Thoroughly Spreadable!
Since their formation in 1993 the Super Furry Animals have always been a band content to do their own thing regardless, best illustrated by 200's 'Mwng', an album sung entirely in their native language of Welsh. 'Love Kraft' is their eighth studio album in twelve years and doesn't disappoint.
SFA make great mood music, they provide the perfect accompaniment to a particular time or place and Love Kraft continues this tradition. Opening track 'Zoom!' is a relaxed, almost gentle number that instantly gets you into their groove and sets the tone well. 'Atomic Lust' continues in a similar vein with lilting horns and strings, mellow vocals compel the listener to just sit back and chill. A brief guitar break threatens to break the spell but it works and compliments the song well. Two songs in and you can't fail to be carried along for the ride.
'The Horn' conjures up images of Derek and Clive but in sound is more reminiscent of The Beatles, an uplifting song with a nice sing along verse. It's difficult to write about SFA because you know full well that they don't really care what you think! Their uncompromising attitude is refreshing and their refusal to pander to expectations or commercialism means you get the album the band wanted to make and that surely is no bad thing.
'Ohio Heat' is a lazy summer groove song that warrants comparison with the better moments of the 'Lemon Pipers', this is followed by 'Walk You Home', another dreamy, chilled out offering before 'Lazer Beam' picks up the tempo. The stand out choice for a single it is however not over the top and so acts as the perfect foil for the rest of the album. 'Frequency' returns to the mellowness of the earlier songs and by now you should be melting into a pile of huge cushions with a lava lamp on the go and a huge smile on your face! 'Oi Frango' is a quirky instrumental number that leads into 'Psyclone!', which is the only track that doesn't really work. Sounding very 80's in style and with lyrical references to dinosaurs and chicken (?!) it seems a strange inclusion. Fortunately order is restored with 'Back On A Roll', which has a good catchy tune and groove laden keyboard parts and is perhaps the best song on the album.
Penultimate track 'Cloudberries' is a beautiful song with yet another good tune that explores the whole range of the SFA sound and sets the album up for the finale of 'Cabin Fever'. This piano led track with its early 70's Floyd feel is an ideal ending to a really rather good album. 'Love Kraft' comes across as a well planned record, which mixes gentle, totally chilled out moments with the occasional more up beat track. It's a blend that works exceedingly well and it can't fail to please the SFA fan base. The album is released on August 22nd and is preceded by the single 'Lazer Beam' on August 8th.