FFS, The Troxy, review: Franz Ferdinand and Sparks collaboration is undeniably brilliant

FFS is a marriage made in art rock heaven

FFS (Press Handout)

So “Collaborations Don't Work” do they? I think not. FFS, the Franz Ferdinand and Sparks collaboration, is absolutely, undeniably brilliant. The gig is the band's first after they stormed Glastonbury and it's a classic. From opener “Johnny Delusional” to the tongue firmly in cheek encore with that track “Collaborations...”, FFS is a marriage made in art rock heaven.

An older, wiser crowd have paid the pilgrimage to the Troxy, the perfect venue for the band's theatrical performance, but by the end of the show everyone's bouncing, whether hipster Franz fan or twice divorced Sparks obsessive.

As individual artists they've both hit the heights - but together? Quite simply they take each other's tracks to another level.

We're treated to the best cuts from the eponymous album, “Save Me From Myself” with its terrace anthem chorus and the soaring guitars of “Dictator's Son” eliciting a great reception.

But naturally it's when they combine on each other's standout tracks that the magic really happens. “Do You Want To” has us all pogoing away while “Number 1 Song In Heaven” gets the best reception of the night, especially when Ron deserts his po-faced keyboard stance to throw shapes front of stage. It's worth the ticket price alone and this beat-heavy version is surely worthy of a re-release. Catch them while you can.