Posted by Martin in not so new

First up, is a band i never gave any attention to for large amounts of time; they came about pre-internet on my radar and were swiftly dismissed at that early time. For years they wallowed (ignored) out of sight and sound along my musically maturing journey; a foolish error, school boy stuff. Which is precisely the time it occurred, so that excuse is entirely valid and useful. That’s right, i am going to hide behind that one.

However, a couple of years ago perhaps, whilst milling around my now dearly beloved-yet-now-defunct Fopp record store, were they not playing the most joyous indie psychedelic pop songs i’d heard for ages. So inventive! Who the devil were these ingenious musical chameleons? Song after song did it not just delight yet never register who. Steal drums, bongos, harmonies….glitchy electronics, beats, echoed brass, then…a harmonica….then a rave breakdown? Loungy funk and electric-kissed vocals that sounded so like Air, but then it gets all fuzzy, washed out guitars that reminded me so fondly of those American undergrounds, then warbles right out into outer space….Who? The bloody Super Furry Animals?! Well, bugger my ignorance!

Super Furry Animals - Northern Lites
Super Furry Animals - Slow Life
Super Furry Animals - Ice Hockey Hair

Blur were always known. Course they were, in their media jousting with Oasis whilst Radiohead were clearly making the best guitar rock right under their noses. Big House in the Country charts and Song 2 on some FIFA computer game, i forget which, but i played it quite a lot. At least Coxon and Greenwood appreciated each other. Talents were obvious but clouded. But whilst Oasis went nowhere with their sound, and Radiohead went pioneering, Blur went and matured and got worldly. And they made an album i adore. An album that nestles so right in my groove of life just now, a loose but smartly together sound, a travelled sound, a hint exotic, spicy yet woody. You can hear Morocco and a hot orange sunset giving way to some inky blue abyss.
Think Tank burns some late night oil in my soul, coaxing and flickering. So i want to put a couple of tracks up to tick the night away…

Blur - Caravan
Blur - Sweet Song