Monday 11/06/07 Super Furry Animals @ Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

Residencies are becoming more and more frequent in music's higher circles. The Gorillaz weren't happy with their five-night stint at Manchester Opera House, so decided to repeat the trick across the water at the New York Harlem Apollo. To go one better, Prince has played a lengthy residency in Las Vegas and will practically set up home at London's O2 Arena throughout August and September.

The reasoning behind the Super Furry Animals' Cardiff residency was simple - they just wanted a lie-in every morning. Over the four nights, a measly 800 people will have seen Wales' most prolific singles band - a band that has continued to produce some of the most hypnotic and intoxicating tunes over the past decade. Gigwise can't contain its excitement so clambers to front for a better view. In all honesty, anywhere is a decent view in Clwb Ifor Bach's dainty top floor. The band enter to the sounds of ‘Slow Life’, with Gruff Rhys donning his trademark Power Ranger helmet for the chorus.

Gruff is as animated as ever - interacting with the crowd bilingually and spinning stories about being chased by a swarm of restless bees. The new material goes down well, with latest single ‘Show Your Hand’ lending from the same song template as The Beach Boys - swelling with immediate hooks and lush melodies. The band’s ability to change tack is untouchable, with glorious sing-along choruses one minute, and trance-like whig-outs the next. Somehow, ‘Receptacle For The Respectable’ manages to meld the two together with style and finesse.

An hour into the set, Gruff softly announced a switch in proceedings: "Err… this is the, well, Greatest Hits bit of the set". The gangly front man wasn't joking as single after single thrashed its way through the pogoing crowd. The 140 seconds of ‘Do Or Die’ gave Gigwise uncontrollable liquid limbs and ‘God! Show Me Magic’ sent the Clwb into delirium.

Of course, everyone knew Cardiff's favourite indie-folksters had another trump card in the shape of ‘The Man Don't Give A ****’ with an up-yours chorus that almost lasted a lifetime. The band releases their eighth studio album, ‘Hey Venus’, in August. It's been described by the band as the poppiest thing they've ever committed to wax. Sony's loss is undoubtedly Rough Trade's gain.