You would think that calling a song from your own collaborative album Collaborations Don't Work provides ample opportunity for looking foolish, but for FFS their chutzpah is justified.
The name stands for Franz Ferdinand and Sparks, and the combination results in a largely successful third way between two bands at different stages of their careers.
A chance meeting between Alex Kapranos and the brothers Mael led to long-distance songwriting, then a tight 15-day recording session.
Songs such as The Johnny Delusional and Dictator's Son are fun, fresh and full of the energy and wry humour that characterise both bands.
It all sounds natural – the two highly distinctive lead vocalists take roughly equal, complementary roles, while Ron Mael’s operatic keyboard flourishes brighten up Franz’s speaker-shaking rhythm section.
