(Epic)
A land of song; a land of poets; a land whose history is entwined with mythology; a land known for its hellraisers and people who like to party to excess. A land that spawned Super Furry Animals. Croeso i cymru (Welcome to Wales).
Though the band may claim that they could have come from anywhere, it would have to be a similar anywhere to Wales, since the above Welsh character is quite evident in this, their debut album.
"God, Show Me Magic" opens the album in a piano-jangling, synth-blaring party mood. It's excessive. It's silly. I'm having a good time already.
Though the mood of the next track, "Fuzzy Birds", is a lot calmer - acoustic guitars and flutes this time - the band are no more serious; at least I don't think a lyric based on an imagined conversation between the singer and his pet hamster can be serious, can it?
Perhaps a clue to what's behind their view of the world comes on "Something For The Weekend". "First time, I did it for the hell of it/stuck it on the back of my tongue and then swallowed it". As with many of the other tracks, the music here is 70s UK pop - not as in the spot-the-riff style of, say, Oasis, but in terms of instrumentation, production and overall feel, they evoke such bands as ELO, The Rubettes, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Mott The Hoople.
Speaking of the latter, "If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You" - concludes with a great "All The Young Dudes"/"Hey Jude"-style finale. Not so crazy this time - it's a beautiful and moving song.
"Hangin' With Howard Marks" is a cheeky wink at their fellow Welshman. To give you a clue to his imfamy, the album cover also features photos of the same guy in various disguises he adopted to evade Customs officers throughout the world. ("Something For The Weekend"?) The song also features one of the album's most amusing lyrics: "You and me and the guy from Sparks, hangin' out with Howard Marks". Anyone who would like to hang out with Ron Mael is cool with me.
Though it's not strictly the last track, "Long Gone" is a great end-of-album kind of song. A melancholic lament to (presumably) a lost love. Again the only word for it is beautiful; singer Gruff Rhys's Welsh accent just adding to the charm.
Though I've suggested a 1970s feel to the album, please don't think it's in any way retro; it's as fresh and exciting an album as I've heard for a long time, and if you like to leave your turntable with a smile on your face, Super Furry Animals are your band.
