SUPER FURRY ANIMALS

Cian Ciaran, the keyboard player, just released his album this past Monday. As a long-time fan, I am pleased and even a little bit shocked at how good it is. The LP is just as good as Gruff's solo efforts.

Here is the Spotify link: http://open.spotify.com/album/0br5g7CaWyvJnLZUsrdTmg

revisiting this after not listening to it since release: https://soundcloud.com/acid-casuals/alto-due-pugnali-e-mezzo

damn good track.

Surprisingly, Bunf seems to be the one with the freshest sounding side project: https://soundcloud.com/the-pale-blue-dots

https://soundcloud.com/the-pale-blue-dots/aquarium

Loving this stuff.

They've reunited...

Super Furry Animals may currently be on an extended hiatus, but the Welsh psych rock icons are aiming to be top of the hops with the launch of their own beer.

Produced in conjunction with the Celt Experience Brewery, members of the band will be stirring up a storm when their new beer – named Fuzzy (after their debut album Fuzzy Logic) is unveiled at a special event next month.

Those who love their beers can taste the new brew at the one-night only Fire Festival on Saturday, February 1. Billed as ‘a celebration of innovative craft beer, art and smokey food’, it will be held to celebrate the Celtic Experience’s new village development at its brewery on the Pontygwindy Estate in Caerphilly.

The Festival will include free samples of the brewery’s acclaimed craft beers and a live performance from the Super Furry Animals – a live brewing performance that is.

Gruff, Guto, Cian, Daf and Bunf – who have been pursuing their own projects since they released their last album Dark Days/Light Years in 2009, will put the finishing touches to their own collaborative beer, which will be available in pubs around Wales and chosen outlets in London in March.

Fuzzy Beer, follows the launch of Goldie Lookin’ Ale – a collaborative beer between Welsh rappers Goldie Lookin’ Chain and Newport-based Tiny Rebel Brewery last year.

“We’re making it with our own specially formulated recipe, although I can’t tell you what that is,” laughs Furries keyboard maestro Cian Ciaran.

“Me and Daf (SFA drummer Dafydd Ieuan) met Tom who owns the brewery last year and we all thought it would be a good idea to make our own Furry brew.”

Although the band won’t be playing live, several members of the group will DJ on the night.

to brew a beer. :\

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/welsh-rock-icons-super-furry-6530196

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHV_6H2hQnM

American Interior is to come in four formats – a 13-song album, to be released on 5 May, which will be Rhys's fourth solo album; a book, described as "a psychedelic historical travelogue in which Gruff traces Evans' incredible journey from North Wales to new Spain, alongside the tale of his own strange American road trip following in Evans's footsteps", which will be published in late May; a film directed by Dylan Goch, documenting Rhys's 2012 tour; and an app consisting of 100 entries telling Evans's story.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/29/gruff-rhys-new-album-film-book-app

Loving the new Pale Blue Dots song:

https://soundcloud.com/the-pale-blue-dots/slow-reaction

Also got a new Gulp song this past week:

https://soundcloud.com/sonic-cathedral/gulp-seasoned-sun

Not been a bad year for SFA, if you're not looking for an actual SFA album.

Shocked, but not displeased, a publisher picked this up:

Rawlins, formerly digital editor of Artrocker, will document the story of the Welsh rock band's rise to iconic status.

The book, acquired by publishers The Friday Project, will tell the story of the band's time signed to Creation Records.

It will also cover their lavish marketing campaigns, which included equipping an army tank with a techno sound system and making plans to convert an aircraft carrier into a nightclub.

Lead singer Gruff Rhys said of the book: "Revolutionary, crazed and beautiful musical events and conversations that originally happened through the medium of a cracked youthful version of the Welsh language in the mid-nineties are presented here for the first time in quality English.

http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a577691/super-furry-animals-biography-for-release-in-2015.html#~oHu8lpFCxBKD8T

Also, new song by The Earth. It's really good:

https://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/3-baby-bones

I had a feeling Ric would get something like this put out eventually, and given his passion and enthusiasm for the band it should be at the very least pretty good. Why he hasn't gone the whole hog and covered their Epic Records/Rough Trade years too is a huge mystery, though.

Vol 2

I just feel like there's, max, a dozen people out there that want to read this story. I'm not complaining, though. I've wanted an SFA book for years.

Gruff's book doesn't count.

