SuperFurryAnimals are a Welsh alternative rock band formed in Cardiff, Wales, in 1993. The band is composed of Gruff Rhys (vocals, guitar), Huw Bunford (guitar), Guto Pryce (bass), Cian Ciaran (keyboards, various instruments) and Dafydd Ieuan (drums).
The band started out recording radio sessions for John Peels BBC Radio 1 show and released their debut single, Focus Pocus/God! Show Me Magic, in 1994. The follow-up single Hometown Unicorn/ Mawky Bawn was released in 1995, and their critically acclaimed debut album, Fuzzy Logic, followed in May 1996.
The success of Fuzzy Logic led to the band being offered a major label record deal with Creation Records. The band then released their second album Radiator in 1997, which was even more successful than its predecessor, and helped them to break into the mainstream.
The band continued to produce prolifically over the following years, releasing the album Mwng in 2000, a collection of traditional Welsh-language songs. This earned them an Ivor Novello award for innovation. The band then released four more studio albums, Rings Around the World (2001), Phantom Power (2003), Love Kraft (2005), and Hey Venus (2007).
The bands most recent album, Dark Days/Light Years, was released in 2009. The album featured a heavier sound than the band’s previous releases and earned them nominations for two Brit Awards, Best Album and Best British Group.
The band is also known for their surreal accompanying music videos, which often use fantasy and science fiction themes. They also have an eye-catching stage show, often featuring elaborate costumes and visual projections.
The band is currently on hiatus, although members have continued to pursue other projects musically. Gruff Rhys released his third solo album, Hotel Shampoo, in 2011, while Huw Bunford, Guto Pryce, Cian Ciaran, and Dafydd Ieuan formed another band, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, which released its final album in 2008.
The indie-rock scene of the 1990s wouldn’t have been the same without SuperFurryAnimals. They helped to bridge the gap between traditional British pop and alternative rock, and helped to bring their native Welsh culture to the world. Despite their current inactivity, their music still resonates strongly, from contemporary acts like Vampire Weekend to their own past releases.
