January 24, 2025 • 6 mins
Released early January 2025, ‘The Human Fear’ is Franz Ferdinand’s sixth studio album, focusing on the concept of “searching for the thrill of being human via fears" as described by frontman Alex Kapranos.
The album touches on fears such as social isolation, the fear of leaving an institution, and fear of staying or leaving a relationship.
Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the album.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast
from News Talks a B.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, look, we're all open minded on this program, aren't we,
So that sounds a little bit different.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I'm going to be the first to say it. This
is hooked.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's a new song from Franz Ferdinand. They've got an
album called The Human Fear, so at least they're sort
of sticking with a theme there. But Steale Clifford, our
music reviewer, has been listening to it and she's with
us now gelled as Dale, how are you doing.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
I'm glad that we've started right with that song because
it's probably the only song on the album that doesn't
jump out as Franz Ferdinand.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, yeah, it's definitely different. It's different.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
So I don't know if you've ever heard, but the
genre that they're in right that early two thousand snaughties
kind of bands that are the UK post post punk grunge.
They're actually now dubbed Indie Sleeves.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Oh yeah that fits, yeah, yeah, it does fit.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Indy Sleeves are the Arctic Monk Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah,
all those guys, yeah, they're all the Arctics Leaves kind
of group. But they weren't called that then. They're just
known as that now because it's kind of like they're
the grungy you went to the pubs and you had
a sneaky snog in the bathroom.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Yeah right, yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Mean apparently apparently yeah, yeah, yeah, And I'm like, yeah,
that song just like is totally there. But then there's
that like electronic rock thing where you're like, it sounds
like we're in a video game, and then it's got
that really kind of almost scary, weird voice lower tone,
So it just like really snaps out from the rest
of the album because as you'll hear when you play
(01:41):
some more of the music, it really does sound like
Frans Ferdinand's from the early two thousand, but not that song.
But I think that's kind of good, Like there's sort
of some stuff they're trying out and that electerally rock
dance thing. For some reason, lead singer Alex's voice, you know,
it still sort of captures you in that weird, creepy
kind of way in that song because of that lower
tone that he's doing. So so that's there. There's that song,
(02:04):
and then we'll jump into all the ordinand normal kind
of you know how they have those real catchy guitar
riffs usually that start most of their song.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Yeah, yeah, heaps of that.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Funny kind of album because I was I was well
into their debut self titled.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Album, Yeah, take Me Out yez.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Yeah, all those all those songs. I was really into that.
So this album, like you start it and the first
song didn't kind of hit for me to start with
us a little bit like, Oh, I don't know why,
because it still has that guitar riff kind of thing,
and I think I just haven't listen to something that's
quite theatrical for a while, because there's still that about
their music too. Every song has that grandiose theatrical like
(02:44):
you're strutting yourself down the street something about life. So
there's still that. There's probably a little bit more of
that because it is obviously about all the affairs that
we have in human existence, and there's a little bit
more perhaps vulnerability, bit more rawness in some of the
lyrics and some of the vocals from Alex, But I
think it's still a lot of what you expect from
(03:04):
these guys with with those builds that they do, they
sort of capture you with some sort of like cheeky
riff first, and then you're like, oh no, that's kind
of got under my skin. And then you're sort of,
you know, going into more of the music. Build it up,
which is the tune you're going to play next. It
has this kind of snazzy jazz I think maybe there's
a double bass in the background, but then you still
mix that in with what you know is the big
(03:26):
guitar stuff from the Friends Ferdinand. There's a couple of
tunes too where actually the piano takes the lead, and
those are really good. I think it's a good show
off of that they can be quite musically diverse if
they want to be. Yeah, yeah, but still with that
constant forward I always feel like when I listen to
Friends Ferdinand that I'm just going to be stomping through
the day, you know, that forward momentum kind of place
(03:48):
that they have about them, So that's still all exists
in there. I also think it's really funny that this
is an album about all the different fears of human
existence and then there's a track called cats, like are
we all just really terrified of cats? Maybe? But if
you yeals a little deeper into the lyrics, which is
what this album. You kind of get hits, so first
by all the music and production, and then a couple
(04:09):
of listens and you get more of the lyrics stuff.
