Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Cardiff, Wales |
Genres | |
Years active |
|
Labels |
|
Past members | Gruff Rhys Huw Bunford Guto Pryce Cian Ciaran Dafydd Ieuan Rhys Ifans |
Website | www |
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band formed in Cardiff in 1993. For the duration of their professional career, the band consisted of Gruff Rhys (lead vocals, guitar), Huw Bunford (lead guitar, vocals), Guto Pryce (bass guitar), Cian Ciaran (keyboards, synthesisers, various electronics, occasional guitar, vocals), Dafydd Ieuan (drums, vocals). An earlier incarnation of the band featured actor Rhys Ifans on lead vocals. [2]
Super Furry Animals has recorded nine
History
1990–1993: Formation
Super Furry Animals formed in
The name of the band came from T-shirts being printed by Rhys' sister. She was making Super Furry Animals T-shirts for the fashion and music collective Acid Casuals (variants of whose name have appeared throughout Super Furry Animals' career – for example, in their song "The Placid Casual", their record label Placid Casual).[6] The band has also made reference to Blur, Elvis Costello, and Wynton Marsalis as major influences in their work.[7]
1994–1995: Early recordings
The earliest Super Furry Animals track commercially available is "Dim Brys: Dim Chwys", recorded in 1994 for Radio Cymru: an ambient piece, the track shows the band's techno roots. However, by the time it was released (on the "Triskedekaphilia" compilation album in August 1995), the band had already put out their debut
The Moog Droog EP followed in October 1995, named after the synthesiser manufacturer Robert Moog and the Nadsat term for "friend" in A Clockwork Orange. The EP's title is also a pun on the Welsh mwg drwg slang for cannabis, literally "bad (or naughty) smoke". The lyrics on all the tracks on both EPs were in Welsh, except for "God! Show Me Magic" from "Moog Droog".
After gigging in London in late 1995, they were noticed by Creation Records boss Alan McGee at the Camden Monarch club, who signed them to his label. Creation was also home to Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine and Teenage Fanclub, and had recently found massive commercial success with Oasis. The band have said that having watched their gig, McGee asked them if they could sing in English rather than Welsh in future shows. In fact, by this stage they were singing in English, but McGee did not realise because their Welsh accents were so strong.[9] The Super Furry Animals received some criticism in the Welsh media for singing in English, something which the band felt "completely pissed" about. According to drummer Dafydd Ieuan: "It all started when we played this festival in West Wales, and for some reason the Welsh media started foaming at the mouth because we were singing songs in Welsh and English. But they get The Dubliners playing and they do not sing in Irish. It's ridiculous." The band have claimed that the decision to sing in English was taken in order to broaden their fanbase.[10]
1996–1998: Fuzzy Logic to Out Spaced
In February 1996, the band's debut on Creation, "
The final single from the album, "If You Don't Want Me to Destroy You", was to have been backed by a track called "The Man Don't Give a Fuck". However, there were problems in clearing a sample from "Showbiz Kids" by Steely Dan which formed the basis of the chorus, and it was switched for a different track. The single charted at No. 18. However, Super Furry Animals regarded "The Man Don't Give a Fuck" as one of their best songs and continued their efforts to clear the sample. When they managed this, there was no upcoming release to attach it to – so it came out as a limited edition single in its own right, in December 1996. This ultimately cemented its legendary status and did much to establish Super Furry Animals as cult heroes, as the song contained the word "fuck" over 50 times and therefore received practically no airplay. However, it hit No. 22 in the charts and became Super Furry Animals' standard closing number when they played live.
In early 1997, Super Furry Animals embarked on the NME Brats Tour and completed work on a speedy follow-up to Fuzzy Logic. Two singles preceded the new album, "
After a chance to think about their music and their direction, Super Furry Animals decided to record a new
In November 1998, the album Out Spaced was released. This was a collection of songs from the 1995 Ankst releases (including "Dim Brys: Dim Chwys"), the band's favourite B-sides, plus "The Man Don't Give a Fuck" and "Smokin'". A limited edition appeared in a comedy rubber sleeve, shaped like a nipple.
1999–2000: Guerrilla and Mwng
In 1999, NME readers named them 'best new band' in January (this despite the fact it was now three years since they released their debut album). In May, the single "
After playing several of the summer festivals, SFA released "Fire in My Heart", the most soulful track from Guerrilla, in August and saw it chart at No. 25. They then embarked on a US and UK tour. SFA finished their UK tour at the Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, where they showcased the first ever concert in surround sound and broadcast it on the World Wide Web.
January 2000 involved a series of changes for SFA. The last single from Guerrilla, "
2000 also saw the Furries contribute two tracks, Free Now and Peter Blake 2000, for the
2001–2003: Rings Around the World and Phantom Power
With the demise of Creation, SFA needed to find a new label for their next album. Sony had long held a substantial stake in Creation and offered deals to many ex-Creation artists, including SFA, who signed with one of Sony's subsidiaries, Epic. The band pushed for a deal which allowed them to take a new album elsewhere if the label was not interested in releasing it – thereby allowing them to find a home for any esoteric project they might want to undertake in the future.
