SUPER FURRY ANIMALS

https://www.facebook.com/superfurryanimals.sfa/photos/a.10150952522444199/10158141052979199/?type=3&theater

"Kliph Scurlock: None of your guesses are correct."

They never split up, though.

I mean they've gone on two or three tours together since Dark Days/Light Years came out and they went on 'hiatus.' That's not splitting up, is it?

By their actions, they certainly seem to have split up and reformed as a band that do reunion tours but focus all their new-music-making into the members' other projects.

other (kind of rubbish) projects

None of them are as good as SFA, but Gruff seems to have done well for himself commercially and critically.

honestly what would make me happiest at this point is probably them announcing that all of their albums are going to be available on spotify (and other streaming services, I guess)

OTM

last CD i bought was Love Kraft and didn't even hear the last album. that was really strange for me as they became my favorite band in the world after the Boo Radleys broke up.

DD/LY is really worth hearing. apart from the execrable 'Mt.', that is

Inaugural Trams is my perennial European holiday anthem (if I'm going anywhere that has trams)

'Mt.' and 'Golden Retriever' are their attempts to go bluesy, both of which should have been strangled at birth owing to SFA being the least convincingly bluesy band ever

Pretty sure it’s on Spotify as well. Check it out, Bee. I still listen to it a lot and I’ve kind of stopped listening to SFA in general due to the curse of over familiarity.

Has any band split in the recent?

Beyond REM and Oasis, everyone goes on hiatus. Stereolab for instance, aren't coming back but never announced a split.

Hmmm

Release Info:
Super Furry Animals at the BBC
23/11/2018
Formats: Heavyweight 180g Vinyl 4-Disc Ltd Edition Box Set x400/Super Limited Edition Vinyl 5-Disc x100 (STR044LP)/CD (STR044CD)/Streaming & Digi DL
Label: Strangetown Records
Pre-Orders 12/10/2018 https://t.co/ZT4X4EK1Ol pic.twitter.com/lGEGduqk6e

— super furry animals (@superfurry) September 27, 2018

lol

a live album maybe even the best-case scenario but still

Don't think they've ever officially released any of their Peel sessions et al so assume they will be on here

Pass. They’re ok live with some excellent highlights. Certainly not something I need five discs of. Well, that’ll teach me for falling for this cycle again.

One new song

Cian pressing the demo button on his Yamaha

Remastered BBC session recordings of the legendary Super Furry Animals, covering their emergence in 1996 to the period of major label excess of the early noughties, are being released by the band in remastered form across a deluxe vinyl box set. Courtesy of Strangetown Records and released on Fri 23 November 2018, Super Furry Animals at the BBC covers eight rare sessions recorded especially for BBC Radio One, including one unreleased song. A super limited edition vinyl set, the CD release and digital versions will also include three tracks from their heroic return to Cardiff in 1999 to play the cavernous Cardiff Indoor Arena.

Limited to just 400 vinyl box sets, brand new artwork developed from concept to stunning reality by long-term collaborator Mark James covers not only the external, printed box, but an individual sleeve for each of yeti in the band, with two, new illustrations by Pete Fowler also featured. The package comes with a foil-blocked 12” print and a separate insert of liner notes, featuring an essay by Uncut magazine journalist, Tom Pinnock, where the band and BBC studio engineer, Simon Askew, recall the day the Furries met Leo Sayer amongst other insights. The 37 tracks are pressed onto 180g vinyl following a thorough spring clean of the original recordings.

An additional, super limited edition vinyl box set of just 100 copies includes a specially-produced, fifth vinyl disc, which has pushed the boundaries of vinyl pressing to include the live tracks and an ‘additional cut’ of soon-to-be-sought-after ‘SFA DNA’. Details are soon to be announced alongside confirmed track listing, with collectors advised to link up with the band across social media and at Pledge Music for advance ordering details in the meantime www.pledgemusic.com/superfurryanimals

In an ongoing period of archival and re-evaluation, the Furries have worked side-by-side with the band’s curatorial collaborator, Kliph Scurlock and mastering maestro, Donal Whelan to restore recordings made for John Peel, Mark Radcliffe and Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley’s Evening Session to pristine condition. In a collection beginning prior to the release of their debut album, Fuzzy Logic, the band’s adventures at the BBC open on April Fools’ Day 1996 with a visit to the, now demolished BBC Manchester studios for Radcliffe and Marc Riley’s Radio One ‘Graveyard Shift’, returning to London and the legendary Maida Vale studios just ten days later for their debut Evening Session recording. Their adventures continued to include three encounters with the late John Peel, including one session at his Peel Acres home in July 2001.

“We got to see some of his records,” Gruff Rhys explains in the accompanying text, telling Pinnock: “I think he’d had new foundations put in because the records were so heavy – he had thousands and thousands and thousands.” Drummer, Daf Ieuan recalled: “I remember Peel saying they had a swimming pool and it was named after whatever voiceover he’d done to get the money, something like the Twix Swimming Pool.”