Even though I care the least I probably ever have about this band right now, I'll definitely be still giving this book a read. Partly because I enjoy reading books of this ilk, and partly because I'm interested to see how much depth the book actually goes into. Hopefully I'll learn something new from it, or it'll give me a new perspective on albums and tracks I've played to death in the past. It'll be interesting to see how much it sells, too... I can't help but feel that the perfect time to do something like this would have been around the time of Songbook, and covering the years 1994-2004.

It would be annoying to put out the biography and then for them to reform five minutes later

Well, they're technically not broken up... And it seems likely they'll get together sooner than later. So that'll probably happen.

I wouldn't be fazed if they never got back together again to make music, and I wouldn't feel much of a loss either. At one point the thought of SFA splitting up would have been incredibly depressing, but I'm really unsure if they've got anything more to give.

I don't think they'll ever release an epic album that changes the world, but I think those days are behind any band any of us knows about. Hopefully their time apart has taught them some new tricks. I think it has, but I know you're not really fond of anything they've done since DD/LY.

The Friday Project picked up the last two Kristin Hersh album/books, it's not that much of a stretch for them

I guess you're right, 'cause I have no idea who that is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guYOL2FLpCA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcgMiyv05Tc

Gulp's Vast Space is currently streaming: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/07/super_furry_ani_13.html

I meant Season Sun, the name of their album. Oops.

Gulp is officially out. You can listen on Spotify

Got to see Gruff in Manchester a couple weeks ago. It was one of the best live performances I've ever been to, and he was all on his own. The show was equal parts lecture and music performance. I never realized how naturally charming and funny he is.

In other news: https://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/sets/the-earth-keltic-voodoo-boogaloo

The Earth's second LP is streaming. The Earth is Daf's band. Someone from Catatonia is also in the band. I know people around here hate Catatonia. The Earth's front woman also sings for the band Slowly Rolling Camera. I think this is a pretty decent record. It's a lot better than the first one.

https://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/sets/the-pale-blue-dots-lots-of/s-eSrBc

Bunf's new album is streaming.

The Pale Blue Dots' new album is no longer streaming, but some new tracks available for stream. The album comes out next Monday (digital only). The Pale Blue Dots are also in session on Marc Riley tonight:

https://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/reach-for-the-keys

https://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/devastation

https://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/slow-reaction

Some words from a website called Clash Music:

http://www.clashmusic.com/news/track-of-the-day-2110-the-pale-blue-dots

The ongoing hiatus of Super Furry Animals has dulled one of the most potent psych-pop voices around.

Thankfully, it has allowed the various members of the Welsh ensemble to engage in all manner of weird and wonderful projects.

Huw 'Bunf' Bunford is the band's lead guitarist, but recently struck up a friendship with composer Richard Chester.

Swapping ideas, the pair quickly descended into the studio to lay down some of fragments on tap. Piecing the whole thing together, The Pale Blue Dots were born.

Matching psychedelic flourishes against sweeping arrangements, a Bowie strut with lush harmonies, the project's debut album 'Lots Of Dots' is forthcoming.

Bunf says: "This is our Jekyll and Hyde moment. We love pop music, but we also like to lie down, listen to something, and not have to get up to press 'next track' for at least half an hour. The album definitely has a number of songs that could find themselves on the radio, but over the coming months we’re looking to take people on a journey into sound. By distributing found sounds online, and forming new compositions using archive material, The Pale Blue Dots is going to set out to demonstrate the pure pleasure in just listening."

Also, a new Cian Ciaran single came out a couple weeks ago:

https://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/sets/ciaran-wilding

The first track is a cover of a song by an artist I'd never heard of before. The second track features that artist's vocals. I actually kind of prefer the second track

I get the feeling no one around here cares about this stuff, but I hope someone out there might. I still see the odd "SFA ARE THE BEST BAND EVER" on the internet, so I hope this news reaches someone.

Not bad tunes in the Love Kraft vein, but pretty inessential. Damn, I miss this band.

Don't think it's happening until Gruff stops making his own albums. Everyone else in the band is recording and producing their albums together.

Hi! I'm a lurker and a regular visitor to ilxor and this thread in particular. Super Furry Animals were and still are one of my favourite bands ever since I heard Mark Radcliffe play Hometown Unicorn on his late night BBC Radio One show. I can remembering him marvelling at the guitar solo on the song.

I've really enjoyed watching Gruff's solo shows since his first solo record, he's become a really engaging and entertaining performer. I wonder if the band got back together again would the live shows be a lot more interesting than they used to be. I can remember a show on the Phantom Power tour being a bit hard going with too many slow and midpaced songs all in a row.

