GRUFF RHYS plays the Horseshoe June 11. See listing Rating: NNNN
The buoyancy and breeziness of Gruff Rhys’s third solo album belie the seriousness of the title, which was inspired by the wastefulness of the free, sample-sized toiletries the Super Furry Animals’ singer accumulated while touring the world. And while the record occasionally delves into environmental and political matters, most of the songs examine the intricacies of relationships.
The playful tunes are diverse, from the mariachi-inflected Sensations In The Dark to the swinging 60s lounge vibe of Space Dust #2, a duet with El Perro del Mar’s Sarah Assbring. This might not be a momentous album, but it includes some of Rhys’s most memorable melodies and charming lyrics, including the bittersweet If We Were Words (We Would Rhyme).
Rhys has weightier material in his body of work, but for sheer pop pleasure this album can’t be beat.
Top track: Sensations In The Dark
