Super Furry Animals

[Brundle-Fly]

Even this SFA Under The Influence compilation is lovely art. Well, I like it.

[Vodka Margarine]

I quite like the way the two brothers have gone bald, whilst the other three all seem to have more hair than ever these days.

[CaledonianGonzo]

The video for Hello Sunshine - featuring the above caricatures - was directed by Pete Fowler, so that's the most Fowler-esque one.

Edit:  Wow - didn't realise that Cian and the drummer one are brothers.

[Serge]

Just look at this shite for 'Ice Hockey Hair':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2gh5kzeTPk

For 'Demons' they employ that great 90s video cliche, sending a band off to an exotic location just to wander around looking aimless:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmvwINJeLKU

Ha! You've actually managed to pick two of my favourite videos of theirs there! Admittedly, I mainly like 'Demons' because Andrew Loog Oldham pops up in the video a couple of times, and it is one of my favourite SFA songs.

[Gavin M]

I might have to accept that maybe I only feel let down because I imagined great visuals in my head that are nothing like what the videos turned out to be.  And I certainly like the ones Fowler made.  'Play It Cool' can still get to fuck because I spent 30 quid on Actua Soccer 2 and it was complete shite.

[The Always Red Society]

Has nobody got any kind words for "Hey Venus", then? I really loved that album - it had a lot of the fizz of their early material, but also stuff of enormous beauty like "Carbon Dating".

No I like Hey Venus! a great deal, to be honest I feel they had a very solid run all the way through, Phantom Power and Love Kraft are maybe my least visited albums of their's but they're by no means bad.

I will always give any new Gruff project my time, because well it's Gruff.

[Wayman C. McCreery]

I saw that and also the name for a new lp with mention of some tour dates. Now nothing.

Possibly for Gulp (Guto's band), The Earth (Dafydd's group) or Cian's solo project? They're all active at the moment.

I'd be amazed if there's a new SFA record ready given how busy they've all been with other projects, unless the instrumental album with a full orchestra that they talked about a lot in the late 2000s - and supposedly recorded a lot of - is going to make an appearance?

I love SFA. I could talk about them forever. But I won't, so I'll just tell the ones who've not bothered with the post-Rings albums to make sure they at least try Phantom Power, which is their masterpiece in my mind - the perfect mix of pop silliness (Golden Retriever), shitloads of strings and harmonies (Cityscape Skybaby) and bleepy stoner stuff (Slow Life). Grand.

[Clatty McCutcheon]

Christ, I've just remembered that I bought Radiator on the same day as another album by a Welsh band - Word Gets Around by the Stereophonics.  In my defence, I was young and still susceptible to the blandishments of Steve Lamacq at the time, and I soon tired of the 'Phonics.  I think Word Gets Around entered the album chart higher that week as well.  Sorry about that.

Good to see some love for Dark Days, Light Years as well - I've never quite understood the cool response to that album.  I would choose it along with Fuzzy Logic and Mwng as my favourite (though it would probably break the otherworldly spell of Mwng a bit if I could understand the words).
I'm not mad about Love Kraft, although Lazer Beam and Cabin Fever are highlights.

Fun fact: I don't think anyone's mentioned yet that CaB love/hate figure Matt Berry appears in the video for Run-Away.

[Tiny Poster]

Have we even touched on their live shows? They always had a different thing going on every time I saw them, whether on tour or at festivals.

[Melodichaze]

Videos - Got to love the Pete Fowler themed ones but I really loved the rampant madness in their earlier videos (that, and Gruff was ridiculously handsome when he was younger), my faves were possibly International language of screaming (Bunf's expressions are brilliant) and 'Hometown Unicorn' with a fresh faced Rhys Ifans (looking hugely like his brother Llyr). I'm surprised by how many folk rate the 'Demons' video actually, it's my least favourite of all their videos, just felt like a tourism film for Bogota.

Music-wise, the Welsh language stuff is probably my favourite stuff but I have a soft spot for their early English stuff and 'Hello Sunshine' is gorgeous.
So many memories associated with this band - byddwn i'n garu nhw am fyth dwi'n feddwl

[non capisco]

I might post more purple prose about 'em (and a defence of Love Kraft) when I'm not knackered and about to turn in but for now I'd just like to nominate the ''now that you're here, tell me you're a non-believer...OHHH-ohhh-ohhh!' outro hook of 'Ice Hockey Hair' as being one of the most joyous things in their canon. Hairs on the back of the neck standing up every time.

[the psyche intangible]

Possibly for Gulp (Guto's band), The Earth (Dafydd's group) or Cian's solo project? They're all active at the moment.

