Some bands seem to have been around forever. While the Furries' lesser mid-90s contemporaries have long resigned themselves to a rent-scraping residency down The Dog and Duck, these Welsh luminaries have been flirting with the upper regions of the hit parade for ages, their integrity unscathed by any mobile phone commercials.
Their sixth album is full of the same wit and wilful eclecticism that has endeared them for so long, from the stripped down glam-rock of 'Golden Retriever' (click the video clip button to watch the full video), to the techno interludes of the closing 'Slow Life'. Serene Abbey Road harmonies mingle with playful, fuzzy guitars, all commanded by head Furry Gruff's dulcet Welsh tones.
Lyrically, too, they take a pretty unique stance. Opener 'Hello Sunshine' features the soon-to-be timeless couplet: 'I'm a minger and you're a minger too/So come on over 'cos I want to ming with you...'. It's typical of the cartoon psychedelia that dominates proceedings.
However, at its core, Phantom Power is a sussed, classic pop record that skips any irony and pretension with ease. And, who knows, if they keep 'em coming like this, the boys may even be around long enough to pen a World Cup anthem for their beloved nation.
(Win a copy of Phantom Power here)
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