Here's a quote from the film 'Prime' staring Uma Thurman as she discovers the age of the guy she's dating “Oh, my God! You're a child...I have t-shirts older than you”. Tonight at Brixton Academy proudly wearing my 1997 “FURRIES” t-shirt (which miraculously still fits) I feel some connection with Uma Thurman for the first and probably last time in my life.
Super Furry Animals dissolved in 2009 after the album 'Dark Days/Light Years', the band members headed off to pursue a variety of projects. As there was never a formal split there was a faint glimmer of hope (perhaps a 'Glo in the Dark' b-side of 'Something for the Weekend' which actually gets played tonight) that they would get back together someday.
The main reason (or should that be mane as that's the English translation of their 4th album 'Mwng'), for the tour has been declared as the 15th anniversary, and re-issue of that album which is itself notable as: it's entirely sung in Welsh, regarded as the best-selling Welsh language album of all time and was mentioned in the UK Houses of Parliament.
Walking on dressed in white, paper boiler suits to the intro track of instrumental '(A) Touch Sensitive' which, the band play the latter half of. Next it's '(Drawing) Rings Around the World' the title track from the same album for the first audience shout along “ring, ring, ring, ring, rings around the world”.
The appearance of the slightly evil-looking red bear from the cover of 'Radiator' on the giant back screen is a prompt for the band , with the addition of two trumpet players, to play 'Demons' from that album followed by the Welsh-calypso of 'Northern Lites'. Heralding a mini-set from 'Mwng' the cover star, a pipe-smoking, goat alien is now on the screen. The unjoin-in-with ability of 'Mwng' drops the atmosphere a little but what it lacks in comprehension is more than compensated by some of the loveliest melodies in the SFA catalogue.
'Hello Sunshine' the track they reputably nearly sold to a globally-known manufacturer of brown, fizzy drinks is well sung down the front by those wishing to “ming” with each other. The mad light show and lasers really kick in during the surprise inclusion of 'Zoom!' from the 'Love Kraft' album.
For an extended encore they've raided the dusty props cupboard as the horned keyboard and Red Power Ranger's helmet make their reappearance for a brass and techno version of 'Slow Life' which was a previous set opener. The bouncing pop of 'Golden Retriever' with the title animal still sprinting across the back screen leads onto their own 'Bohemian Rhapsody' or 'Paranoid Android', the multi-part Receptacle for the Respectable' which starts as a sweet melody, ends as a psychthrash out with distorted vocals via an instrumental passage which on the album features Sir Paul McCartney providing rhythmic crunching of carrots and celery, Gruff replaces Macca tonight on celery (a significant section of which is currently in my freezer and is open to any sensible financial offers).
A likely strategic purchase of 2 pint cups of lager by a group at the front is in readiness for the final track we all know is to come, so when the chorus of 'Man Don't Give a Fuck' kicks in its arms, legs, bodies and beer in the air. Most of the band temporarily depart leaving the lasers and Cian Ciaran to manipulate 10 minutes of techno from his kit, as the blips and beats reach climax the full band return to finish the track dressed as two characters not seen since the 'Guerilla' tour and Bunf, Guto and Gruff as the yetis from 'Golden Retriever' who had reportedly been assassinated many years ago at Hammersmith Odeon, for the grand ending to the night.
The reception for SFA live return has been extremely positive and based upon this set list, of which they could have replaced half and not diminished the overall quality of the evening, the trippy visuals and crazy lights and laser it's not surprising. Perhaps it's time to release this Super Furry Animal from its cage full time.
Alisdair Whyte