And Cats isn't just about being scared of cats and
the assassiness, but also more that trying to trying to
keep in your inner animal instincts.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Yeah right, oh my god.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
It leads straight into it's alwa starting to make sense.
Hates the catching beats. There's rhythms that will just you know, like,
I think there's a lot that's instantly recognizable because Alex
uses more of that what you're you normally hear with
Franz Ferdinand and most of the album, so there's more
of that kind of stuff. And I do wonder if
(04:44):
it is an album that if you were a fan
in the past, this is probably one you're going to
really like.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah right, yeah, I don't know if you.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Have to be a fan, but I think for it
to get under your skin, if you'd instantly be like, oh, yeah,
I know there's guys, you probably have to have had
some experience with with what it's about. Yeah, it's safe.
Nothing to out there except for that dark hook song.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
That was pretty out there. There was there more out
there than I anticipated.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
The most challenging, so I'm kind of glad that we've
led them.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, yeah, it's good. Yeah, you can.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Go into sort of some of this stuff is quite pretty,
but it's also just that indy, catchy guitar band stuff,
you know. Yeah, so you'll definitely get to hear more
of that, and I think that's the stuff that will
feel more familiar for those then it's good.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Look, we don't want to stifle creativity, do we.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Even again, they haven't gone too far, if you know
what I mean. It's like they try a little bit there,
but you're not.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
But everything else is a bit more familiar.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
That's a good place exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
It's a nice kind of medium.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Isn't it. Yeah yeah, yeah, something for the fans, something
a bit new as well. Okay, what did you give
the human fear?
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Okay, I'm going to give it a seven out of ten.
Nice sit with you for a bit, get through some
of that.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yes, maybe not a first first time listen one as well.
It takes a little bit of time just to.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Kind of Yeah, maybe that's okay too, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Very good. All right, we'll have more of a listen.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
We'll listen to the one with the jazzy bit you reckon,
that's the jazzy bit one.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
We'll pick that out. Very good.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Thanks us down Well, catch your next way. Estelle Cliff
at our music Reviewer, they are seven out of ten
for the Human Fear from Frans Food Name.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast
from News Talks a B.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, look, we're all open minded on this program, aren't we,
So that sounds a little bit different.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
I'm going to be the first to say it. This
is hooked.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's a new song from Franz Ferdinand. They've got an
album called The Human Fear, so at least they're sort
of sticking with a theme there. But Steale Clifford, our
music reviewer, has been listening to it and she's with
us now gelled as Dale, how are you doing.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
I'm glad that we've started right with that song because
it's probably the only song on the album that doesn't
jump out as Franz Ferdinand.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, yeah, it's definitely different. It's different.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
So I don't know if you've ever heard, but the
genre that they're in right that early two thousand snaughties
kind of bands that are the UK post post punk grunge.
They're actually now dubbed Indie Sleeves.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Oh yeah that fits, yeah, yeah, it does fit.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Indy Sleeves are the Arctic Monk Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah,
all those guys, yeah, they're all the Arctics Leaves kind
of group. But they weren't called that then. They're just
known as that now because it's kind of like they're
the grungy you went to the pubs and you had
a sneaky snog in the bathroom.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Yeah right, yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Mean apparently apparently yeah, yeah, yeah, And I'm like, yeah,
that song just like is totally there. But then there's
that like electronic rock thing where you're like, it sounds
like we're in a video game, and then it's got
that really kind of almost scary, weird voice lower tone,
So it just like really snaps out from the rest
of the album because as you'll hear when you play
(01:41):
some more of the music, it really does sound like
Frans Ferdinand's from the early two thousand, but not that song.
But I think that's kind of good, Like there's sort
of some stuff they're trying out and that electerally rock
dance thing. For some reason, lead singer Alex's voice, you know,
it still sort of captures you in that weird, creepy
kind of way in that song because of that lower
tone that he's doing. So so that's there. There's that song,
(02:04):
and then we'll jump into all the ordinand normal kind
of you know how they have those real catchy guitar
riffs usually that start most of their song.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Yeah, yeah, heaps of that.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Funny kind of album because I was I was well
into their debut self titled.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Album, Yeah, take Me Out yez.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Yeah, all those all those songs. I was really into that.
