Love Kraft

by

Super Furry Animals

Edit

A long way from being a household name in the states, the Furries are

getting a foothold. Lazer Beam, their first single is a grand culmination

of "cosmic funk" & power rock sung by a Welshman in a Tron suit. SFA show

they are the alternate universe Coldplay (give Chris Martin the Evil Spock

beard) with an authentically unique sound that seems to fit no clique. A

bad thing if you're in high school, but the only true way to continue

evolving creatively in the world of art and music.

If you were to dip the best of Welsh pop music sung in english into ecstasy

and cut that squirming, glowing fluorescent blob into album form using a

large mushroom cap as the playing surface - you would have Love Kraft.

Anyone who's already a fan of the band will probably buy this album anyway,

but I've you've never heard these guys, I suggest you have an open mind (it

may help to augment the experience with the assist of draw), and suggest

you lay down, close your eyes and make sure you have plenty of hydration

within reach.

After seven albums, the Furries are either content in their position (unlikely) or are trying too hard to distance themselves from better days. They were ahead of their time almost every step of the way in the 90s and then in the early 00s released a Welsh-language LP and one packed with so much sonic excitement that overkill almost was the point. But now they've gone two in a row with disappointing safeness, dream pop stretched through noisy bluster, given mostly dull vocals by assorted members of the band.

Love Kraft is pretty much Phantom's equal in every way, from good and bad. It starts off well with the fuzzy melodious dream of "Zoom" and into the frantically fun "Atomik Lust." But then it settles in and drones on. The drudgery is broken from time to time by catchy electro-buzz pop ("Lazer Beam") and rising, near-anthemic power ("Frequency"), but it's a long haul to the satisfying conclusion on "Cabin Fever." For a band that was once so adventurous, the Furries desperately need to get fun again, because I'm starting to get bored.

Best cuts: "Frequency," "Zoom," "Lazer Beam," "Atomik Lust," "Cabin Fever," "Psyclone," "Ohio Heat"