MORE KISSING COUSINS

I'll often defend Franz Ferdinand if anyone ever has a go at them. For one thing, their 2004 self-titled debut LP remains an excellent and consistent piece of work which deservedly made them not just media darlings but hugely popular with the record-buying public.

But the other thing that I loved about them at that time was their decision to record and release a limited edition 7" single with Fire Engines, a band that I have given the occasional mention to before within the page of TVV.

It would have been quite easy for Franz Ferdinand to have simply paid lip service to the debt they owed Fire Engines for the spiky guitar sound that they do so well. But instead, they chose to bring a long overlooked act to the wider attention of the public with this particular collaboration which saw a hugely popular FF song covered by FE, and a much-neglected and wonderful FE song given the FF treatment:-

mp3 : Franz Ferdinand - Get Up And Use Me
mp3 : Fire Engines - Jacqueline

The single was never intended for general sale, but was available to buy at two gigs in December 2004 when Fire Engines opened for Franz Ferdinand. Sadly, it was a gesture not appreciated by the mob as this review from the time indicates:-

At the first of two hometown gigs to cap their annus mirabilis, they invited their favourite Scottish pop band of yore, The Fire Engines, to reform once more for the occasion. The Edinburgh post-punkers’ set flew right over most of the crowd members’ heads, so plastic beer glasses flew over the band members’ heads.

After a customarily pithy set, dedicated to John Peel "and anyone else who’s dead", The Fire Engines departed to a chorus of boos, but to the core faithful, the spiky fuzz of Get Up And Use Me, the madly danceable New Things In Cartons and the almost conventionally melodic Meat Whiplash were still a buzz 25 years on.

Sadly, I couldn't get a ticket, or I would have been down there risking my life in defence of the old fellas. And just as sadly, I never got a hold of the 7" at the time.....but then again isn't that what browsing charity shops is partly all about nowadays. Oxfam, Byres Road, Glasgow. £3. A bargain.

Oh and here's yer originals:-

mp3 : Fire Engines - Get Up And Use Me
mp3 : Franz Ferdinand - Jacqueline

That's why they only work when they need the money.