Super Furry Animals - Dark Days/Light Years

Dark Days/Light Years is the ninth studio album from the Welsh ensemble Super Furry Animals. The band arrived at the scene on previous decade as one of the most remarkable acts from the Welsh indie/pop scene, blending pop and rock with electronics, hinting at prog and psychedelia and creating more than a few memorable brit-pop melodies. This new album indicates that SFA is still a vital act today.

The record contains twelve tracks that last for an hour. Contrasting the previous album Hey Venus, a shorter and poppier record, this album contains longer songs as well. Some of them are almost like jams, based on riffs and grooves the band has played for the last couple of years.

Dark Days/Light Years begins with a psychedelic rock jam "Crazy Naked Girls", that itself starts with studio chatter and false starts. Almost as if hinting that this is an album that doesn't start right off. Indeed, first listen exposes the beginning of the album as somewhat uninteresting. As if the songs weren't memorable. The second song "Mt" stands out for a slide-guitar sound that sounds almost saxophone like (perhaps humorously hinting at their saxophone ban?), doubled by strings.

"Inaugural Trams" evokes contradictory feelings. On first listen it sounds like a silly throwaway novelty track with its childishly jovial mood and Nick McCarthy's (Franz Ferdinand) German declamations. Lasting for five minutes, it may seem like a joke that gets old fast. Still, it takes guts to compose something in that vein. Besides, SFA has always flirted with kitsch. "Juxtaposed With U" anyone?

And as it often appears in the case of SFA, is that the repeated listenings tend to do justice to their material. SFA is being uncompromisingly themselves, despite what may seem hip or trendy. This makes it somewhat difficult to understand their music for the average indie fan. But the more reason for the listener to dedicate oneself to the band. Thus, even the opening songs on this album open themselves after repeated listenings.

In any case, the record really gets it going from the fifth tune, the energetic blues rock jam "Inconvenience". Sixth track "Cardiff In The Sun" is the first really masterful composition here - Beach Boys meets krautrock, pop poured into the motorik groove and form, an everlasting memorable melody.

The album continues to flow smoothly - "The Very Best Of Neil Diamond" is another good example of eccentric pop, both in terms of humorous songtitle as well as the blend of soul groove and eastern guitar lines. Towards the end, a more rocking SFA emerges. English "Where Do You Wanna Go" and Welsh "Lliwiau Llachar"arre moderately fast rock songs that show that rock done SFA style is quite enjoyable. The album closer "Pric" however is a brilliant kraut-jam, if excepting the last four minutes of ambient techno that cool it all down. Despite their veteran-band status SFA still makes intriguing records.


Super Furry Animals - The Very Best of Neil Diamond