Pitchfork

The advance mp3 from Super Furry Animals' eighth studio album, the forthcoming Hey Venus!, picks up where frontman Gruff Rhys left off at the end of solo confection Candylion: with Welsh-accented narration. "This song is based on a true story, which would be fine if it wasn't autobiographical," Rhys declares. At face value, the song's "Be My Baby" sweep and ostensible real-life origins should render "Run-Away" one of the most heart-on-sleeve entries in a catalogue better known for leftfield classics like "Ice Hockey Hair" and "The Man Don't Give a Fuck".

While Rhys's love may be real, listen to the gorgeously overwrought lead guitar-- or the quip about "your bank details"-- and you can hear these merry Welsh pranksters laughing right through their heartache. "Run-Away" is Spector as psych-pop, and it finds an innocent acidhead's delight in even the sad tale of a dude so scared to tell the truth, and so scared to lie (Waits sez same diff), that he flees (trips?) instead. "Those who cry and run away live to cry another day," Rhys explains. When you're a guy who grins broadly enough for a crocodile, what does that say about your tears?

MP3:> Super Furry Animals: "Run-Away"
[from Hey Venus!; due 08/28/07 on vinyl and digital and 01/22/08 on CD from Rough Trade]