6/10

When news first broke of Franz Ferdinand and Sparks coming together as a collaboration project, the reaction was a mix of scepticism and intrigue. While it is clear to see the similarities between the two groups, the idea of both of them joining forces to create a whole album together does seem like a stretch too far. But nonetheless, FFS have pulled it off and the result is more in touch with our perceptions than we first thought.

While it is obviously supposed to be a collaborative idea, 'FFS' does sound more like a Franz Ferdinand album featuring Sparks, mainly due to the overabundance of Alex Kapranos on vocals. But Sparks do manage to make themselves heard throughout as electronic eccentricities soon begin to act as the catalyst that holds this concept together on tracks like 'Police Encounters', while the single 'Collaborations Don't Work' stands out as the most outrageous and self-critical highlight of this release.

On the whole, FFS gel very well together but the expression "too many chefs spoil the broth" does continue to appear. With so many musicians on this record, it does feel overcrowded at times but still manages to entertain nonetheless.