The Super Furries' reputation as a marvelously inventive band is enhanced still further with this, their fourth album. Both music and lyrics reveal a willingness to experiment--often with stunning results. For starters, sample the brass-flavored calypso of "Northern Lites," the bizarre but insanely catchy electronica of "Wherever I Lay My Phone," the psychedelia of "Night Vision," and the tender paean that is "Fire in My Heart." Gruff Rhys continues to sing of unconventional subjects--how many bands pen songs about chewing gum and mobile phones?
All manner of weird and wonderful synthesizer noises are at the Furries' disposal, tying in well with some acrobatic vocal lines that are high enough to rival the Beach Boys'. Better still, GUERILLA is extremely well structured, rewarding a complete run through even more than a five-minute snapshot. It's also an extremely uplifting experience. SFA has made an album you're likely to return to again and again, until it's under your skin.
Engineers: Michael Brennan Jr., Nick Addison.
Super Furry Animals: Gruff Rhys (vocals, guitar); Huw Bunford (guitar, background vocals); Cian Ciárán (keyboards, electronics); Guto Pryce (bass guitar); Dafydd Ieuan (drums).
Super Furry Animals: Gruff Rhys, Dafydd Leuan, Guto Pryce, Huw Bunford, Cian Ciaran.
Additional personnel: Jaqueline Norrie, Julia Singleton (violin); Katie Wilkinson (viola); Marcus Holdaway (cello); Euros Wyn (flute); Steve Waterman, A.D. Gibson (trumpet); Andrew Robinson (trombone); Kris Jenkins (percussion).
Spin (9/99, p.187) - 8 out of 10 - "...nothing short of a declaration of war on humorless rock wankers....more fun to listen to than Ian Anderson standing on one leg blowing a flute..."
Q (7/99, p.124) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...[GUERRILLA] explodes all over the place with almost cartoon glee....The brightness of palatte is undeniable..."
Alternative Press (10/99, pp.111-2) - 3 out of 5 - "...what makes [SFA] extraordinary...is their concise alchemy of pop styles both past and present, chummy and exotic....you will inderstand what true bent craft is at hand - one that most provincial British pop never approaches..."
CMJ (7/26/99, pp.25-6) - "...SFA has morphed itself...into a psychadelic melting pop....always captures an enviously gentle interplay between organic and electronic instruments."
Melody Maker (6/5/99, p.37) - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5) - "...a garishly wonderful rock album....GUERILLA will mash your summer lengthways, whenever it's loose....beautifully suggestive and inspiring...."
Mojo (Publisher) (7/99, p.109) - "...Choc full of great melodies...pushing the envelope in umpteen directions....one of the most frothily inventive pop confections....Magical stuff."
NME (Magazine) (6/12/99, p.31) - 9 out of 10 - "...GUERRILLA is the sound of thunderous imagination and three-dimensional vision..."
Super Furry Animals - Guerrilla Songs
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