HEY VENUS!

Back to basics

Released in 2007, "Hey Venus" finds Super Furry Animals turning their backs on any vestiges of the prog which had been appearing on previous albums, and returning to the straight pop of their début. This was their first album for Rough Trade records, but I hesitate to describe it as "full length" with such a mean running time of 36 minutes! Sixteen tracks were reportedly recorded for the album but in the end only eleven were selected for inclusion. Recording took place in the south of France in 2007. Gruff Rhys of the band describes it as "Speaker blowing", but this is to say the least an exaggeration.

Whether or not this is a concept album as such is a matter for conjecture and debate. Even the band seem unsure. There is certainly a recurring theme about a character called Venus (name checked on "Into the night") and her migration from remote village to big city. The band however variously confirm that such a concept was planned or that it was only noticed after completion of the album.

Virtually any of the tracks could have been selected as singles, but in the end the retro sounding "Run-away", the bouncy pop of "Show your hand" and the melodic light ballad "The gift that keeps giving" were the three which were selected. "Carbon dating", with lead vocal by Cian Ciaran also has the feel of a sixties ballad (except for the floating synth!) the simple melody and light instrumentation being nicely understated. Huw Bunford also gets his shot at lead vocal with a Beatlesque "Battersea Odyssey".

It seems apparent that Super Furry Animals main priority here was to deliver a marketable album to their new label, complete with potential hit singles,catchy hooks and simple but appealing melodies. To that extent, the album works well. However, "Hey Venus" is not an album for those seeking complex prog, indeed in many ways this album in the antithesis of such music. Those who enjoy the sophisticated pop side of SFA though should be well satisfied with the contents here, even if the brief length of the album does leave the listener wanting more.

This is probably one of the popiest album from these SFA. Lots of catchy melodies and attractive short songs will certainly please their faithful fan database. For the average proghead, there might be some restriction to the feel.

The usual new wave sound vastly available in their discography is present of course like "Neo Consumer" which reminds me of "Talking Heads". Several tracks are quite dynamic, like the funky "Into The Night" which is quite enjoyable but the whole is too much and short formatted.

The "Human League" oriented "Babe Ate My Eightball" is definitey less appealing. In all, this album is nothing revolutionary: neither for the die-hard fans nor for the casual ones.

The SFA machine is well oiled by now, there are little secret sabout the music they are going to perform, and adventure is no longer an issue (as it was on their good debut "Fuzzy Logic"). There are too little moments to say "wow" in here.

Some relation with "Elvis Costello" is also noticeable while I listen to the fine "Suckers". A good rock ballad full of touch, harmony and tranquillity.

Average album to be honest; even from a classic rock perspective. Two stars.

This is the first SFA album on the label Rough Trade. The label wanted a pop sounding album like they used to make, so SFA put together a bunch of poppier songs which sound similar to Elvis Costello for the most part and only leaving a few really good songs like "Baby Ate My Eightball" and "Carbon Dating". The songs are short and so is the album at just over 36 minutes, it is the shortest album that the band made.

The songs on the album were quickly recorded without any samples or computerized recording techniques as the band was also trying to achieve the feeling that the songs were recorded by the band together in a room. They achieved that goal, but unfortunately the songs ended up feeling hollow and not very adventurous. Yes there are highlights to the album, but not enough to merit the high quality of playful songwriting and risky music that they had been experimenting with in their more recent past.

Not a recommended SFA album. It's just not deep or challenging enough as "Phantom Power" or the most recent gem of an album "Dark Days/Light Years". Start with those albums since they are much better. This one only gets 3 stars because even if it's poppier, at least they can make interesting sounding pop, but it's nothing close to their better albums.