The greater resources afforded them by Epic were apparent in their first album for the label, SFA unleashed their experimental side on tracks such as "Sidewalk Serfer Girl" (which switches between light techno-pop and hardcore punk), "[A] Touch Sensitive" (gloomy trip-hop) and "No Sympathy" (which descends into chaotic drum'n'bass), but also apparent was an angrier edge to the lyrics: "Run! Christian, Run!" seemed to be an attack on the complacency of organised religion.
Rings Around the World is also remarkable for being the world's first simultaneous release of an
The next album, Phantom Power, relied less on sound experimentation and proved to be a more stripped-down, back-to-basics recording in contrast to the orchestral Rings Around the World. It was also released as both a CD and DVD album in July 2003, preceded by a single, "Golden Retriever", in June (chart No. 13). Although the reviews for the album were generally good and it sold well initially, charting at No. 4, the album broke little new ground by SFA's standards and the band had fallen out of fashion, receiving little coverage in the music press. Another single, "Hello Sunshine", hit No. 31 in October 2003 and was eventually featured on the soundtrack of The O.C..
2004–2005: Phantom Phorce to Love Kraft
Perhaps recognising that their approach to Phantom Power had been a little too straightforward, the group followed it up in 2004 with a remix version,
In early 2005, Gruff Rhys released a solo album Yr Atal Genhedlaeth, ("The Stuttering Generation", and also a play on words as "Atal Genhedlu" means contraception), sung all in Welsh. Gruff played most of the instruments himself, mainly using guitars, drums and his own multi-tracked voice. The band also selected tracks for a volume in the Under the Influence series of compilations, in which artists present the songs that they feel have most contributed to their sound.
In 2005 Super Furry Animals were asked to put together the sixth release from the 'Under The Influence' series - Under the Influence: Super Furry Animals. Each member chose 3 track each - Pryce's selections were Dawn Penn "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)", Dennis Wilson and Rumbo "Lady" and MC5 "Kick Out the Jams".[14]
Also in 2005 it was reported that the band turned down a US$1.8m advertising deal with
In August 2005, Super Furry Animals released their seventh studio effort, Love Kraft, recorded in Spain. This represented a departure from their previous working methods: although all five members had always contributed to the development of the songs, Rhys had been the main songwriter. On Love Kraft this was no longer the case, as Rhys, Bunford, Ieuan and Ciaran all contributed songs and lead vocals. There was only one single from the album, "Lazer Beam", released on 15 August (chart No. 28). The laid-back ambience recalls early-1970s Beach Boys albums such as Surf's Up (which SFA have referred to as one of their favourite albums), whilst the heavy use of strings suggested the likes of Scott Walker and Curtis Mayfield. The album's cool commercial reception (it charted at just No. 19) suggested that they had returned to their familiar status of critically acclaimed cult favourites. Love Kraft was also the last album released under Epic Records, as their contract expired in early 2006.
2006–2008: Rough Trade and Hey Venus!
Ciaran's side project Acid Casuals released their debut album Omni in January 2006 on the Placid Casual label. Drummer Ieuan formed a band known as The Peth which has been described by Rhys in various magazine articles as "Satanic Abba": the band also reunites Rhys Ifans with the SFA family, as he takes lead vocal duties.
The band signed to Rough Trade Records during 2006 and are reportedly working on three projects for the label. Gruff Rhys has also signed for Rough Trade Records as a solo artist in his own right and released a single on 7" vinyl and download entitled "Candylion" in late 2006 which preceded an album of the same name that was released during the second week of 2007. Unlike his debut Yr Atal Genhedlaeth, Candylion is primarily sung in English but has two Welsh tracks and one in "bad Spanish": it is primarily an acoustic album, and came about because Rhys has written several acoustic pop songs that did not fit with the direction of the new SFA record.
During this time some of the bands' music was used prominently in The Rock-afire Explosion documentary movie, namely Hello Sunshine and Some things Come From Nothing.
Recording sessions took place in a chateau in the south of France in 2007 for the band's first release for Rough Trade, Hey Venus!, which was released on 27 August that year. Gruff himself described the record as "speaker blowing".[16] The album's first single, "Show Your Hand", failed to enter the top 40, their first to do so since 1996's "Hometown Unicorn", despite modest airplay. The album itself fared much better, peaking at No. 11 and was a slight improvement from the sales of Love Kraft. The album became their first to enter the iTunes Music Store top 10 album charts, peaking at No. 9. Over the 2007 Christmas period SFA released a single, "The Gift That Keeps Giving", free from their website.