I'm looking forward to hearing Bunf's record and am hoping that it gets released on vinyl or at least CD, the clips I've heard sound great. From that Clash interview it sounds like they're trying to do something interesting.

ha! i was just subjecting my coworkers to Love Kraft and Hey Venus yesterday!

Calimero, I agree that Gruff's solo show is a lot better than many of the SFA shows I've been to. Two of his shows were some of the most memorable I've ever been to. The first one was a Candylion show that also featured Tony Da Gatorra. He also had some other guys on stage with him. I'm not sure who they were.

The second one was his totally solo American Interior show. My wife, who has almost zero interest in Gruff or SFA, enjoyed the American Interior show as much as I did. He really refined his act for general consumption. I wish I'd seen him with Y Niwl and Kliph Scurlock backing him, but I still loved it.

SFA are very stationary and ehearsed and also rely a lot on backing tracks. That's been my issue with their shows in the past. I've still seen a couple really memorable shows. The one where they wore those fiber optic boiler suits was awesome.

I also saw Gruff on the recent American Interior tour in a church, there was a drum kit and amps behind him which made me think Kliph and Y Niwl would join him at one point. It turned out the gear was for the church band! Despite this disappointment it was a great show, the songs sounded fine without a band, and Gruff was an entertaining and interesting storyteller.

I didn't really appreciate Yr Atal Genhedlaeth until I saw Gruff play a gig for it a few months later and then saw how he builds up the title track. It was interesting to see him play it again, and slightly differently, on this recent tour.

Like your wife, my partner had zero interest in the band, but now loves him after seeing a few of his gigs, the two films and an American Interior q&a. I don't think that would have happened if I'd taken her to a few regular SFA shows!

Gulp and The Earth recently played my town but I will was too lazy to see them, has anyone here seen either of the two bands live?

I have not seen either band. I hear Gulp is pretty good live. There are a couple nice videos online. I'm sure it's a lot more stationary than a Gruff show. I don't know much about The Earth, but I will say I really enjoyed their new album (I said that already, I think). It sounds much fuller and more varied than their first LP. I know it's not an essential release, and the vocals aren't going to pull in a lot of SFA fans, but I recommend it.

Strangetown, the record label that's put out all this other stuff, just sent .wavs of the new Pale Blue Dots album. It's unfortunately extremely short (under half an hour), but I love the whole thing. I never knew how much Bunf contributed to the band's sound. I always kind of at Gruff and Cian as the holy alliance. Honestly, The Pale Blue Dots' album comes closest to capturing the sound I fell in love with so many years ago. I understand that they are going to record more songs in the studio, so I guess Lots of Dots is more of an EP than an LP. There is an odd dance-y track with Bunf on lead vocals at the end of the album that I did not expect to like, but I can't get it out of my head.

I guess I have to give Richard Chester some credit, too. There are some great strings on the album.

I always kind of viewed*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y22dwqhMXSU

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p029nbdr

The Pale Blue Dots sounded kind of rough on their first outing, but they'd only rehearsed the night before. I enjoyed Daf coming in with his "Ice Hockey Hair" drums every couple minutes.

Yeah, I've had a similar new found appreciation for Bunf's contribution to the band. These days I'm able to recognise his voice more easily!

I never realized how prominent Cian's voice is on certain songs. Take for instance "Chewing Chewing Gum." It's almost his first lead vocal.

The Pale Blue Dots' album is streaming again (it's officially out today):

https://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/sets/the-pale-blue-dots-lots-of

I stole a fuse from their tank at Phoenix Festival 1996. Not many bands you can say that about tbh,

Can we just say they've split up now yet?

If gruff embarks on another multimedia extravagnza, sure. All the rest of them are recording, producing and releasing their music together.

Can we just say they've split up now yet?

― PaulTMA, Tuesday, November 4, 2014 12:46 AM (21 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

In my mind, they pretty much have.

I'm still in denial. If they announced it, it would feel like when Supergrass split up. A band that always seemed to be there putting out good to great albums every couple of years. Both bands that make me incredibly nostalgic.

If they were split it up, wouldn't they just say they're split up? Gruff keeps insisting there'll be a 10th album.

From what it sounds like, it doesn't seem like any of the band members have or are aware of any concrete plans for Super Furry Animals, and none of them seem particularly enthusiastic about it either, which makes me feel that the ship as sailed. I can't help but get the impression that there's a gulf between Gruff and the rest of the band, too. If they have split up and they're keeping quiet about it, then that's somewhat of a shrewd move, really. People will be more accepting of/tolerate even the shittiest of solo products if they feel a new Super Furry Animals album is eventually going to happen: like "hmm, yeah, okay this Neon Neon/Cian/Earth/Pale Blue Dots album is a bit shit, but that's okay, they'll get around to giving us the real stuff soon". Remember also that Blur never actually announced that they'd "split up" either following Think Tank, but they may as well have done for all that's happened since.

