Search - Super Furry Animals :: Mwng

Welsh is a tricky language, phonetically

Stargrazer | deep in the heart of Michigan | 11/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My unfamiliarity with the native language of this album makes it a little challenging to discuss. I've never learned the song names, so besides the revved-up "Calimero" I'm not real sure which song is which.



As a piece the album functions very well. It's full of great melodies that stick with you between listens. The abbreviated second disc is the highlight for me, especially the aforementioned "Calimero" (which Gruff Rhys claims in concert is "a song about a chicken.") and the opening acoustic track.



SFA cuts a wide swath through popular music forms, touching down on many sounds. On different days the disc recalls different artists -- classic Peter Gabriel, the Beatles, Talking Heads -- all spun together into a confectionary pop miasma."

Music is the best...

Alphonse maroon | 09/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record is the bands finest and least accessible lyrically. Unless you speak Welsh.

I don't know the language but my ancestors were from Cardiff.

This one calms me. Rock on SFA!"

Lost without translation

Matthew T. Medlock | Cincinnati, OH | 07/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The very nature of this record might make someone immediately write it off as a doodle-doo between more crystallized efforts. After all, unless you speak Welsh, the song names and lyrics are complete gibberish. But that's like dismissing a record from France or Japan or Germany simply because it's in a different language (hell, American audiences couldn't get enough of "99 Luftballoons" in the 80s). And because of its accessible musical style, it's not even the most challenging Furries record (that would be Radiator, still their best album).



And even though Mwng struggles to meet the highs of Rings and Radiator, it doesn't miss greatness because of the words. There's an inexplicable lack of energy at several junctures. Slow, dreamy pop isn't off-limits, but they seem to be doing some of it lazily. "Pan Ddaw'r Wawr" is mostly elegiac, but it has moments of startling strength and beauty; meanwhile, I just wanted "Nythod Cacwn" to MOVE. One of the better songs is the quick toss off opener, "Drygioni," which could have become a true standout if it didn't fade too fast. But "Dacw Hi" and "Ysbeidiau Heulog" rank with the best of the Furries.



Best cuts: "Dacw Hi," "Pan Ddaw'r Wawr," "Ysbeidiau Heulog," "Drygioni," "Y Teimlad," "Ymalodi A'r Ymylon," "Sarn Helen""