Always Ascending (song) explained

Always Ascending
Cover:	Franz Ferdinand - Always Ascending cover art.png
Type:	single
Artist:	Franz Ferdinand
Album:	Always Ascending
Recorded:	2016–17
Genre:	Disco-rock^[1] ^[2] new wave^[3] post-punk^[4] art pop^[5]
Label:	Domino
Producer:	Philippe Zdar
Prev Title:	Demagogue
Prev Year:	2016
Next Title:	Feel the Love Go
Next Year:	2018

"Always Ascending" is a song by Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand. It was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album of the same name on 25 October 2017. Two days before the release of the song the band released a clip of the song. It released along with a shorter edited version.

Background and release

After their 2013 album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action the band formed a supergroup with the American rock band Sparks by the name of FFS in 2014. The band's name is an abbreviation of Franz Ferdinand Sparks. The group's existence was formally announced on 9 March 2015.^[6] In July 2016 founding guitarist Nick McCarthy left the band to focus on side-projects and spending time with his family, and was replaced with guitarist Dino Bardot and keyboardist Julian Corrie.^[7]

Leading up to the song's release the band released a snippet of the song on 23 October.^[8] The song was released with an edited version, which has the roughly one minute 15 second long piano intro and the shorter piano outro cut out.

The song makes extensive use of a Shepard Tone throughout, adding emphasis to the title of the track.^[9]

Music video

A music video for "Always Ascending" was released on 4 December 2017. It was directed by AB/CD/CD,^[10] who previously worked with the band on the music video for their FFS song "Johnny Delusional".^[11] Described as "vivid" by Rolling Stone, the video features slow motion scenes of the band's members floating around in front of abstract backgrounds. Band frontman Alex Kapranos described it as "pretty much a typical Sunday afternoon round at Franz Ferdinand's flat".^[10]

Charts

Chart (2017–2018)! scope="col"

Peak position
Canada Rock (Billboard)^[12]	47
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)^[13]	20
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)^[14]	30
Poland (ZPAV)^[15]	50

Notes and References

1. Hear Franz Ferdinand's Winding, Synth-Heavy New Song 'Always Ascending'. Ryan Reed. 25 October 2017. Rolling Stone. 29 October 2017.
2. Web site: Franz Ferdinand announce new album, Always Ascending, share title track: Stream. Randall Colburn. 25 October 2017. Consequence of Sound. 29 October 2017.
3. Web site: Franz Ferdinand resume their ascent . Owens . Dan . 8 February 2018 . The Line of Best Fit . 8 February 2018.
4. Web site: Franz Ferdinand Drop Bold New Video for "Feel The Love Go" . Manno . Lizzie . 8 January 2018 . . 18 January 2018.
5. Web site: 'Always Ascending' – Franz Ferdinand – Review. Jack. 27 October 2017. Hey Nineteen. 29 October 2017.
6. Web site: Franz Ferdinand and Sparks Form Supergroup FFS . . 9 March 2015 . 2 April 2015 . Goble, Corban.
7. Web site: Franz Ferdinand Introduce Two New Members . Wicks . Amanda . 19 May 2017 . . 25 October 2017.
8. Web site: Franz Ferdinand tease return with snippet of new music . Trendell . Andrew . 23 October 2017 . . 25 October 2017.
9. Web site: Franz Ferdinand are still operating on an elevated plateau – Always Ascending, review . McCormick. Neil. The Telegraph. 9 February 2018.
10. Watch Franz Ferdinand's Vivid 'Always Ascending' Video . Reed . Ryan . 4 December 2017 . . 7 December 2017.
11. Web site: Watch: FFS unveils new video for 'Johnny Delusional' . 23 May 2015 . . 7 December 2017.
12. Web site: https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3Afranz%20ferdinand&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3A1243&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=franz%20ferdinand Chart Search]. Billboard Canada Rock for Franz Ferdinand. 9 January 2018.
13. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Overseas. Japanese. Billboard Japan. 30 April 2021.
14. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=franz ferdinand|chart=Mexico Ingles Airplay}} Franz Ferdinand Album & Song Chart History ]. . 9 January 2018.
15. Web site: Polish Singles Chart | . 20 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191222203440/http://lp3.polskieradio.pl/notowania/?numer=1882 . 22 December 2019 . dead .