Hey Venus! (Import)

I have the full album and can confirm that the tracks not mentioned in the other review are up to the same excellent standards.

Carbon Dating - has a kind of lilting, lazy oriental feel to it and it's nearest SFA track is probably Cabin Fever off Love Kraft. Heartbreaking and sad.

Suckers - begins a little bit like Demons but has a gorgeous chorus ' Tell me your a phoenix, flying high above' - Builds up to a nice climax.

Battersea Odysee - Really good psychadelic tune (sounds like Hugh singing?) - starts with doomy Cure style chords then goes into a really upbeat sound.

Wolves - Nice and slow finish. Echoes of the country feel of Hello Sunshine. Nice way to end the album.

Overall, enyone who is a fan of SFA will love this album. It is a departure in that the long, epic sounding songs like zoom or bleed forever are absent. A short, punchy album which leaves you wanting more.

This is another smash from the Furrys. Less experimental this time, but just as enjoying. Lots of hooks, harmonies, clever lyrics and fine musicianship. Highlights: Run-Away, Baby Ate My Eightball, Neo Consumer and Show Your Hand. Highly recommended.

I've only heard the following songs, so here is a mini review of each;

Runaway - spoken word intro then phil spector meets captain beefheart with an impossibly sad monty pythonesque theme... "those that cry and runaway, live to cry another day"

Show Your Hand - first single, starts off light and fluffy before moving into hand waving, cheesy grinning pop perfection during the chorus... lots of bapabapdebapa

Neo Consumer - chugging bass, wiggy guitar, and kraut rocking consumerist ditty

Baby Ate My Eight Ball - scuzzy surf harmonies, an eight ball is something in pool isn't it, why are babies devouring these objects and "frothing at the mouth"... again my hands are in the air to this one

Each of these songs are perfect pop gems just short enough to leave you wanting more....

These songs alone guarantee 4 stars... but what if the rest of the album meets the dizzying heights of these tunes, here's hoping... maybe I missed something with Love Kraft too, I should go back and listen to that.

'Hey Venus' is very much 'more of the same' for the Super Furry Animals. After a slightly experimental last outing, they return to form here with an album packed full of melodic hooks.

It's one of those albums that you can confidentally say there isn't a weak track.

I would say it doesn't quite pack the punch of their debut Radiator or Rings Around the World but those two aside this album is easily as strong as anything else in the SFA collection.

Well worth purchasing.

I was looking forward to this album, particularly since I was slightly disappointed with a few of the tracks on their experimental Love Kraft album, and was glad I bought it straight away. It is the Furries back on form. To cut it short, it combines all the best elements of their albums to date leaving no room for duff tracks. Like many will agree, highlights are Run-away (with its What Becomes of the Broken Hearted feel), Baby Ate My Eightball, Neo Consumer and Battersea Odyssey. Visit their website to hear some of the tracks for yourself before producing your credit card and buying this brilliant work of art.