Super Furry Animals

Super Furry Animals (also known as "SFA", the "Furries" and the "Super Furries") are a Welsh rock band, with leanings towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation.

Early recordings

SFA released their first record on Ankst in 1994, the "Llanfairpwllgwyngllgogerychwyrndrobwllynyngofod (In Space)" EP, to general critical acclaim. This release has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records as holding the record for the longest title for an EP.

Related Topics:
Ankst - 1994 - Llanfairpwllgwyngllgogerychwyrndrobwllynyngofod - EP - Guinness Book of Records

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Soon followed the "Moog Droog" EP, named after the famous synthesizer manufacturer and the Nadsat term for "friend" in A Clockwork Orange - and also a pun on Mwg Drwg ("wacky baccy" (slang for cannabis, more literally "bad smoke") in Welsh).

Related Topics:
Moog - Synthesizer - Nadsat - A Clockwork Orange - Cannabis - Welsh

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After gigging in London in late 1995, they were noticed by Creation Records boss Alan McGee at the Camden Monarch club (only their second gig outside Wales), who signed them to his record label, also home to the likes of Oasis and Primal Scream. The band have said that having watched their gig, McGee asked them if they could sing in English rather than Welsh in future shows. All their songs had been in English.

Related Topics:
London - 1995 - Creation Records - Alan McGee - Camden - Wales - Oasis - Primal Scream - English

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In early 1996, the band's debut on Creation, "Hometown Unicorn", became New Musical Express's Single Of The Week, chosen by guest reviewers Pulp, and the first SFA single to chart in the UK Top 50. The second release on Creation, "God! Show Me Magic", climbed higher than the first and also became NME single of the week. It clocks in at only 1 min 50 secs.

Related Topics:
1996 - New Musical Express - Pulp - Single - UK

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In May, their debut album Fuzzy Logic was released, again to wide critical acclaim. Unfortunately, it was more or less ignored by the general public; SFA's cult status at this time made the album peak at 23.

Related Topics:
May - Fuzzy Logic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SFA gained their first top 20 hit with "Something 4 The Weekend", which charted at number 18 in July 1996. The band then went on to release the limited edition, and now very rare, "The Man Don't Give A Fuck", which sampled Steely Dan. The song contained the word "fuck" over 50 times, which hindered airplay, but didn't harm its cult status.

Related Topics:
Steely Dan - Fuck

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In early 1997, SFA embarked on the NME Brats Tour, famous for promoting new bands. In July, "The International Language Of Screaming" was put out as a single before the release of the second album, Radiator, in August.

Related Topics:
1997 - NME - July - Radiator - August

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although it received widespread critical support, Radiator reached a peak of 8 then slid down the charts. "Play It Cool" was then released, again to critical acclaim, but didn't do particularly well in the charts. Even so, SFA were established as a genuinely good band, and the first instances of the phrase "singles band" started coming in to use to describe them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After a chance to think about their music and their direction, SFA decided to recorded a new EP in early 1998 at Gorwel Owen's house and released it in May. This was the "Ice Hockey Hair" EP, widely held as one of their finest moments. ("Ice hockey hair" is a slang term for a mullet.) Featuring four tracks, the EP presented SFA's unmistakable songwriting skills alongside fresh-sounding beats and loops sampled from Black Uhuru. The title track, a melodic and very moving epic, gained airplay while "Smokin'" became another favourite with the fans. Its "I just want to smoke it" refrain won instant appeal and approval. In a Melody Maker interview, SFA said the "Smokin'" referred to smoking haddock, or to truck drivers' tyres when they're 'burnin' the roads'. It became their most successful single up to this point, and gained them an incredible performance on "Top Of The Pops".

Related Topics:
EP - 1998 - May - Ice Hockey - Mullet - Loop - Black Uhuru - Haddock - Top Of The Pops

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In November 1998, the album Out Spaced was released. A limited edition appeared in a comedy rubber sleeve, shaped like a breast. The album consists mainly of B-sides, but also a few songs from the Ankst EPs of 1995.

Related Topics:
November - Out Spaced - B-side

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1999 proved to be a big year for SFA. NME readers named them Best New Band in January. In May, the single "Northern Lites" preceded their most experimental and modern-sounding album up to this point, Guerrilla.

Related Topics:
1999 - January - Guerrilla

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~