Personnel: Nadia Griffiths (vocals); Jonathan "Catfish" Thomas, Jonathan Thomas (slide guitar); Laura Melhuish, Amanda Britton, Brian G. Wright , Jacqueline Norrie, Elspeth Cowie, Clare Raybould, Sally Herbert, Ellen Blair, Gill Morley (violin); Marcus Holdaway (cello); David Ralicke (flute); Sarah Clarke (bass clarinet); Jeff Daly (baritone saxophone); Tracy Holloway (trombone).
Audio Mixers: Mario Caldato, Jr.; Super Furry Animals.
Recording information: Musiclan, Avinonet De Puigventos, Catalyuna; Pleasure Foxx, Caerdydd; Stir Studios, Caerdydd; The Dairy, Brixton, England.
Photographer: Leonard D. West.
Unknown Contributor Role: Gregg Jackmann.
Arrangers: Wil Morris Jones; Osian Gwynedd.
If the acid-stoked lunacy of Welsh five-piece Super Furry Animals must be defined by a single characteristic it must be its giddiness. Distinguished throughout their career by an "anything goes" attitude in league with alt-rock experimentalists such as Radiohead and The Flaming Lips, SFA's approach reflects their all-embracing zeal for leaving practically no musical stone unturned. The group's fifth album, LOVE KRAFT, settles into a relaxed yet still trippy vibe, toning down their obligatory psychedelic excesses just a hair and introducing a palette of AM radio-styled soft rock, sun-drenched string arrangements, and even a 100-piece Catalan choir. Even if SFA's signature prog edges are smoothed over in the America-like country rock gallop of "Ohio Heat" and the Bacharach-esque orchestral pop of "Walk You Home," LOVE KRAFT contains enough small and surprising surreal pleasures to place it among SFA's best, most eccentric efforts.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (No. 984, p.150) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...LOVE KRAFT emphasizes contemplative beauty over the band's early work....There's more love in the Furries' craft than ever."
Uncut (p.100) - 4 stars out of 5 - "On LOVE KRAFT, Super Furries' democratic edge extends to vocal duties....Everyone pile in for 'The Horn,' a deranged sea shanty embellished by hammered dulcimer and harmonica."
Magnet (p.99) - "LOVE KRAFT is a slow-moving vessel of love....Theatrical strings hover, gritty keyboards suffocate, and reverb oozes from KRAFT's pores."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.88) - 3 stars out of 5 - "LOVE KRAFT has the recumbent demeanour of an album recorded in Catalonia and mixed in Brazil, and rather presupposes a similarly serene aspect from listeners."
