Precreation Percolation is a compilation album by the Welsh rock band Super Furry Animals, released on 1 May 2026 via Strangetown Records. It contains material of the band before their signing to Creation Records in 1995, including their debut extended plays Llanfair… (In Space) (1995) and Moog Droog (1995) for Ankst Records in full, four songs recorded with original lead singer Rhys Ifans, and a variety of rarities, demos, and 2026 redux versions.
The album was preceded by the single “Pocket Sam”—one of the Ifans tracks—earlier that year, and upon release it peaked at no. 10 and no. 23 on the UK Independent and Scottish Albums Charts, respectively.
Content
The albums consists entirely of material prior to the band’s signing to Creation Records in the summer of 1995.[1] It begins with the band’s first extended plays for Welsh label Ankst: Llanfair… (In Space) (1995) and Moog Droog (1995).[2] The CD version adds several bonus tracks, starting with “Don’t Be a Fool, Billy”, as seen on the 1995 Fierce Panda Records compilation EP Mortal Wombat.[3] The four following tracks, “Choking on Your Lust”, “Pocket Sam”, “Of No Fixed Identity”, and demo “AK Serenade” are sung by the band’s original lead vocalist, Rhys Ifans, all recorded in 1993. Each Ifans-sung track had been previously unreleased, except for “Of No Fixed Identity”,[4] which was released in 2022 as a limited-time Bandcamp-exclusive song to provide benefit for the Severn Estuary.[5] A re-worked version of the song appeared on the single “Hometown Unicorn” as “Lazy Life”. Also included are “Dim Brys, Dim Chwys” (Welsh for “No Hurry, No Sweat”), originally aired on BBC Radio Cymru and released on the 1995 Anskt compilation Triskedekaphilia, and a 1993 demo of “The Man Don’t Give a Fuck“.[6]
The digital version, in addition to the tracks from the CD, includes primarily instrumental demos. Several would be later fleshed out for their debut album Fuzzy Logic (1996), and “Something Came from Nothing” is an early version of “Some Things Come from Nothing” from Guerilla (1999).[2]
Single and release
The compilation was led with the Ifans-sung single “Pocket Sam” on 12 February 2026. Precreation Percolation was released the following 1 May via Strangetown Records,[1] subsequently placing on the UK Independent and Scottish Albums Charts at no. 10 and no. 23, respectively.[7] The vinyl consists of just the band’s 1995 EPs for Ankst Records but is packaged with the 22-track CD version within a “slim card wallet”.[3]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 80/100[8] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Buzz | |
| Classic Pop | |
| Mojo | |
| Record Collector | |
| Shindig! | |
| Spectrum Culture | 70%[14] |
| Uncut | |
| Under the Radar | 7/10[15] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Precreation Percolation received “generally favorable reviews” based on a weighted average score of 80 out of 100 from five critic scores.[8] Reviewing for AllMusic, Tim Sendra noted that while much of the Ankst EPs already appear on the compilation Out Spaced, they said that “it’s nice to have them in their compete [sic] form”, and that, together with its “treasure trove of rarities,” the compilation is a “fascinating” view into the group’s early years.[9] Spectrum Culture's Holly Hazelwood thought that much of the compilation shows a time where the band’s “wild, wandering spirit hadn’t quite gelled yet”, though by Moog Droog, that had changed. They highlighted the trio of synthesizer instrumentals on the digital edition as some of the “more interesting” tracks on the record.[14] In Uncut, despite the overall rating of eight out of ten, Sam Richards gave a separate rating of six out of ten for the digital bonus tracks, stating they “are largely for completists only”.[2] Other critics also argued that Precreation and Percolation's appeal lies mostly with devotees of the band,[14] especially for the two Ankst EPs[5] and the Ifans-led recordings.[6]
Commenting on the Ifans tracks, Simon Price of The Quietus said that while he “lack[s] the warmth, depth and texture of Gruff [Rhys]“, he would have nonetheless sufficed as “a decent indie rock frontman”, given his specific delivery and good sense of pitch.[6] Classic Pop's Jon O’Brien singled out “Pocket Sam” as the “hidden treasure” among the Ifans tracks, but thought that “AK Serenade” and “Choking on Your Lust” were too “unpolished” and “derivative”, respectively. O’Brien used those two songs to argue that Gruff Rhys’ later role in the group ultimately led to the better outcome.[5] Will Steen of Buzz was also mixed in their assessment of the Ifans tracks, describing the Ifans period as “fascinating but doomed”, but the compilation otherwise “satisfies with its slew of unreleased and early Super Furry Animals material”.[10]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Super Furry Animals.[16]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Organ yn Dy Geg” | 3:03 |
| 2. | “Fix Idris” | 3:10 |
| 3. | “Crys Ti” | 2:03 |
| 4. | “Blerwytirhwng?” | 4:59 |
| 5. | “Pam V?” | 4:01 |
| 6. | “God! Show Me Magic“ | 1:55 |