I'm still in denial. If they announced it, it would feel like when Supergrass split up. A band that always seemed to be there putting out good to great albums every couple of years. Both bands that make me incredibly nostalgic.

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, November 4, 2014 10:50 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

When Supergrass split up, my overall feeling was one of unrealised potential. As good as records like In It For The Money and Road To Rouen are, I still think they had a lot more ground to cover and a lot left to explore as a unit. The album they were working on when they split, Release The Drones sounded very promising.

By comparison, I think the Super Furry Animals have explored every avenue they possibly can together. I honestly don't see where else they could possibly go from here. It would be a good time to leave it, I think. They've already released 10 records if you count Out Spaced as a "proper" album, anyway.

Gruff's certainly drawn more attention to himself, with his most critically-acclaimed album and a fantastic stage show. The rest of the guys clearly have their work set out for them. we'll agree to disagree on the quality of the other side projects, though I've never been a neon neon fan.

Can't say much about Supergrass. I always found them pretty slight. "Alright" is a nice song and their self-titled album seemed to draw more flack than it deserved. I kind of left them behind. I know most that read this thread probably rate SFA similarly, but that's life.

Lots of great discussion on the poll thread , Golden Retriever even got a vote. I'm always happy with theses rereleases and they are including their wonderful B-sides. Some of the best in the business.

Took me forever to get into this album, but chuffed to get the deluxe & vinyl

Definitely more of a 'fans' album than something like RATW

Was a great tour. I didn’t get to see them live til Phantom Power rolled around.

I remember being hugely disappointed with this album when it was released. It took me a bit to realize that it's only the first three tracks which are a bit boring and after that it goes from great to amazing. What a weird track sequence on this one.

And yes, saw them on tour for this one and it was amazing.

Do I have to do the same post again

I mean fuck it, they've turned the reissue grift into an artform, go off lads

It's coming out within a week of the side project. Seems like the best circumstance for that bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAAxXMc54cw

another new one

Here with the latest on the doings of this band:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEYYcuufoWE

Fascinating demo. I hope the rest sounds a bit like this. Very cool.

Phantom Power is their greatest album and I won’t hear otherwise. Lyrically deep, their best harmonizing, and the epic that is “Slow Life.” “Cityscape Skybaby” is so amazing. The reissue is immaculate. Great demos, live TMDGAF.

wait what thread is this? it isn't bands who are ANIMALS??

I need to check this reissue out. I saw them on tour for this album and live TMDGAF in particular was amazing.

Phantom Power is their greatest album and I won’t hear otherwise. Lyrically deep, their best harmonizing, and the epic that is “Slow Life.” “Cityscape Skybaby” is so amazing. The reissue is immaculate. Great demos, live TMDGAF.

― afriendlypioneer,

I got the vinyl reissue and I'm close to agreeing. My second favourite after Radiator these days. The reissue sounds so good.

The vinyl is fantastic.

The CD version has some interesting extra tracks, particularly the creepy 30-minute ambient track at the end of Disc 2. Some say it came from the DVD?

They uploaded the American Sasquatch documentary in full here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LXPZSF07pM

Das Koolies album is out tomorrow. I like everything I've heard. They did a nice job without Gruff. He would've written them lyrics, but I like their sound.

Heavy on the style, lower on the substance. Some interesting synths & swirly bits. I imagine the 17-track album will be a bit of a trip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y1DC0B0csA

It's like a toy box for people who just like listening to all the extra bits. That's how I see it. Definitely not the next level of SFA but I imagine Gruff being involved might've gotten them there.

The Das Koolies album is an unequivocal mess and also fucking brilliant, without Gruff. I’m proud of these guys. They went far beyond my expectations. There are several fantastic tracks on there - Montezuma and Shakedown are the stands outs for me.

the phantom power super set is interesting to me. as perfect as the original album songlist is for what it's doing there, a lot of the bsides on _solvent abuse aw_ disc are doing many of the things that i really seek sfa in order to get. style disjunctions and instrumental collisions which are creatively sfa-like to me. glc not needed but eh that's not shocking

The Das Koolies album is so good.

I’m sad nobody wants to talk about it.

Guerrilla on a bit of a modern kick and lots more acid, with a dash of glam and prog. The whole band is so talented.

