Band of the Week: Franz Ferdinand

[August 24 - 30]

Franz Ferdinand
Sounds Like: Indie Rock
Drinking Buddies: Bloc Party, LCD Soundsystem, Mando Diao, The Wombats
Synopsis: The hip, artistic exploration of dancing and foot tapping.

Makes You Want To...: Sing; Dance; Party.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Franz Ferdinand.


In the moment, in the groove. Somewhere deep within the rythmn of life, of culture, of fashion, of society, of music, beats this ethereal essence of something-or-other that invigorates the soul. This strange, inexplicable pulse is a fabulous thing, because it is the driving force that inspires to do their own things - to be themselves - to act without restriction and inhibition. It whispers in these adventurous folks' hearts, and tells them they need to act atypical. And why? Well, just because someone has to. And one can argue this fate-granted aspect that can be endowed upon anyone. But if you walk in time, if one were to walk in rhythm, to that perfectly orchestrated beat-pulse-thing, one would wonder why they didn't follow the beat of their own drum a long time ago. One could wonder why everyone else isn't following this same beat.

We speak so frankly about this odd surreal motivational factor on Voilà!, today, because it may or may not be this odd factor - this inane, insatiable drive - to act different that inspires some of our favourite musical artists to do that thing they do. And the more entwined they are with this certain something - the more their musical interminglings intertwine with the aspects of culture, such as those mentioned prior, the more fluid the musicians styles glide along, ever so effortlessly. There are plenty of artists who are masters of this cultural symbiosis, but today, we're focusing on a quirky quartet out of Glasgow, Scotland.

They may be named after famous arch-dukes of Austria. Maybe it's because they wanted some effect in their name, or maybe it's because the name had so much affect on them. But regardless how you take it, Franz Ferdinand is certainly an iconic moniker in the contemporary rock scene these days. Having the often recounted history of being the latest and greatest art school rock bands - brimming with eclectic lightheartedness, and unpretentious funloving - to come out of left field in the earls 2000s. But the addicting rhythms and catchy choruses from these stylish Scots caught the ear of many a keen-minded music listener.

Using a powerfully unique blend of many generations of rock music, with their own twist on every single note, Franz Ferdinand easily perks people's attention. Their style involves steady, flowing electric guitar and very bass centric song structure, all orbitting the perfect distance in complement to Kapronos' poetic talent. With tight, close, perfectly timed beats that give every song a danceable quality, Franz Ferdinand has crafted themselves a style that's truly one of a kind; in fact, the only time another band has even approached a similar to style to Franz Ferdinand was with the debut release of fellow UK band, Bloc Party, on their album Silent Alarm.

Franz Ferdinand has a further qualities that can be attributed to them. While Bloc Party's Silent Alarm did share certain moods and styles with Franz Ferdinand's eponymous debut, it is Franz Ferdinand is the one who excels by launching themselves into further expansions of their own sound. With the release of their second album, You Could Have It So Much Better, Franz Ferdinand took everything their listeners loved off of the original release, and refined it into an even more pure form than its original. Furthermore, with the release of Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, in the beginning of 2009, Franz Ferdinand once again harnessed their musical prowess to once again evolve their unique style into something powerfully unique, with out at all detracting from their original sound that their fans loved so much. So you see, Franz Ferdinand a band which merely changes, solidifies, only to morph again; their sound is fluid, and ever evolving, never losing its learned benefits, only gaining more, growing and increases in wonder and intrigue. An ever evolving musical experiment that will have any listener entranced to keep listening and shaking their hips to the groove laid down on the record.

They've got the groove, Franz Ferdinand does. They've been laying it all down for quite some time now, with their three studio albums, every which one is a powerful defining mark on Franz Ferdinand's belt. Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better, and Tonight: Franz Ferdinand can be purchased just about anywhere these days, and all are worth every dollar you can spare for them.

When these boys aren't being featured on Pitchfork or NME - being hailed with thousands of well deserved musical accolades - they're probably busy showing up in Nylon or FashionTV for their fabulous fashion sense. If you're hoping for a more personal touch of Franz Ferdinand, you're in luck! Our faithful quartet is presently touring their hearts out! While presently wandering about the North American continent, following up with a UK tour, followed again by some stops in Russia and Japan, all before a return to the lands of Europe... Well, let's just say they're busy. For a musical treat, tour dates, and much more, check out Franz Ferdinand's Myspace. And while you're grooving, may you happily have a great week.