Franz Ferdinand

Think Scotland only has the Proclaimers, Simple Minds and Travis to offer? Think again. Scotland has just produced one of the outstanding debut albums of all time. A record that rivals anything by the Strokes, a record that is influenced, but not overshadowed, by great albums from Television, Joy Division and Gang of Four, a record that may be one of the most important and downright sexy releases of 2004.

Opener ‘Jacqueline’ is pop perfection, all angular guitars and a chorus that will have milkmen whistling all summer long. Meanwhile second single, ‘Take Me Out’ sounds like ‘Summer In the City’ covered by the Fall. Only three songs in and already hairs on your neck are standing on end.

‘Auf Acshe’ is a brooding eerie masterpiece. A creepy stalker of a tune it makes you want to hide behind the sofa and cry for help. Quickly following it is ‘Cheating On You’ the sound of the Strokes finally realising their Duran Duran fantasies and an instant classic.

As the album enters the final third we are offered ‘This Fire’ a tune reminiscent of Radio 4 while debut single ‘Darts Of Pleasure’ is a pop-bullet to the head; instant and deadly. Finally ‘40 Ft’ tentatively enters the fray. One of the standout tracks on the album it leaves you reaching for the remote to start it all over again.

The band are Franz Ferdinand. The album is self-titled. The sound of 2003 just got updated for 2004 and it happened in Scotland. New York doesn’t look so cool anymore.