It's been online for quite a few months now, I think it's from February or sometime... but here, for my Gruff-completist urges, is a link to a Brazilian Zombie rock opera that Gruff lent his vocals too. He sings on track 21, Anghenfil Y Nos. Which is, apparently, about a "forest zombie wandering through the woods hallucinating under the moonlight". You can see photos of Gruff recording with the Zombie folks on Flickr. Gruff shows his "lost in the moment" face, which I absolutely love.
There's a free download and lyrics available from their website (PLEASE NOTE: I can't guarantee that anything you download from this zombieoper site will be virus-free or, indeed, any good. So on your own head be it.)
Well, yeah, it's a few months old but it's suitably loopy for my tastes and it means I get to do a post about Zombies. Which is always a good thing.
On a related note, I recently got given this book, The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead which is ridiculously comprehensive, funny and ever so slightly creepy. Everyone should have a Zombie survival guide, it's indispensable.
Boomsticks at the ready.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Video killed the radio star
Huw Roberts' YouTube channel is probably one of the best resources for SFA videos on YouTube. He's found a lot of great live performances and some quite rare/old interviews and documentaries. Includes some pre-SFA titbits, mainly on Ffa Coffi Pawb (you'd need to be a Welsh speaker to understand all of the Ffa Coffi Pawb vids, though)
For me, however, the stranger the live performance the better. Here's a wonderful video from Dutch programme (Behind) Closed Doors;
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JmYaXXsv_d4
I love how pared down this performance is and it shows the genius of SFA and Gruff Rhys. A lot of people just think of SFA as the slightly potty techno-inspired Welsh band and expect all their music to be mad, fun and turned up to 11. I know some fans, especially in the UK, respond to those kind of songs better than the slower numbers, but I always feel a bit sad when I hear Gruff say that the Furries are going concentrate more on their rockier numbers for future albums and live shows, and this clip just shows how good their songs can be when they are played really simple and lo-fi. My love for this style of their music is probably why I respond so well to Gruff's solo stuff. I'm really intrigued by the DIY sensibilities of his solo live gigs.
Another one in a similar vein, for Other Voices;
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=otAIYvIiJXc
Note: I haven't embedded any of these videos here because if I do, YouTube automatically know you've viewed these vids, even if you don't press play. Which I don't think is very fair, privacy-wise. So, I'd prefer to give you the choice of whether or not you want to view YouTube.
For me, however, the stranger the live performance the better. Here's a wonderful video from Dutch programme (Behind) Closed Doors;
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JmYaXXsv_d4
I love how pared down this performance is and it shows the genius of SFA and Gruff Rhys. A lot of people just think of SFA as the slightly potty techno-inspired Welsh band and expect all their music to be mad, fun and turned up to 11. I know some fans, especially in the UK, respond to those kind of songs better than the slower numbers, but I always feel a bit sad when I hear Gruff say that the Furries are going concentrate more on their rockier numbers for future albums and live shows, and this clip just shows how good their songs can be when they are played really simple and lo-fi. My love for this style of their music is probably why I respond so well to Gruff's solo stuff. I'm really intrigued by the DIY sensibilities of his solo live gigs.
Another one in a similar vein, for Other Voices;
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=otAIYvIiJXc
Note: I haven't embedded any of these videos here because if I do, YouTube automatically know you've viewed these vids, even if you don't press play. Which I don't think is very fair, privacy-wise. So, I'd prefer to give you the choice of whether or not you want to view YouTube.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Toazted!
I thought I'd post this as I keep losing the link... one of my fave sites for Super Furry interviews. Mainly because you get to download the audio-only interviews as MP3s. Perfect for listening to on the bus.
There's quite a few interviews available, from way back in 1997 right up to last year. Lots of discussion (mainly with Gruff and Bunf) about their music, how they work together as a band, album artwork, their Welsh roots... and if it floats your boat Gruff even talks (briefly) about drugs, beer, sex and groupies.
A fun time had by all I think!
Toazted.com
There's quite a few interviews available, from way back in 1997 right up to last year. Lots of discussion (mainly with Gruff and Bunf) about their music, how they work together as a band, album artwork, their Welsh roots... and if it floats your boat Gruff even talks (briefly) about drugs, beer, sex and groupies.
A fun time had by all I think!
Toazted.com
Kirstie Cat and Gruff Rhys
So, first things first. I need to sigh over Gruff, where do I go? Kirstiecat's photostream on Flickr!
Kirstie is a wonderful photographer and has some fantastic concert photos on her photostream. But her pictures of Gruff are just stunning, you can see that she is suffering from Gruff-addiction just like the best of us mere humans.
Here's a few of my favourites, posted with kind permission of Kirstie. These photos demonstrate why Gruff is great; passion (see the top image), sense of humour (performing 'Earth', I'm sure with lots of audience participation) and his endearingly slow and considered style of, well, just being. I also love his ubiquitous green bobble hat (I think he must sleep with that hat on) and the nicely retro digital watch. Groovy.
