Franz Ferdinand Release Second Single From Upcoming Album ‘The Human Fear’
‘Night or Die’ follows the previously released single ‘Audacious’.
Image supplied
It’s been two decades since Scottish indie stalwarts Franz Ferdinand made their mark with their debut self-titled record. Containing the hit single ‘Take Me Out’, the album peaked at #2 on the UK Album Chart and helped turn Franz Ferdinand into one of the biggest bands in the world.
Since then, they’ve continued to release great music consistently and are gearing up to drop their sixth record, The Human Fear. Arriving January 10 via Domino (pre-order/pre-save here), the latest single from the album is the dynamic ‘Night or Day’.
Accompanying the song is a black-and-white music video directed by Rianne White that was shot at AYR Studios in Scotland.
Speaking about the songs, frontman Alex Kapranos explains: “Life may never be easy, but damn, we’ll make sure we live it up night or day. Night into day. We collaborated with the hugely talented Rianne White to capture the Drama-Noir of the environment where we recorded this and the rest of the LP. She has a sensitivity and energy which exploded into that space, giving a glimpse of the world where we made the music. Storm shake the room and boom… the dark heart of Scotland beats strong. Filmed entirely on location at AYR Studios.”
White adds: “This song emulates the turbulent, transcendent immensity of feelings that live and breathe within four walls. Born with Franz Ferdinand in their Scottish studio, where they recorded this beauty, ‘Night or Day’ was a powerful meeting of visual and sound, all caught in the eye of 16mm black and white film. These are the storms we dance in!”
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In a previous statement about the 11-track album, Kapranos said: “Making this record was one of the most life-affirming experiences I’ve had, but it’s called The Human Fear. Fear reminds you that you're alive. I think we all are addicted in some way to the buzz it can give us. How we respond to it shows how we are human. So here’s a bunch of songs searching for the thrill of being human via fears. Not that you’d necessarily notice on first listen.”
The release of The Human Fear is Franz Ferdinand’s first studio album since 2018s Always Ascending and the first to feature guitarist Dino Bardot and drummer Audrey Tait, who replaced Nick McCarthy and Paul Thompson respectively.
Franz Ferdinand also revealed a run of UK, European, North American and Canadian tour dates beginning in early 2025.
The Human Fear arrives January 10 and is available for pre-order/pre-save here. Check out the album artwork and tracklisting below.
The Human Fear:
1. Audacious
2. Everydaydreamer
3. The Doctor
4. Hooked
5. Build It Up
6. Night or Day
7. Tell Me I Should Stay
8. Cats
9. Black Eyelashes
10. Bar Lonely
11. The Birds
