Gruff Rhys

The Profile

Gruff Rhys is a Welsh musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of Super Furry Animals. Active since the late 1980s, he records in both Welsh and English and has released a string of acclaimed solo albums.

Lead singer of Super Furry Animals; solo artist with albums including Yr Atal Genhedlaeth, Candylion, Hotel Shampoo, American Interior, Babelsberg, Pang!, Seeking New Gods, and Sadness Sets Me Free; has recorded in Welsh and English; has composed film soundtracks; collaborated with Boom Bip as part of Neon Neon.

A positive, 4/5 take on Gruff Rhys’s Candylion: breezy folk-pop with violin hues, short effective tracks, and a sunny mood. Highlights include “Lonesome Words” and the crafty, ironic visual for the title track. Welsh-language cuts appear alongside jazz and minimal-electronic touches. Only gripe: the 14-minute “Skylon!” overstays its welcome.