The Human Fear

Description

Franz Ferdinand has announced the release of their new studio album, *The Human Fear*, scheduled for January 10, 2025, on Domino. Produced by Mark Ralph, who previously worked with the band on the album *Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action* (2013), this new album presents Franz Ferdinand at their peak, combining energy, power, and euphoria while fully embracing their pop side without ever abandoning their iconic style. Recorded at AYR Studios in Scotland, the 11 tracks of *The Human Fear* each explore our deepest fears and how confronting them can help shape and define our lives. Regarding the album, Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand states: "Making this album was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life, but it's called *The Human Fear*. Fear reminds you that you are alive. I think we are all addicted, in one way or another, to the adrenaline it can give us. How we confront it reflects our humanity. So, here's a series of songs in search of that thrill that humans can feel through their fears. But it might not jump out at you on the first listen." Since their early days, when they organized illicit parties in abandoned buildings in Glasgow, Franz Ferdinand has always distinguished themselves with an innovative, daring, and forward-looking approach, tinged with a transgressive attitude from art school, but with a passion for great songs. *The Human Fear* stays true to this tradition: both unique and groundbreaking, this album continues to push boundaries, both musically and creatively. This album is the first to include Audrey Tait and Dino Bardot, and also marks the active participation of Julian Corrie in songwriting alongside Alex Kapranos and Bob Hardy. The band places as much importance on aesthetics as on sound, as once again evidenced by the album cover, inspired by Hungarian artist Dóra Maurer's self-portrait *7 Twists*. This work attracted them because it reflects what they seek in their music: striking immediacy, combined with a depth and vulnerability that reveal themselves anew with each listen. This album may address the theme of fear, or it may simply be a new collection of impactful tracks from a band that continues to leave its mark. Is there really anything to be afraid of?