The BBC sessions were performed in support of the releases of their first album and follow ups Radiator, Guerilla, Mwng and Rings Around the World with rare live versions, alternative takes and faithfully-performed favourites from each included in the collection. Three songs from their December 1999 homecoming at the CIA, concluding the Guerilla Tour, are included as a record of not only the Furries’ ascension to arena-status, but of their fearless, future-facing approach to all aspects of music, having performed the show in surround sound and broadcast the event live to fans around the world via the internet.
A band statement ahead of the release says:

“The five, excitable kids of the Super Furry Animals saw many wonders of the modern world through our innocent eyes, but finding ourselves playing songs in John Peel’s home, or in the carpeted muffle of Maida Vale, elevated the experience to new levels. Our thanks go to those rescuing the recordings from our dusty lofts, Kliph Scurlock and Donal Whelan, and the surgical attention to detail by the great artistic minds of Mark James and Pete Fowler. Also, long live public broadcasting.”
Super Furry Animals At The BBC follows the vinyl, CD and digital remastered re-issues of their top twenty albums, Mwng (2015, Domino Recordings), Fuzzy Logic (2016, BMG Records) and Radiator (2017, BMG Records), as well as a refreshed ‘best of’ compilation album, ZOOM! (2016, BMG Records).

The Super Furry Animals were and remain: Huw Bunford (guitars and vocals), Cian Ciarán (keys, synths, vocals), Daf Ieuan (drums and vocals), Guto Pryce (bass) and Gruff Rhys (guitars and vocals).

https://www.withguitars.com/super-furry-animals-animals-to-send-yeti-lovers-wild-as-compendium-of-sfa-magic-at-the-bbc-to-be-released-as-deluxe-vinyl-box-set/

not even a proper live album. total cashgrab

It's just hard for me to believe there's much demand for something like this. I consider myself a pretty die hard fan, but I'm not paying for an expensive box set of radio sessions.

Kliph just posted this on Facebook:

A note to everyone upset about the announcement of the BBC Sessions box set today:
Maybe this doesn't appeal to you. That's totally fine. There's a reason only 500 copies of the vinyl box are being pressed. Should the demand prove to be more than anticipated, the CD version will be plentiful.
Maybe you want a new SFA album. That's totally fine. However, nobody has given any indication SFA have been recording new music. Maybe a new SFA album will happen; maybe it won't.
Maybe you think this is somehow a cash grab. You couldn't be more wrong. Have you forgotten you're talking about the band that turned down £2,000,000 to license their song to a company whose business ethics they disagreed with? That's right: £2,000,000 in free money that they turned down. Remember when every band was releasing multiple versions of the same single with shitty remixes and demos to fill up b sides in order to sell more copies and go for higher chart placements? What did SFA do? Released one version of the single with solid b sides because they didn't want to bilk their fans, even though they could have had multiple top 10 hits if they had "played the game". So why do you suddenly think they're trying to rip you off? (That's a hypothetical question. I don't want to hear your answer because you're fucking wrong.)
Buy the box set or don't. The box set exists because a fan - me - wanted it to exist and pushed the guys for it, so they decided to make it happen rather than continue to listen to me whine. The costs involved are massive and the band (predominately Cian) is doing all the work themselves. There's no major label machine behind it. Tracks needed to be licensed from the BBC: the band paid for it. The material needed to be mastered and cut for vinyl: the band paid for it. The records, CDs and boxes need to be manufactured: the band is paying for it. Etc. If every copy sells, there's no big payday for anyone, yet if any go unsold, that's money they eat.
Don't want it? Don't buy it. But if you do, you will get something of the utmost highest quality that will make a number of fans, myself included, very happy.

mmmmm

just coz a band has principles doesn't mean they won't do cash grabs onntheir own terms

Anyway it's less the cashgrabbing that's the issue - people can spend money on what they want - it's the stultifying crassness of all this self-celebration, this recycling

I mean Kliph worked his way into being a member of The Flaming Lips by virtue of being a mega-fan and a really good drummer. I don't find it hard to believe at all he begged SFA to be their official historian and archivist. It's the way this stuff is being promoted, and the timing, that has made me lose interest. Well, I'll try not to bump this thread with the next warmed-over release. I think I've learned my lesson. All the same, I'm sure some will enjoy this release.

The frustrating thing is that I reckon they have another good album in them somewhere

The more I look at the package, the more I want it. The artwork is sublime. Mark James & Pete Fowler are amazing. I would happily slot that in next to the rest of their albums. I just don't really want or need a bunch of live sessions...

it's the stultifying crassness of all this self-celebration, this recycling

I thought DD/LY was arguably the best one since RATW! Otherwise....fair, I suppose

i don't think i've listened to phantom power in ten years but my god "piccolo snare" -> "venus and serena"

Maybe they need to make a cash grab *because* they turned down that 2 million pound payoff?