2009–2014: Dark Days/Light Years and hiatus
On 16 March 2009, Super Furry Animals released their ninth and final studio album, Dark Days/Light Years, digitally via their website.[17] The album's progress was recorded in a series of short films that were shown on the band's website in the build-up to the release. Later in March, they performed the record in its entirety through an exclusive stream on their website.[18] A physical release on Rough Trade Records followed on 21 April, resulting in a number 23 UK Chart placement. Dark Days/Light Years notably featured a guest appearance from Nick McCarthy of Franz Ferdinand on "Inaugural Trams."[19] Dark Days/Light Years received strong critical feedback, with The Guardian writing that "it has more spark and invention than most teen bands manage on their debuts."[20]
In 2010, Super Furry Animals went on what became a five-year hiatus, as bassist Guto Pryce revealed in an interview with Wales Online. Pryce noted that the band expected to reconvene as soon as the members finished with the various projects they were working on.[21]
Super Furry Animals reconvened for one performance on 29 February 2012 at Cardiff City Stadium before a Wales v Costa Rica Gary Speed Memorial Match, in tribute to the late Welsh footballer and team manager.[22]
In 2014,
2015–2016: Reunion
In May 2015, the band played several gigs from early May to September to accompany a major reissue of their 15-year-old album Mwng, which had been out of print. The same month a biography, Rise of the Super Furry Animals, was published by HarperCollins. In January 2016, the band announced their first North American tour in six years.
2017–present: Second hiatus and Das Koolies
In September 2018, the official Super Furry Animals Twitter feed posted an announcement[30] of a multi-disc set of recordings made at the BBC to be released on 23 November 2018.
In 2019 Bunford, Ciaran, Pryce, and Ieuan reformed without Rhys under the name Das Koolies, an alter ego SFA used around 2000 for an experimental electronic album that was never officially released. Das Koolies released their debut single "It's All About The Dolphins" on 29 January 2020. According to Ciaran, Das Koolies is now their main focus; they are no longer focusing on anything from Super Furry Animals.[31]
On March 4, 2022, the band made the first song they ever recorded, "Of No Fixed Identity", recorded in 1993 and featuring Rhys Ifans on lead vocals, available for one week only on Bandcamp, with all the proceeds going towards Save the Severn, an ongoing environmental campaign to protect the Severn Estuary.[32]
Discography
- Fuzzy Logic (1996)
- Radiator (1997)
- Guerrilla (1999)
- Mwng (2000)
- Rings Around the World (2001)
- Phantom Power (2003)
- Love Kraft (2005)
- Hey Venus! (2007)
- Dark Days/Light Years (2009)
References
- ^ Jasmine Albertson, "Super Furry Animals Announce New Box Set Covering Years of BBC Sessions", KEXP, 27 September 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ISBN 9780754658986.
- ^ "Charts analysis: Adele does the double on albums and singles charts | Analysis | Music Week".
- ^ "Super Furry Animals Storm The U.K." Billboard. 3 August 2001. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
Without a doubt, Super Furry Animals were one of the most imaginative bands of our time.
- ^ Beaumont, Mark (24 August 2005). "Super Furry Animals : Love Kraft (review)". NME. IPC Media Entertainment Network. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
There's a case to be argued that SFA were the most important band of the past 15 years.
- ^ "Sfa – Timeline". Superfurry.org. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ "Sfa – Influences". Superfurry.org. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ "BBC.co.uk". BBC. 18 July 1970. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ Owens, David (17 November 2013). "Oasis manager Alan McGee tells his rock 'n roll story". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
The sound through the PA was that bad I thought Gruff Rhys was singing in Welsh. I told him afterwards it would help sales if he'd sing in English, and he said, 'I was!'
- ^ Collis, Clark (17 August 1996). "A rumble in the hillside". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- ^ "Hansard". Edmi.parliament.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ Price, Simon (23 July 2001). "The Super Furry Animals: When Paul McCartney played the celery". The Independent. London. Retrieved 5 June 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Sir Paul eats with the Animals". BBC. 18 April 2001. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ "Super Selection". NME. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ^ "Super Furry Animals – Super Furry Animals Happy To Turn Down Coke Deal". Contactmusic.com. 6 February 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ "Super Furry Animals plan 'speaker blowing' comeback". NME. UK. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ "NME.com". NME. UK. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ [1] Archived 21 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Takru, Radhika (1 April 2009). "Super Furry Animals – Dark Days/Light Years (review)". Comfort Comes. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ Burgess, John (20 March 2009). "Super Furry Animals: Dark Days/Light Years". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- ^ "unofficially super furry animals - sfa - News". Superfurry.org. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ "BBC News South West Wales". BBC News. bbb.co.uk. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ "The Celt Experience". celtexperience.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ Owens, David (20 January 2014). "Welsh rock icons Super Furry Animals to launch their own beer". Wales Online. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ^ Camp, Zoe (13 January 2016). "Super Furry Animals Announce Tour". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- NME.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ Owens, David (8 August 2016). "Super Furry Animals to play Fuzzy Logic and Radiator back-to-back". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "Release Info: Super Furry Animals at the BBC 23/11/2018". Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "Das Koolies Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "Super Furry Animals".