Guerrilla (album)

Guerrilla is the third studio album by Super Furry Animals, released in June 1999. It peaked at #10 in the UK Album Charts.

Musical style

The album was deliberately conceived as a "pop" album; a "jukebox sort of album, where you listen to it and every song is different." according to singer Gruff Rhys.

The song "Wherever I Lay My Phone (That's My Home)" was written around the ringtone of a mobile phone with the rhythm track being based on a sample of bassist Guto Pryce tripping over a lead while guitarist Huw 'Bunf' Bunford played a note.

Singer Gruff Rhys has described Guerrilla as "one of [the band's] most ambitious" records, going on to state that "if any of our records could've sold a lot, this is the one. I don't think the others have been proper pop albums, but I think Guerrilla could have been.

There is a hidden track called "The Citizen's Band" before the first song on the CD. It can be found by pressing play at the start of the CD and then holding down the rewind button. Also, after the final song "Keep The Cosmic Trigger Happy" there is a silence of seven minutes before a very brief reprise of "Chewing Chewing Gum".

Artwork

The band hired artist Pete Fowler again to produce artwork for the album. For their previous album Radiator, he had produced 2D drawings, but for Guerrilla he made 3D models, still in his unique style (most importantly, it was the first instance of his Monsterism designs). The artwork for 2005's Love Kraft returned to the 3D style.

Release

Two versions of the album were released; one with an outer cardboard sleeve, and one without. Printed inside the cardboard sleeve is an introduction to the hidden track, "The Citizen's Band". The actual CDs and CD sleeves were the same for both versions.

The album was reissued in 2005 with a bonus CD featuring additional tracks recorded around the same time as the album.

Track listing

All songs by Super Furry Animals.

0. "The Citizen's Band" (Hidden track, requires manual rewinding from the beginning of track 1)
1. "Check It Out" – 1:26
2. "Do or Die" – 1:59
3. "The Turning Tide" – 2:49
4. "Northern Lites" – 3:29
5. "Night Vision" – 4:41
6. "Wherever I Lay My Phone (That's My Home)" – 5:24
7. "A Specific Ocean" – 0:51
8. "Some Things Come From Nothing" – 5:53
9. "The Door to This House Remains Open" – 4:17
10. "The Teacher" – 2:31
11. "Fire in My Heart" – 2:45
12. "The Sound of Life Today" – 0:22
13. "Chewing Chewing Gum" – 4:49
14. "Keep the Cosmic Trigger Happy" – 10:31*
• "Keep the Cosmic Trigger Happy" lasts just under 3 minutes. There is then a 7 minute pause followed by "Chewing Chewing Gum - Reprise"

Reissue Bonus CD

1. This, That, and the Other
2. Missunderstanding (sic)
3. Ms. Spector
4. Rabid Dog
5. The Matter of Time
6. Colorblind

Additional musicians

All the songs on the album were written and produced by the Super Furry Animals. However, some additional musicians were called in to perform on a couple of tracks. They are listed below.

• Marcus Holdaway - Cello on "The Turning Tide"
• Katie Wilkinson - Viola on "The Turning Tide"
• Jaqueline Norrie - Violin on "The Turning Tide"
• Julia Singleton - Violin on "The Turning Tide"
• Steve Waterman - Trumpet on "Northern Lites"
• Andrew Robinson - Trombone on "Northern Lites"
• A D Gibson - Trumpet on "Northern Lites"
• Kris Jenkins - Percussion on "Northern Lites"
• Euros Wyn - Flute on "Northern Lites"

References