(This doesn't sound like a cash grab, fwiw, just a small thing for fans who want to buy something, like a souvenir.)

when the person who is doing all the work on the release has explained that it is moderately likely to make a loss, you can probably stop insisting it's a cash grab

There was a period where their social media seemed to be exclusively for flogging new T-shirts and ski caps. I think that’s what caused some of the negativity on the Net.

They were also g

Haven't really seen a ton of negativity outside of this thread tbh

There are pockets of it 'in the community.' That said, the community is very small. I think overall people are happy they're still active in some way. I'd take a tour of any of their material in a heartbeat. I just wish DD/LY would get its due from them.

Y'know, if he's going to do more of this stuff, maybe I'm ok with the way things are going:

.@cianciaran fought a giant billion £ multi-national in @edfenergy for Wales. Both parties agreed to discontinue today, after it was agreed that the @AssemblyWales will debate & vote on a motion to stop the dumping next Wednesday 10th October.

— Neil McEvoy AM (@neiljmcevoy) October 2, 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/02/hinkley-point-c-nuclear-mud-case-dropped-after-debate-secured

https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/220403/9

'Super Furry Animals at the BBC'

Mark Radcliffe Session, Recorded April 1 1996
A1. God! Show Me Magic
A2. Frisbee
A3. Hometown Unicorn
A4. Focus Pocus/Debiel

Evening Session, Recorded April 10 1996
B1. Something For The Weekend
B2. Hangin' With Howard Marks
B3. If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You
B4. God! Show Me Magic

Evening Session, Recorded August 11 1997
C1. The International Language of Screaming
C2. Torra Fy Ngwallt Yn Hir
C3. Play It Cool
C4. Demons
C5. Calimero

John Peel Session, Recorded March 24 1998
CH1. The Teacher
CH2. Phire in my Heart
CH3. Thue Turning Tide
CH4. Y Teimlad

Evening Session, Recorded June 2 1999
D1. Night Vision
D2. Some Things Come From Nothing
D3. Fire In My Heart
D4. Blerwytirhwng?

John Peel Session, Recorded March 1 2000
DD1. DX Heaven
DD2. Ymaelody À'r Ymylon
DD3. Y Gwyneb Iau
DD4. Charge

Evening Session, Recorded May 29 2001
E1. (Drawing) Rings Around the World
E2. Fragile Happiness
E3. The Warmth of the Sun
E4. Run! Christian, Run!

Live At Peel Acres, Recorded July 12 2001
F1. (A) Touch Sensitive
F2. Zoom
F3. Nythod Cacwn
F4. Run! Christian, Run!
F5. Fragile Happiness

SFA Mash Up The CIA, Recorded December 20 1999 (Super Limited Vinyl, CD and Digital only)
FF1. Wherever I Lay My Phone (That's My Home)
FF2. Bad Behaviour

and an ‘additional cut’ of soon-to-be-sought-after ‘SFA DNA’.

this is to be fur from the yeti outfits which has been embedded within the vinyl according to the PR I received earlier.

The Peel Session they did in between Phantom Power and Love Kraft is essential listening for anyone who likes this band. Great version of 'Run! Christian, Run!' on that and the version of 'Gathering Moss' is better than the one on Fuzzy Logic, IMO. That was probably the last time I thought this band could do no wrong, so I'm comfortable with there not being a new album.

'DX Heaven' is a bit disposable, so don't get too excited for that one. Interesting early version of 'Zoom' that I listened to a lot in the years leading up to Love Kraft.

I don't like that early version of 'Zoom' at all - I thought (for years) it was a bit of a half-baked riff in search of a tune and I thought they'd wisely shelved it as a bad idea. When I saw they'd dusted it off for Love Kraft I feared the worst but it turned out to be a drastic improvement.

I'm a bit shocked at how much the limited edition ended up selling for--£200! And it sold out in minutes. Can't spend that kind of money on something like this. At least you get a locket of yeti hair!

Saw Gruff last night in DC and it was alot of fun. Only knew one song all night long but he is a pro and funny and his band was the same.

RATW finally getting a vinyl reissue. This has been the gaping hole in my collection, so I’m stoked. http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/super-furry-animals-rings-around-the-world-limited-2lp-coloured-vinyl-7/

Hm... semi-unauthorized. http://www.creation-records.com/super-furry-animals-rings-around-the-world-gets-a-reissue/

if it was the original album on Sides A-C with the b-sides on the D side I'd spring for it (so basically the tracklist of the US 2CD version except on vinyl), but the single-sided 7-inch idea is lame.

it’s seventeen years too late to complain, man

I mean, they're doing a reissue in the present, so not really?