First Impressions: Gruff Rhys V Tony Da Gatorra

Artrocker has had a sneaky listen to 'The Terror of Cosmic Loneliness', the debut album by Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys and Brazlilian electro nutter Tony Da Gatorra.

For those unfamliar with Tony, he is described as 'a Brazilian TV and VCR repairman, musical freedom fighter and the inventor of his own unique ‘Gatorra’ instrument.'

Together with the SFA frontman and "superfast jellyfish", they recorded this debut collaboration in five days. Here's Artrocker.TV's first impressions...

1. O QUE TU TEM

A ten minute long piece of electro-stuttering, with Tony rambling over the top in Portuguese. Makes us feel slightly queezy.

2. IN A HOUSE WITH NO MIRRORS (YOU'LL NEVER GET OLD)

Distorted fuzz-pop surrounds Gruff's first song. It's quite relaxed and loose feeling, similar to his first solo record.

3. ESPIRITO LUZ

Tony sounds worried here - his Portuguese rant is surrounded by 1980s Doctor Who-style effects and ambient howling from Gruff.

4. OH! WARRA HOO!

Drum machine punk, with menacing, detuned guitar strings taking Gruff's melodic vocal into a sinister place.

5. EU PROTESTO

Tony sounds like he's being prodded by random drum machine beats, and enjoying the experience. Gruff ocasionally screams in the background.

6. OVNI

The most experimental track here, 'OVNI' sounds like someone using a didgeridoo as a bong.

7. VOZ DOS SEMTERRA

More Portuguese ranting from Tony, who sounds angry and in the mood to punish this time. A spooky bass hum accompanies him.

8. 6868

Very subtle pop here, again in the DIY spirit of Gruff's first solo album. "Peace and love and love and hate in '68" sings the Furry one.

9. RAP VERDADE

More minimalist drum machines, with Tony seemingly having an arguement with himself over the top.

10. (PEIDIWCH AC) OVNI

Psychedelic space noises run amock in this short and weird closer.

THE VERDICT!
The Terror of Cosmic Loneliness is an amusing album full of strange ramblings, casio keyboard beats and psychedlic weirdness. Extremely experimental and seemingly improvised, the record doesn't attempt any big pop songs or melodic choruses - going instead for a punkish DIY approach. A strange (but fun) brew.