Super Furry Animals
Love Kraft

THE REVIEW

With this new release, the SFA bring to fruition a process that began years ago and position themselves as one of the most on-form bands of the moment. While the previous two efforts, despite flashes of genius, left many unimpressed, this Love Kraft should set things straight. What strikes from the first listens is the cohesiveness of the work: its organic nature. Everything is presented with a truly remarkable sense of proportions and internal harmonies. Thankfully, this does not detract from the individual compositions, which instead gradually shine in their bright individuality.

Starting with the first track "Zoom!" truly surprising: a neo-psychedelic ride whose elongated and lazy atmosphere expands to gradually become epic. The SFA is the only band that can afford the luxury of using a Catalan choir with impunity! Yet everything works perfectly like a well-oiled machine fueled by years of experience and creativity. Try it to believe it.
It is followed by "Atomik Lust" which reaffirms the prevailing atmosphere of the album: a sort of drug-induced clairvoyance, dreamlike wonder, like a reality perceived with slowed but powerful senses, richer, more colorful, and lively, yet at the same time, peaceful and expansive.
Breaking this atmosphere comes the first insistent track: however, it's merely an apparent disruption. The homage to the Beach Boys in "The Horn" is so referential and extravagant that it's not just a mere Beach Boys-style song but the Super Furry Animals playing the Beach Boys. Their world remains unbroken. Indeed, "Ohio Heat" resumes the formula invented specifically for Love Kraft, which could be summarized as a union of the ballad format with psychedelic nonchalance, all harmonized by the ability to produce the album in the most appropriate way, creating a warm and welcoming sound. The rest of the album continues at very high levels, now cradling ("Walk You Home"), now playing with influences and music history ("Back On a Roll"). Ending splendidly with just two tracks like "Cloudberries" and "Cabin Fever", two other sweet and enveloping tracks like the coils of a beguiling serpent.

If there's justice, the SFA will finally have their audience in Italy as well. So I guess not.