Super Furry Animals are the best band in the world. This is incontrovertible fact, so we'll have no arguments about that. They are also among the most imaginative and creative when it comes to promotion. I'm not talking online social communities and all that malarkey. I'm talking tanks. I'm talking EPs named after the town with the longest place name in the universe. I'm talking using naughty swears 50+ times in a song.

And that was just the early days. This month they're ramping it up again in support of their marvellous album Hey Venus, which you will already own if you're any kind of human being at all. If you don't, you'll be able to snag a free MP3 from it on - awww - Christmas Day. It will be the the aptly-titled "The Gift That Keeps On Giving", and I hardly need tell you that it's constructed entirely from pure, lilting loveliness.

In addition to that, SFA are playing a Cardiff show earlier in the month, plus a New Year's Eve Extravaganza at the Albert Hall. And the icing on the cake is some kind of advent calender affair, which is apparently going to be available on their website from December 17th.

If you then remember that Gruff Rhys is also working on his Neon Neon side project with Boom Bip - album due early next year - the next few months are looking distinctly Furry-shaped. Which is how it should be.

[via Drowned In Sound]

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