Best listened to loud, booming out your speakers. Absolutely the best they’ve sounded on the rhythm section. Bunf brings the catchy ditties, no Back on a Rolls here. What a triumph.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSnzMD9Sl8U

I want to hear this next time I go out. But I won't. That synth line. That goes.

i'm finally ready afp! i never have insightful observations, but i can tell you soon if i like it :-)

Gruff's back to steal Das Koolies' shine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv5jwu_RdQw

I'm into the DK sound right now. This sounds pleasant enough, though. I can see there's little artistic harmony between the 4 and the 1.

Gruff: Piano, strings, lyrics about something or other

Das Koolies: Synth, bass, chaos, "snow on the mountain, sand by the sea" lyrics X 10.

I don't get Gruff's obsession w/ double-necked guitars. He's done that gag a few times and never actually uses it for anything.

Yeah this is v good and enjoyable and it’s taken me through a couple 3 hr rides on repeat. but all i can do is like, refer to some techno touchstones to which it feels sorta like? It’s like outta genre for me

And all the more great for it.

It’s candy and I love that they’re threatening to deluge us with more. They’re apparently just a recording machine right now, like they were when they were SFA. About time.

"Gruff buggered off and we still wanted to play together" - DK speak out on the Riley session

I guess it’s just simple artistic differences. I remember when Dark Days came out the PR mentioned Daf banned the use of pedal steel guitar.

Gruff did promote the DK album in the mail blast I got about his new song and album.

Yeah I notice he likes some of their social media stuff and the other members posts. Was just funny to hear it blurted out that way

Das Koolies are excellent. Thirsting for more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhp7Vk7d8bw

Might be my favorite track in a long, long time. Hits the sweet spot.

the fusion of core groove with the outlier bleeps blorps satisfies a portion of my sfa love that sfa really migrated away from over time.

ha i have played this album quite a lot in backcountry rides and nordic ski sessions. good for my focus.

New Gruff Rhys album out today. Had no idea one was even on the horizon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OprFcUKXzJs

Liking it so far, potentially more memorable that his other previous stuff in this vein

*than

New Gruff album is actually pretty good.

It sounds a lot like Seeking New Gods to me. I think his band's found its groove, so to speak. Still waiting for a jam-fest. They were doing some really good bits when it was Y Niwl (is that still the core band) and Kliph first starting out.

Presumably their first NME interview:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GEyqZJGbYAA9FTd?format=jpg&name=large

Late to the party and only 1/4 (1/5?) through it, but agree that this Das Koolies album is really fun. I’m a fan of when they are all over the place stylistically and sonically and playful. TBH, I am not missing Gruff that much thus far.

Still not heard the Das Koolies album but I saw their short set in Bristol last month and it was pretty thrilling.

First time I had heard ACID in a crowd since Aphex Twin

SFA were apparently a round on Pointless yesterday

The DK album isn't perfect, but I'm eager to hear more. 'Police Next Door' is a bonafide banger.

There's a couple good tracks on the EP, too.

This one is really good. I've probably posted it before. If this had been released under the SFA name I would've been just as happy with it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m7w6P75Gqs

Would be good tk now what the song is actually about.

Like, essentially the 4 of them seem to get what makes SFA feel and sound exciting, but they're a little off on writing a complete song. Yet I find the messiness compellling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTfbtVUJCbg

Das Koolies, the Welsh band featuring Huw Bunford, Cian Ciarán, Daf Ieuan and Guto Pryce of Super Furry Animals (aka the whole band except for Gruff Rhys), have announced their new album, Pando, which will be out May 9 via Strangetown. (It follows their 2023 debut.) The band recorded and produced the album themselves in Cardiff, Wales.

The first single from the album is the bubbly, ebullient “Som Bom Magnifico” which, not unlike SFA records in the late-’90s and early-’00s, blends off-kilter indie with a strong dose of acid house. “Hindsight and rose-tinted glasses,” says Daf Ieuan, who sings lead on this one. “It’s a song about a time when it was normal to order a veggie breakfast in hotels as a concession to a healthier life style, then following up by requesting to see the ‘Breakfast Wine Menu.’ As Lou Reed sang: ‘Wine in the morning!’ Everyone should live like that for a while. Could be for a couple of days or a couple of decades. We’ve never laughed so much, but never again.”

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/das-koolies-4-5ths-of-super-furry-animals-prep-new-album-share-som-bom-magnifico/

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/29/gruff-rhys-american-interior.jpg

Meanwhile - One of my least favorite albums he's done, whether with SFA or solo. The shows and film were fun, however.