SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, Manchester Academy

AS the The Super Furry Animals left the stage, any final thoughts of this band just being five quirky guys from the Valleys were well and truly smashed.

During the weekend they had previewed their fantastic new album, complete with a video for every track, at the Cornerhouse Cinema as well as kicking off their UK tour in spectacular style. New song Rings Around The World, which is almost a throwback to the Furrys' debut album, and Run Christian Run, a much darker and political song, slotted with ease along with the majority of the new album. The encore which can only be described as manic collision of huge dance beats and SFA's humour could almost could have been written with the sole intention of showing Thom Yorke how its done.

The Super Furry Animals spent the weekend taking over Manchester now it's on to the rest of the world.

MARK ASQUITH