Franz Ferdinand, a four-piece band from Glasgow, England, has released their first album in nearly four years, "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action," in Japan first. This long-awaited new album, with its signature familiar melodies and groove, is exactly what fans have been waiting for. We spoke to vocalist Alex Kapranos about the album, which showcases their full potential, and their fashion. --This is your first new album in four years, but you came to Japan last year for Summer Sonic and actively participated in festivals around the country. Was the album already finished by last year? No, not yet. But you had already recorded some songs, and I think you performed "Right Action" at Summer Sonic. We only perform songs live once they're complete, so we don't try them out on stage and then work our way through them until they're finished. However, performing live gives us a sharper edge when we actually go into the studio to perform. To put it in perspective, imagine you have a cat, and the one that fights and cuddles with other cats outside has sharper claws than the one you keep indoors, right? It's probably the same thing (laughs). --On your previous album, I felt like there were many songs that were carefully crafted with a strong center of gravity, rather than focusing on good tempo or groove. However, on this new album, I feel like the groove from your debut has been added, and it's well-balanced. We learned a lot about sound creation and recording from the previous album, and that's certainly been put to good use on this new one. At the same time, in terms of songwriting, I think your early work was better than your previous one, and for this album, we polished the songs until we were satisfied with them before going into the studio. That's probably why. --And yet, there are also elements of '70s analog dance music. Of course, it wasn't released when it was being made, but I felt it resonated strongly with Daft Punk's new album, for example.

Yes, there are certainly similarities... I think it's a resistance to the computer-intensive music that's so prevalent these days. We've always considered ourselves a dance band, and we've expressed that through the format of rock. We've been flexible in incorporating new technology without clinging to the analog equipment and recording methods of the '70s, and the balance is very important. If technology takes over and the human element is lost, it becomes very boring.

--I've always thought that the ability to work on a desktop with Pro Tools (an audio production platform) has both merits and demerits.

I think it's good that the birth of Pro Tools has made the process faster and the sound clearer. However, on the other hand, it's also made it easier to make edits. I'm not convinced by that. Ever since I produced the Citizens! album two years ago, I've imposed a "no edits" rule on myself. I'd stare at the waveform data, find the tiniest discrepancy, and correct it with a single click. There's no way to create individuality, no expression. It's like Photoshopping a model on a magazine cover. It actually looks really unnatural.

--Do you collaborate with Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard of Hot Chip, and Todd Terje, because they all share the same ideas?

Yes, the dance music they make is full of humanity. You can feel the soul in it. EDM (electronic dance music) is just doctored dance music (laughs). It's so boring and uninspiring. Both Todd and Hot Chip are doing the same thing, demonstrating that electronic music can express rich human emotions, just as Kraftwerk proved. Their music is not shallow at all.

--I see. Now, let me ask you a question about fashion. What's your favorite brand?

Maybe Paul Smith. I'm wearing an Alexander McQueen shirt right now. I like its psychedelic patterns.

--As for designers?

Hedi Slimane. He's an important designer and a friend of mine. He's very creative and has a rock-like style.

--So, has Hedi taken your photos before?

Yes, a few times. I couldn't make it to this show, but I played with my band last time. I think Hedie is able to maintain such a high level of creativity because he doesn't care about the conventional wisdom of the fashion world. It's the same with music: it's important to be aware of history, but if you want to create something new, you have to break it down. I respect and sympathize with him in that respect as well.

--What are your criteria when choosing clothes?

I always choose clothes with the intention of wearing them for the rest of my life. I'm still wearing the shirt I bought when I was 14.

--You now spend half your time between London and Scotland. Where do you find more of your favorite shops?

I probably buy a lot in London. There are so many shops there. My favorite department store is Liberty. I like the classical building. When I go to Liberty, I can go shopping and see classical architecture, so I get both! (laughs)


Franz Ferdinand, named after the Austrian archduke who was assassinated in the Sarajevo massacre that triggered World War I, formed in Glasgow in 2001. They made their debut in 2003 with the single "Darts of Pleasure" on London indie label Domino. Their catchy sound, combining danceable rhythms and sharp guitar riffs reminiscent of the post-punk era of the late 1970s and early 1980s, is fresh and unique. Their self-titled debut album won the Brit Award and the Mercury Prize, two of Britain's most prestigious music awards.

In Japan, they quickly headlined the Green Stage at Fuji Rock and performed at the Nippon Budokan, and have also been featured in television commercials for the Walkman, Toyota, and iPod touch. They are exceptionally popular for a British indie rock band, and are arguably one of the most popular British bands since the breakup of Oasis. They are also scheduled to perform in Japan in November.


[Event Information]
"Franz Ferdinand Japan Tour 2013"
Location: November 19th and 20th, Zepp Tokyo, Tokyo; November 22nd, Zepp Namba, Osaka
Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM, performance begins at 7:00 PM each day
Price: Advance tickets for standing seats on the first floor are 7,000 yen (drinks not included); advance tickets for reserved seats on the second floor are 7,000 yen (drinks not included)