Tuesday 19/06/07 Super Furry Animals @ ICA, London

It’s more than ten years since indie pop impresario and Creation Records legend Alan McGee first set eyes/ears on a bunch of scruffy Welsh boys calling themselves the Super Furry Animals.

Things have changed dramatically since those heady days – Oasis climbed to dizzy heights then crashed ungracefully back to Earth; The Libertines came and went (with Doherty’s affairs now splashed over every rag across the country); Blur blossomed then discovered cheese making, world music and market gardening; the world warmed up; MP3s took off and New Labour is now packing up the last of its things and waving bye bye to Number 10.

But one thing has remained constant – the Super Furry Animals keep spawning brilliant albums, with their ever-growing catalogue remaining as innovative and as awe-inspiring as their first outing.

The ICA’s (relatively) smoke-free sobriety echoes the ‘all-ages’ gigs of youth. Along with the miniscule size of this room and the excitement dripping from the walls, it could be the early/mid 90s, only with sillier haircuts and lower slung jeans. It’s primarily the mega fans out in force tonight – too glued to the genius of Gruff Rhys and Co to be bothered to go and refill their pints. There’s no irritating drunken chatter either, just genuine appreciation. Surely one of the most amicable audiences ever. Not a push nor a shove to be felt – just a communal blanket of happiness!

With no leek munching tonight – and just a token slipping on of the red and silver space helmet – it’s not about showy gimmicks or costumes, just the songs. And damn fine songs at that.

Emerging from the wings to the juddering circus beats of ‘Slow Life’, a collective holding in of breath is palpable. How privileged we all are to have this show just for us, these musical masters showcasing years of sublime creativity and invention at arms reach!

The adoring Furry disciples are pleasured from the onset, with the cosmic melody swirls of ‘(Drawing) Rings Around The World’ and driving bass of ‘Golden Retriever’ getting booties shakin’ and temperatures rising.