I'd be amazed if there's a new SFA record ready given how busy they've all been with other projects, unless the instrumental album with a full orchestra that they talked about a lot in the late 2000s - and supposedly recorded a lot of - is going to make an appearance?

I love SFA. I could talk about them forever. But I won't, so I'll just tell the ones who've not bothered with the post-Rings albums to make sure they at least try Phantom Power, which is their masterpiece in my mind - the perfect mix of pop silliness (Golden Retriever), shitloads of strings and harmonies (Cityscape Skybaby) and bleepy stoner stuff (Slow Life). Grand.

They are clearly not releasing a new lp though I am sure It was mentioned on this page http://www.nme.com/news/super-furry-animals/75024 then removed. It originally had no mention of Maximo Park too. There's also a huge bulging chance that I'm losing my mind.

[AnthonyJ]

Wow, all these years and I never even knew that's what those heavily vocodered words were. On the subject of Juxtapozed, I remember reading once that Gruff originally wanted the song to be a duet between himself and Brian Harvey, but the latter (somewhat unsurprisingly) turned it down. That amuses me to this day.

I remember Gruff saying that they'd tried to get Bobby Brown to do it but he turned then down which Gruff said was "his prerogative."

SFA made me do something that I never thought I'd do which name my first born after a famous person. I have a son called Gruff and we still have the Super Furries baby vest that was made for him when he was born.

Great nights out too.

And Gulp are rather lovely.

[the science eel]

...I'd just like to nominate the ''now that you're here, tell me you're a non-believer...OHHH-ohhh-ohhh!' outro hook of 'Ice Hockey Hair' as being one of the most joyous things in their canon. Hairs on the back of the neck standing up every time.

Yes yes yes!

Any other fans of their really early stuff? 'Organ Yn Dy Geg' was a cracker.

I think my favourite is 'Hometown Unicorn' - that Syd Barrett/ELO hybrid that became almost a trademark is so perfectly realised there. And a wonderful guitar solo - corny, cool-sounding, nice and short. I agree that 'Northern Lites' is a bit cheeky with what it lifts from 'Eddie's Dreaming' - but it's better.

I haven't heard much I've really liked since Guerrilla, but 'Inaugural Trams' and 'The Very Best of Neil Diamond' were two highlights from the last album. I'm looking forward to the next.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Have we even touched on their live shows? They always had a different thing going on every time I saw them, whether on tour or at festivals.

Though on their last tour the cardboard cutout of the German bloke from Franz Ferdinand that they waved about during the rap bits of Inaugural Trams was perhaps not their finest moment.

Cabin Fever

A tune that rarely gets much love.  That and Hummingbird are among their finest moments...

[phantom_power]

One of my favourite songs of theirs is "If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You". The "Gravity......you just hold me down so quietly" bit always makes me go all tingly.

Seen them a few times live and they were awesome every time. From having a loop of "This is a man's world" at the beginning of The Man Don't Give a Fuck at some festival or other to blowing the speakers during the freak-out at the end of Mountain People at The Pyramids in Southsea they always did something a bit different

[Serge]

When I saw them at Brixton Academy, they ended with 'The Man Don't Give A Fuck', which went into a loop of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Total Recall' saying 'best mindfuck yet'.

[Beagle 2]

Yeah that was great, I saw them play on that tour on my twenty first birthday, one of the best nights of my life. I've seen them more than any other band over the years, about fifteen times I think. I do love them, but it was mostly by accident that they always seemed to be on wherever I was. I'm not surprised they went on sabbatical after the last album and tour because I saw them play the same set three times in a year, and they looked increasingly bored.

I'm pretty gutted that there is no new album, this thread got my hopes up. My favourites are Radiator and Guerilla, Guerilla just edges it because it brings back so many good memories of my life at that time. Just can't get on board with the Gruff solo stuff, and this forthcoming John Evans stuff isn't exactly filling me with anticipation.

[chand]

One of my favourite songs of theirs is "If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You". The "Gravity......you just hold me down so quietly" bit always makes me go all tingly.

And the bit at the end where the chorus gives way to that big orchestral conclusion, one of my favourite bits in a song. Goes from this kind of lilting, wistful tune to something that's still reflective but also kind of triumphant.

[CaledonianGonzo]

Listening to SFA all day today and nominating the following as underrated gems in their catalogue:

Helium Hearts
Dacw Hi
Ohio Heat
The Undefeated
Pric
Carbon Dating
Atomik Lust
The Piccolo Snare
Tradewinds

Completely worthless:

The track they did with Goldie Lookin' Chain

[phantom_power]

And the bit at the end where the chorus gives way to that big orchestral conclusion, one of my favourite bits in a song. Goes from this kind of lilting, wistful tune to something that's still reflective but also kind of triumphant.