So this album, like you start it and the first
song didn't kind of hit for me to start with
us a little bit like, Oh, I don't know why,
because it still has that guitar riff kind of thing,
and I think I just haven't listen to something that's
quite theatrical for a while, because there's still that about
their music too. Every song has that grandiose theatrical like
(02:44):
you're strutting yourself down the street something about life. So
there's still that. There's probably a little bit more of
that because it is obviously about all the affairs that
we have in human existence, and there's a little bit
more perhaps vulnerability, bit more rawness in some of the
lyrics and some of the vocals from Alex, But I
think it's still a lot of what you expect from
(03:04):
these guys with with those builds that they do, they
sort of capture you with some sort of like cheeky
riff first, and then you're like, oh no, that's kind
of got under my skin. And then you're sort of,
you know, going into more of the music. Build it up,
which is the tune you're going to play next. It
has this kind of snazzy jazz I think maybe there's
a double bass in the background, but then you still
mix that in with what you know is the big
(03:26):
guitar stuff from the Friends Ferdinand. There's a couple of
tunes too where actually the piano takes the lead, and
those are really good. I think it's a good show
off of that they can be quite musically diverse if
they want to be. Yeah, yeah, but still with that
constant forward I always feel like when I listen to
Friends Ferdinand that I'm just going to be stomping through
the day, you know, that forward momentum kind of place
(03:48):
that they have about them, So that's still all exists
in there. I also think it's really funny that this
is an album about all the different fears of human
existence and then there's a track called cats, like are
we all just really terrified of cats? Maybe? But if
you yeals a little deeper into the lyrics, which is
what this album. You kind of get hits, so first
by all the music and production, and then a couple
(04:09):
of listens and you get more of the lyrics stuff.
And Cats isn't just about being scared of cats and
the assassiness, but also more that trying to trying to
keep in your inner animal instincts.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Yeah right, oh my god.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
It leads straight into it's alwa starting to make sense.
Hates the catching beats. There's rhythms that will just you know, like,
I think there's a lot that's instantly recognizable because Alex
uses more of that what you're you normally hear with
Franz Ferdinand and most of the album, so there's more
of that kind of stuff. And I do wonder if
(04:44):
it is an album that if you were a fan
in the past, this is probably one you're going to
really like.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah right, yeah, I don't know if you.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Have to be a fan, but I think for it
to get under your skin, if you'd instantly be like, oh, yeah,
I know there's guys, you probably have to have had
some experience with with what it's about. Yeah, it's safe.
Nothing to out there except for that dark hook song.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
That was pretty out there. There was there more out
there than I anticipated.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
The most challenging, so I'm kind of glad that we've
led them.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, yeah, it's good. Yeah, you can.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Go into sort of some of this stuff is quite pretty,
but it's also just that indy, catchy guitar band stuff,
you know. Yeah, so you'll definitely get to hear more
of that, and I think that's the stuff that will
feel more familiar for those then it's good.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Look, we don't want to stifle creativity, do we.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Even again, they haven't gone too far, if you know
what I mean. It's like they try a little bit there,
but you're not.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
But everything else is a bit more familiar.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
That's a good place exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
It's a nice kind of medium.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Isn't it. Yeah yeah, yeah, something for the fans, something
a bit new as well. Okay, what did you give
the human fear?
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Okay, I'm going to give it a seven out of ten.
Nice sit with you for a bit, get through some
of that.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yes, maybe not a first first time listen one as well.
It takes a little bit of time just to.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Kind of Yeah, maybe that's okay too, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Very good. All right, we'll have more of a listen.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
We'll listen to the one with the jazzy bit you reckon,
that's the jazzy bit one.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
We'll pick that out. Very good.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Thanks us down Well, catch your next way. Estelle Cliff
at our music Reviewer, they are seven out of ten
for the Human Fear from Frans Food Name.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com