silence kit #3

Super Furry Animals
Mwng [Flydaddy, 2000]

I have been debating myself about whether it should be considered a moot point or a merit that Mwng, unlike any of the other Super Furry Animals releases, is an album sung completely in their native Welsh tongue. Gruff Rhys and his bandmates have always fashioned themselves as pop eccentrics, and not comprehending a word out of songs bearing zonky titles like "Dacw Hi" must be a big part of the intrigue and appeal, right? It's probably truer though that I still enjoy listening to Mwng today, provincial Welsh or not, because this is by far their most cohesive piece of work. There is a rather deceptive, overly relaxed vibe about this album, especially in contrast with the flourish overload on the likes of Guerrilla (1999) or Rings Around The World (2001), so much so that the rose-tinted pop songs on Mwng somehow end up sounding not unlike unfinished demo recordings. But makeshift sounding or not, and no matter if you have misgivings as to being under the influence of anything from ELO to Welsh cult hero Meic Stevens or not, Mwng is one strange and glorious psychedelic trip all the way.