The Love Go,” the second single released from “Always Ascending,” is a siren for those to be aware of.

“Hey, what’s that thing that you’re doing? / Hey, what’s that thing that you do? / No, you’re not that thing that you’re doing / For the things that you do are not who you are.” They then give the advice of “Think of a friend (love) / And wish them love / Think of an enemy (more) / And wish them more / Think of every life and wish them all your love.”

“Always Ascending” is a unique and leisurely album that allows the listener to sit back, relax and groove. Franz Ferdinand amazingly mixes it up and yet keeps its revolutionary strokes.

Image from Eddy BERTHIER via Flickr