| 7. | “Sali Mali” | 4:37 |
| 8. | “Focus Pocus / Debiel” | 4:23 |
| Total length: | 28:11 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 9. | “Don’t Be a Fool, Billy” (Mortal Wombat version) | 4:12 |
| 10. | “Choking on Your Lust” | 4:15 |
| 11. | “Pocket Sam” | 2:53 |
| 12. | “Of No Fixed Identity” | 4:14 |
| 13. | “AK Serenade” (4-track demo) | 2:39 |
| 14. | “Bulletproof” (4-track demo) | 4:24 |
| 15. | “Dim Brys, Dim Chwys” | 5:33 |
| 16. | “Trk05b” (cassette demo) | 5:54 |
| 17. | “The Man Don’t Give a Fuck” (1993 demo) | 2:00 |
| 18. | “AK Serenade” (2026 redux) | 2:19 |
| 19. | “Bulletproof” (2026 redux) | 4:10 |
| 20. | “Fine Time” (2026 redux) | 3:00 |
| 21. | “Quest” (2026 redux) | 2:25 |
| 22. | “Rise ‘n’ Shine” (2026 redux) | 2:45 |
| Total length: | 78:54 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 23. | “God! Show Me Magic” (demo – 2026 redux) | 2:45 |
| 24. | “Frisbee” (demo – 2026 redux) | 2:48 |
| 25. | “Don’t Be a Fool, Billy” (demo – 2026 redux) | 3:03 |
| 26. | “Hangin’ with Howard Marks” (demo – 2026 redux) | 4:46 |
| 27. | “Fuzzy Birds” (4-track demo) | 2:45 |
| 28. | “Rise ‘n’ Shione” (4-track demo) | 2:42 |
| 29. | “Something Came from Nothing” (cassette demo) | 3:22 |
| 30. | “Trk05a” (cassette demo) | 5:41 |
| 31. | “Tetrachromancy” (cassette demo) | 6:35 |
| Total length: | 112:52 | |
Personnel
Credits for tracks 1 through 22 are adapted from the vinyl liner notes.[16]
Super Furry Animals
- Huw Bunford – production
- Cian Ciarán – production, sketch at Gold Street, Cardiff (track 16), redux at Strangetown, Cardiff (17)
- Dafydd Ieuan – lead vocals (18, 19); production; recording and mixing at Column Road, Cardiff (13, 14); mixing at Strangetown, Cardiff (18–22)
- Guto Pryce – production
- Gruff Rhys – lead vocals (except 10–13, 18, 19), production
Additional personnel
- Rhys Ifans – lead vocals (10–13)
- Gorwel Owen – recording at Stiwdio Ofn, Llanfaelog (1–8, 10, 15, 17–22), mixing at Stiwdio Ofn, Llanfaelog (1–8, 10, 15)
- Paul Bowen – recording and mixing at Palace Road, Cardiff (9)
- Quinton Quammie – recording and mixing at Grassroots, Cardiff (11, 12)
- Donal Whelon – mastering at Hafod Mastering
- Jason Mitchell – vinyl cut at Loud Mastering
- Mark James Works – artwork
- Kliph Scurlock – SFA archive
Charts
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[7] | 23 |
| UK Albums Sales (OCC)[7] | 20 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[7] | 10 |
References
- ^ a b Sandiford, Kayla (12 February 2026). “Super Furry Animals detail early years compilation; share Rhys Ifans track ‘Pocket Sam’“. The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g Richards, Sam (27 March 2026). “Archive: Super Furry Animals – Precreation Percolation”. Uncut. No. 351 (May 2026). Kelsey Media. pp. 42–43. ISSN 1368-0722. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ a b Atkins, Jamie (25 February 2026). “Super Furry Animals / Precreation Percolation”. SuperDeluxeEdition. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- ^ Kirkley, Paul (11 March 2026). “Percs and Precreation”. Classic Pop. No. 103 (April 2026). Anthem Publishing. p. 52. ISSN 2050-6643.
- ^ a b c d O’Brien, Jon (9 April 2026). “Reviews – Reissues: Super Furry Animals – Pre-Creation Percolation”. Classic Pop. No. 104 (May 2026). Anthem Publishing. p. 92. ISSN 2050-6643.
- ^ a b c Price, Simon (1 May 2026). “Reissue of the Week: Precreation Percolation by Super Furry Animals”. The Quietus. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- ^ a b c d “Precreation Percolation by Super Furry Animals: Chart History”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ a b “Precreation Percolation by Super Furry Animals”. Metacritic. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ^ a b Sendra, Tim. Precreation Percolation – Super Furry Animals at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ a b Steen, Will (1 May 2026). “The Rhys Ifans era of Super Furry Animals gets its first official release”. Buzz. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ Cameron, Keith (16 June 2026). “Filter Reissues: Super Furry Animals – Precreation Percolation”. Mojo. No. 393 (August 2026). London: H Bauer Publishing. p. 99. ISSN 1351-0193.
- ^ Pollock, David (19 March 2026). “From the Vaults: Super Furry Animals – Pre-Creation Percolation”. Record Collector. No. 582 (April 2026). Diamond Publishing Ltd. p. 100. ISSN 0261-250X.
- ^ Ruddock, Martin (1 May 2026). “Super Furry Animals – Precreation Percolation”. Shindig!. No. 175 (May 2026). Sutton, Surrey, England: Silverback Publishing. p. 76. ISSN 2978-3518.
- ^ a b c Hazelwood, Holly (1 May 2026). “The Rhys Ifans era of Super Furry Animals gets its first official release”. Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ^ Arundell, Jimi (10 June 2026). “Super Furry Animals: Precreation Percolation (Strangetown)”. Under the Radar. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ^ a b Super Furry Animals (2026). Precreation Percolation (Vinyl liner notes). Strangetown Records. STR079LP.
External links
- Precreation Percolation at Discogs (list of releases)