Be sure to check Kirstie out on Flickr and on her official website. All these photos are copyrighted to Kirstie so make sure you contact her if you'd like to use them anywhere.
Check out more Gruff goodness on Kirstiecat's photostream
Monday, 24 November 2008
Howdy
This blog is a gateway blog into the glorious world of the Super Furry Animals. (Expecting something else? Maybe you're a Furry fan not a Furries fan...) If you like the Furries, or are intrigued by them then hopefully you'll find something here to fill your Super Furry needs.
Why, why, why?
OK, I've been a fan of SFA since their debut release Llanfairpwllgwyngyllllantysiliogogogoch(In Space) (Doesn't that title just tell you everything you need to know about SFA?) in 1995. Which would mean I've been a fan for 13 years, now. I've no idea where the hell I found out about a little-known Welsh band when I was ten, but there you go. They popped into my life from somewhere, made a nest in my brain and have been making weird noises in there ever since.
But I got a little complacent. It was probably that awkward teen phase where you start getting in to Radiohead because they're "deep". Where you think the whole world's against you. And, well, I became a bit of a fairweather fan. I still bought all their albums, I went to their gigs but I wasn't hungry for them anymore. I don't blame the Furries. Looking back now it was just me and my existential angst. SFA were just too darn fun. They still made great music, but I just didn't pay enough attention.
When I started life in the real world, I loaded up my ipod for the bus journey and all of a sudden, wham! There they were again. Ferreting around in my head. Finding my Radiohead CDs and shredding them up to make a lining for their nest. Settling back into my brainwaves when I'd left 'em out in the cold. Poor little Furries...
So this is my way of an apology. For all the gigs I missed (New Years, London, 2007), for all the singles I didn't buy, for the solo career of Gruff that passed me by. And which I'm now catching up on. God dammit how could I come in late to the Grufftastic party? I missed the screening of Seperado! (when is that film getting a "general" release??), I missed two whole albums. I missed weird and wonderful toy-led gigs. I missed festival appearances. I even just missed seeing Neon Neon live (I think they've just stopped gigging). The more I see and hear of Gruff the more I fall for him. He is just astounding. Imagine what I felt like when I heard he played a gig only 15 miles away from me, last year? And in the arts centre? That would have been such a intimate performance.
Christ, I feel like screaming!
So...
To make sure I don't miss anything SFA-related again I'm dedicating this blog to them. It'll mainly be notes to myself, links to cool images, interviews, tour dates etc. Stuff that I find intriguing (whether Furry related or not). But if you've stumbled across this blog, I hope you'll find something stimulating. If you're not too familiar with SFA then maybe something you find here will turn you on to them (they are, after all, this generation's Beatles... Apparently.)
Cheers
Bame
x
Why, why, why?
OK, I've been a fan of SFA since their debut release Llanfairpwllgwyngyllllantysiliogogogoch(In Space) (Doesn't that title just tell you everything you need to know about SFA?) in 1995. Which would mean I've been a fan for 13 years, now. I've no idea where the hell I found out about a little-known Welsh band when I was ten, but there you go. They popped into my life from somewhere, made a nest in my brain and have been making weird noises in there ever since.
But I got a little complacent. It was probably that awkward teen phase where you start getting in to Radiohead because they're "deep". Where you think the whole world's against you. And, well, I became a bit of a fairweather fan. I still bought all their albums, I went to their gigs but I wasn't hungry for them anymore. I don't blame the Furries. Looking back now it was just me and my existential angst. SFA were just too darn fun. They still made great music, but I just didn't pay enough attention.
When I started life in the real world, I loaded up my ipod for the bus journey and all of a sudden, wham! There they were again. Ferreting around in my head. Finding my Radiohead CDs and shredding them up to make a lining for their nest. Settling back into my brainwaves when I'd left 'em out in the cold. Poor little Furries...
So this is my way of an apology. For all the gigs I missed (New Years, London, 2007), for all the singles I didn't buy, for the solo career of Gruff that passed me by. And which I'm now catching up on. God dammit how could I come in late to the Grufftastic party? I missed the screening of Seperado! (when is that film getting a "general" release??), I missed two whole albums. I missed weird and wonderful toy-led gigs. I missed festival appearances. I even just missed seeing Neon Neon live (I think they've just stopped gigging). The more I see and hear of Gruff the more I fall for him. He is just astounding. Imagine what I felt like when I heard he played a gig only 15 miles away from me, last year? And in the arts centre? That would have been such a intimate performance.
Christ, I feel like screaming!
So...
To make sure I don't miss anything SFA-related again I'm dedicating this blog to them. It'll mainly be notes to myself, links to cool images, interviews, tour dates etc. Stuff that I find intriguing (whether Furry related or not). But if you've stumbled across this blog, I hope you'll find something stimulating. If you're not too familiar with SFA then maybe something you find here will turn you on to them (they are, after all, this generation's Beatles... Apparently.)
Cheers
Bame
x
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