Paperjam

Love Kraft by Super Furry Animals

Music // Jim // 5th September 2005

A lot has been made about how this new Super Furry Animals album is extremely laid back. This is completely true, so rather than repeat all that (while I blather on about how brilliant it is) I thought it would be worth trying to road test the album in several different scenarios in order to ascertain the ideal way to enjoy Love Kraft’s mellow charms.

Scenario One: Sitting in on your own and getting pleasantly drunk.
Settling down mid evening on the sofa with a steady supply of Leffe, the tranquillity is broken by the what appears to be the sound of someone jumping into a swimming pool. Is the whole album going to be underwater? Cool.
The Floyd-esque Zoom puts a big grin on my face as the first of the beer is trickling its way towards my deliberately empty stomach. Zoom is an intimate epic, you don’t want it to end and for a while it seems like it won’t.
Those warm, vaguely drunken feelings are kicking in nicely as the album reaches its zenith with Frequency, a song that the word sublime was probably invented for. Psyclone! Gees up the senses as the third bottle is opened with a distinctly Hanging With Howard Marks vibe. Cabin Fever at the end leaves me feeling tired and emotional. Then it is time to start from the beginning again.
Suitability: 8/10

Scenario Two: Going to buy some bleach
Oh dear, the time has come to clean the bathroom, so a stroll to Sainsburys is in order. Love Kraft adapts surprisingly well. The first few tracks (although very laid back) bounce along nicely, especially the big crashing bits in Atomik Lust. The pounding single, Lazer Beam is perfect for a quick dash around the aisles of any major supermarket, while Frequency is an enjoyably subversive experience queuing at the till.
Back On A Roll jauntily kickstarts the walk home in a kind of McCartney, but good, fashion. Then the balladry of Cloudberries and Cabin Fever induce a form of melancholy acceptance as I near the house and realise that in five minutes time I will be cleaning the toilet.
Suitability: 6/10

Scenario Three: Half three in the morning when the pimps outside are keeping you awake
Those nice Russian gentlemen over the road seem to be having a few HR problems. As usual these things are being settled with a few kindly slaps, the odd kick and some particularly assertive shouting.
Although Love Kraft is very well suited to early hours of the morning listening, its dynamic range means that it is just not up to the task of drowning out sex-industry related violence in the small hours. The widescreen romanticism of Walking You Home is not improved by by cries of “Aaaaaarrrrghhhh, Vladimir, you cunt”, “Next time I will kill you, slut” and so on.
Suitability: 3/10

Scenario Four: Class “C” activities
Zoom is definitely a track to enjoy with a bit of acrid smoke hanging in the air. The trademark SFA clever wordplay suddenly becomes far more meaningful than it could ever have been intended to be. The genius lines “You said history would be your judge, but the jury’s whipped, gagged and drugged” have me ranting in a wild-eyed fashion to the nearest passer-by.
Some words of warning: There is a high probability that some tracks will be repeated along with a near certainty that some form of dancing will break out during Oi Frango, Psyclone! and Back On A Roll. You will cry like a baby at the very end.
Quickly, more toast.
Suitability: 9/10

Scenario Five: Shagging
Unfortunately at this point in time I can’t help you here as much as I would like to.
It is called Love Kraft which sounds like Scandinavian pornography and should give you some idea as to its suitability for under-scoring any bedroom action.
Be warned there a number of tempo/rhythm changes that could cause difficulties/confusion, plus it is quite a long album – so gents have those excuses at the ready.
Although Love Kraft is a record of many highpoints it is always worth remembering that your partner is unlikely to be impressed with you pausing to announce “Listen to this bit, it’s ace. Hang on I’ll rewind it”
Suitability: 7/10 (estimated)

Super Furry Links...

Super Furry Animals

The main site, in English and Cymraeg

SFA@NME

The band's page on the NME web site

SuperFurry.org

An unofficial site