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# Furry at top of ‘Kraft’
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/furry-at-top-of-kraft/
- Published: 2005-12-09T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T08:16:56.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By JAYA GUPTA Special to the Daily Press*

It’s hard to take a band with a name like “Super Furry Animals” very seriously. And perhaps that was the point 12 years ago when the progressive rock act made their formal debut amidst a musical scene utterly engrossed with Grunge, cutting its heaviness with airy absurdity.

September saw the release of SFA’s seventh record, entitled “Love Kraft.” It is an ostensibly mature work for a band oft characterized by their oddity and impishness — their catalogue features songs about indigenous language erosion, inflatable bears and the Clinton scandal. Ethereally warm, lush and borderline elegiac, the symphonic record reflects five men who’ve embraced their statesmen-like status as music veterans.

Known previously for fusing sun-drenched pop melodies with techno and rock, it has been a formidable undertaking trying to pin them down stylistically. Touted as SFA’s definitive record, their latest offering adds a reflective and resounding dimension to their sunny discography — namely through standout tracks “Atomik Lust” and “Cloudberries.” One thing is for certain, SFA’s music has retained its manifest paradox of being befuddling and beguiling alike.

Currently on tour supporting “Love Kraft,” bassist Guto Pryce indulged our desire for a little Q and A: QUESTION: How has the road been treating you? Have you had a good turnout? ANSWER: (Laughs) We’re half way through a five-week tour. It’s kind of like a vortex. We’ve had a very good turnout. All of last week we were in Texas where it’s been sunny and warm. In Chicago, it’s bitter cold. So it’s been interesting. Q: The press around “Love Kraftæ has said it’s SFA’s definitive record. Do you think that’s accurate? A: It is put oddly. The press is always gonna come up with a catch phrase and it’s their opinion. We don’t necessarily agree. When SFA is done making music, we’re gonna have a pile of albums and then maybe we’ll decide which one’s “definitive.” With Love Kraft we’re very pleased with it. Q: “Love Kraft” was recorded in Spain. Your other albums have been sunny, upbeat. This record is more reflective and kind of sorrowful. Why? A: It’s kind of ironic (laughs). This album was recorded in the sun. All of our other stuff was recorded in Britain where it’s nothing but cloudy. Mario (Caldato, producer) told us that he wouldn’t leave Spain, or go anywhere where it’d be cloudy. So we all went to Spain and then mixed it in Rio. It was fun recording there, good people, good weather, fields of sunflowers, good food. This time around Gruff (Rhys, vocals) didn’t write all the songs or sing alone. We all wrote and sang. That contributed to the difference. Q: How did the environment permeate the record? A: I think it slowed everything down. You get up, do some recording, have a long lunch with a bottle of wine, record some more. It was a really relaxed atmosphere. We wanted to capture the pace of life and that’s what we did. Q: Are you thinking about the 8th record or is it too early? A: We’re always thinking about the next one. We’ve been recording stuff on the road, during sound checks and stuff. Q: What do you anticipate it sounding like? A: I don’t really know. It’s always difficult to tell. I would probably be recorded quickly. We could do punk or do lounge; it really depends on where our heads are after this tour.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 9, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/120905.pdf?ref=smdp.com)