Love Kraft

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.