They are masters of the "la la la" bit, as exemplified in that coda, or whatever you call it. "Let me fall into the depths of your infinity, I can sense your presence in the vicinity. La la la, la la la, sha la la la la"


Some lesser SFA that grab me for some reason:

Alternate Route to Vulcan Street
Carry the Can
Arnofio/Glo in the Dark
Download
Hermann Loves Pauline

[Retinend]

'Northern Lites' might be my favourite song of theirs, too, ...A friend of mine claimed she got her despondent boyfriend out of bed one morning by playing it to him.

:D I love that song so much. Amazingly life-affirming.

[thraxx]

:D I love that song so much. Amazingly life-affirming.

It's a belter.  I love the vocal harmonies on it.  After I heard it the first time (used to their more guitar based stuff) I was stunned; I'd love to know how they put their songs together - I'd love to know how they got to the point where they put the brass on and the marimba on it.

Another thing I like about SFA is their ability to work backwards commercially.  I love it when they appear start off with a top pop tune, and then proceed to work backwards, fuck it up and make it intentionally listenable to 90% of the record buying public.  Pauline Loves Herman is a good example of this...

[Phil_A]

This thread has inspired me to listen to Guerilla for the first time in ages. That run of tracks from Do Or Die through to Night Vision really is peerless, they were on a gold streak there for sure.

Why did they hide Citizen's Band away as a pre-gap bonus track though? It's brilliant!

[CaledonianGonzo]

I'm in the (probably quite small) minority that can't stand Night Vision at any price.  Along with Crazy Naked Girls it's genuinely one of my least favourite SFA songs.

[Head Gardener]

I did this mix of them 10 years ago, but it's stood the test of time



Out Of Control
Do Or Die
Gathering Moss
Sidewalk Serfer Girl
Rings Around The World
The Man Don't Give A Fuck
Some Things Come From Nothing
The Door To This House Remains Open
Demons
Ice Hockey Hair
Golden Retriever
Drygioni
Bad Behaviour
Mario Man
This That And The Other
Run Christian, Run!

http://www.mixcloud.com/Gardener/super-furry-animals-mix/

[Custard]

Big fan. The first four albums are one of the finest runs in the history of music, I think

Gathering Moss, eh? GATHERING MOSS

[Wayman C. McCreery]

shitloads of strings and harmonies (Cityscape Skybaby)

Oh. There aren't any strings in Cityscape Skybaby. As you were.

Have you Northern Lites fans heard the alternative - in the style of Teenage Fanclub - live version? It's ace and proves what a great song it is even with all the daft[nb]in a good way[/nb] steel drums stripped out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I88okrDoDyg[nb]the uploader's got dozens more SFA live stuff and old TV appearances on YouTube if you're into that sort of thing[/nb]

I'd be happy enough if they released a BBC sessions collection instead of another studio album. I haven't got a YouTube account meaning I can't make a proper playlist so you'll just have to make do with a list of links instead, but their set from Maida Vale for John Peel in 2004 is pretty much perfect in terms of both setlist and performance:

1. Demons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh_P-T2W_xA
2. Nythod Cacwn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hILvEKEBOiI
3. Cryndod Yn Dy Lais: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9h0KW1esU8
4. Y Gwyneb Lau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZhY30xmchI
5. Hometown Unicorn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYtwAAfU0bM
6. The Turning Tide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIwliamPZsE
7. Gwreiddiav Dwfn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UeiGrutlT8
8. Gathering Moss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ft5syndmPQ
9. If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5GQnatn_-s
10. Fragile Happiness: (missing)
11. Down A Different River: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n51A4SNcr_8
12. Bleed Forever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqrNFXK4F58
13. Hello Sunshine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZZ30_1kMo0
14. Run! Christian, Run! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFJeA__KvNg

[CaledonianGonzo]

Have you Northern Lites fans heard the alternative - in the style of Teenage Fanclub - live version? It's ace and proves what a great song it is even with all the daft[nb]in a good way[/nb] steel drums stripped out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I88okrDoDyg

mp3 version of that here should anyone fancy it:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3324232/newnorthernlights.mp3

[the psyche intangible]

SFA manage to appeal to a lot of fans of different music. I used to hang out with band members from or in a lot of metal related bands like Pitchshifter, Iron Monkey and the like who all respected them. They also have amusing lyrics and sounds that brilliantly avoid becoming cheesy.