Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses (EP) 2009

Artist: Franz Ferdinand
Title Of Album: Ulysses EP
Year Of Release: 16. Januar 2009
Label: Domino (Indigo)
Genre: Rock / Indie Rock
Quality: MP3
Bitrate: 192-320 Kbit/s
Total Size: 29,6 MB

Tracklist
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01. Ulysses
02. New Kind Of Thrill
03. Anyone In Love
04. You Never Go Out Anymore
05. Beyond The Wizard’S Sleeve Re-Animation

Franz Ferdinand | Ulysses | single review | www.stereoboard.com
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In this time of year when the music industry slumbers following the consumerist gluttony of Christmas, music is fairly hard to come by - much like trying to get sense or exercise out of most of the adult world after Christmas lunch.

However, perhaps it?s just a gap in the market waiting to be filled, and this January will see the triumphant return of Franz Ferdinand with a new album and new single: Ulysses…

Wait…classical allusions? From a pop band? Well, Franz Ferdinand, since their labelling as an art-rock band back in the Take Me Out days, have been keen to bring other forms of art into their dance/punk/rock music.

On Ulysses, a throwback to those early records, there is the return to the sort of dirty, scratchy guitar riffs of old, with Alex Kapranos? vocals changing from the conniving and excited (he whispers ?I?m bored / you?re bored / come on, let?s get high‘) to the accusing, booming ‘You?re not Ulysses’. But also there is a distorted keyboard that marks a progression from their simple guitar-punk sound.

There?s nice dynamic variation on Ulysses, too, with a typically Franz Ferdinand catchy, brash chorus contrasting with whispery sections. It really did take me back to the lively, exciting Franz Ferdinand gig I went to just after the release of their first album.

But there lingers something sad about this Franz Ferdinand. The title and passing references to Ulysses is kind of a fitting representation of Franz Ferdinand?s struggle since their first album- ever since they have tried progressing both intellectually and musically whilst trying to maintain the pop world?s interest and ?making girls dance?. Surely it?s somewhat contrived to boil the vast quantity of literature on this Greek myth down into a 3 minute pop song, and what?s more, rather out of context with their strong offbeats and excitable live performances.

Ulysses is definitely worth a listen if you have ever entertained a liking for Franz Ferdinand, as it gets thinking about their success and debatable decline. I really do hope that they get that second hit they clearly long for, and we hear them once more on dancefloors and airwaves. Because, let?s face it, they do just want to make us dance.

The band have offered up the different parts of Ulysses for remixes, of which the best will be featured as digital downloads. They are also heading out on tour, details of which can be found on their MySpace.

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