American Interior
Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys' latest solo project was inspired by his recent discovery that he's a descendent of John Evans, a Welsh explorer from the 1790s. The resulting LP is far more robust and widescreen-scaled than the modest, folk-oriented music Rhys has thus far released under his own name, in tune with the Super Furry Animals’ manic genre-blurring, retro-futurist mandate.
Rhys, once again, delivers a hugely impressive record that is unlikely to alienate anyone from casual listener to long-term dedicatee.
In the late '90s and early 2000s, while other Britpop bands were busy feuding and putting more effort into their swagger than their songwriting, Super Furry Animals were quietly building one of the scene's best catalogs.
Fresh from writing shiny electro-pop chronicling the life of Giangiacomo Feltrinelli as one half of Neon Neon, Gruff Rhys reverts to his own name to tell the story of an even more unlikely subject. American Interior, his fourth solo LP, is an enjoyable take on the fabled 18th century explorer John Evans, who left his native Gwynedd in a vain attempt to find a mythical tribe of Welsh-speaking Native Americans, drawing one of the first maps of the Missouri River along the way.
Sometime Super Furry Animals frontman and Neon Neon mouthpiece, Gruff Rhys, uses his solo albums as a vehicle for travel and self-discovery. On his fourth venture, American Interior, it was not enough to produce only an album; Rhys has also filmed a docum
Album review: Gruff Rhys - 'American Interior'. Super Furry Animals frontman delivers a solo LP inspired by a remarkable road trip...
Gruff Rhys's latest project celebrates 18th-century explorer John Evans with humour and pathos, writes <strong>Ally Carnwath</strong>
The former Super Furry Animals frontman's new concept album is an absolute pleasure, however much of the concept you care about, writes <strong>Jon Dennis</strong>
Gruff Rhys - American Interior review: Undoubtedly the biggest project he has embarked on so far.