inety-nine percent of fans will attribute the Super Furry Animals’s greatness and (relatively) far-reaching acceptance to virtues that are difficult to find on Phantom Power: unpredictability, wildness, unrestricted fun, etc. In addition, a few might mention the group’s perceptible ability to write brilliant music regardless of genre or style, which I hold to be the Furries’ greatest asset. Unwittingly, these few would be admitting exactly what they fear most: if the Super Furry Animals were to release a mature album, they would inevitably succeed, given their history of excellence in all forms.


Of course, fans wouldn’t mind a mature album from SFA if it truly were excellent, but there’s always some doubt. Something in the back of your head tells you that a more accomplished album would sound unenthusiastic, maybe even forced (because of the common expectations that any band will eventually settle down). But you’re misguided with such inhibitions. Because these are the Super Furry Animals. The one thing they will never be is unenthusiastic (admittedly, I would have said that about Yo La Tengo before Summer Sun, which proved to be heart-shatteringly disappointing for its mediocrity and lack of emotion, but hey, I’m right this time).


To be fair, Phantom Power arrives long after Radiator and Guerrilla’s undisciplined ideas, with the band’s last album, Rings Around the World, already hinting at a more focused and calmer sound (despite a good amount of often-lively diversions). Phantom Power’s consistency and relative stillness is not entirely new for fans; if nothing else, they are familiar with this modest approach through SFA’s all-Welsh 2000 album, Mwng.


Phantom Power succeeds in overcoming all the preemptive criticisms that might have emerged with the news that SFA would be releasing a “mature” album. The much-feared-for enthusiasm is as palpable as ever here, appearing primarily in the form of lyrical sincerity (as it did on much of Rings Around the World). Lead vocalist Gruff Rhys has summarized the themes on Phantom Power by saying, “there are a lot of songs...about broken relationships and war...but always with a positive outlook to the future.” While you may need to read the album’s handy web site to determine this on some of the songs, the lyrics are effective most of the time.


There is enough variety among the songs to keep Phantom Power an engaging listen, which Mwng failed to be for much of its duration. The ballads and the rockers are nicely balanced, and the masterful sequencing is further aided by two rather Nick Drake-like segues (“Father Father #1” and “Father Father #2”). Best of all, “Slow Life”, an epic, daring track which couldn’t possibly fit under either of the aforementioned categories, closes the album in the most suitable (yet unforeseen) way imaginable.


Most importantly, the Furries provide clear evidence of their songwriting abilities by delivering their 14 most consistent tracks to date. Even if the album sounds more restrained, there is nothing holding back the quality of the material. “Golden Material”, the lead single, is a thrilling blues number. “Liberty Belle” is one of their catchiest songs ever, featuring magnificent horns and “Woo-oo-oo!s”. “Venus and Serena” is as inspiring as it asserts to be with its incredibly hopeful lyrics. “Slow Life”, as I’ve said, is one of the band’s most interesting tracks, the only veritable experiment on Phantom Power, but one of the highlights and a marvelous closer.


Talking about the highlights undermines the truth that all the songs on Phantom Power are good. Doing so might also prove to be slightly misleading, because, to be honest, these songs are never as impressive as those on SFA’s previous albums. This isn’t too grave; it merely needs to be stated that the Furries never reach the astounding heights they have in the past on Phantom Power, for better or worse.


But even if Phantom Power is not as staggeringly great as Guerrilla, or even as impressive as Radiator or Rings Around the World, it is no disappointment. In fact, it is quite laudable for its successful progress into maturity, its personal lyrics, and its remarkable consistency. With Phantom Power, the Super Furry Animals have created an accomplished and sincere album that seems to be exactly what they wanted.