Candylion is the second solo album by Welsh musician and Super Furry Animals front-man Gruff Rhys. It was released on 8 January 2007 through Rough Trade Records (in the UK) and Team Love (in the US) and peaked at number fifty on the UK Albums Chart. The album includes the singles "Candylion" and "Gyrru Gyrru Gyrru".

Candylion
Studio album by
Released8 January 2007
RecordedStiwsio Ofn, Llanfaelog, Wales, Spring 2006
AR 3, Rio De Janeiro
Dairy, Brixton, London
GenreAlternative rock
Length44:39
LabelRough Trade Records (UK), Team Love (US)
ProducerGruff Rhys, Gorwel Owen, Mario Caldato, Jr.
Gruff Rhys chronology
Yr Atal Genhedlaeth
(2005)
Candylion
(2007)
Hotel Shampoo
(2011)
Singles from Candylion
  1. "Candylion" b/w "Colossal Smile"
    Released: 4 December 2006
  2. "Gyrru Gyrru Gyrru" b/w "Y Creadur"
    Released: 2007 (iTunes only single)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian [1]
The Independent [3]
NME [4]
Pitchfork Media [5]
The Times [6]
Twisted Ear [7]
The Wheel's Still In Spin(not rated) [8]
Uncut [9]
AllMusic [10]

It also features Lisa Jen from the Welsh language band 9Bach on backing vocals and xylophone. On its release, record stores stocking the album were supplied with 96 inch cardboard sheets with patterns for making the cardboard candylion seen on the album cover, to hand out to purchasers.

Track listing edit

All music and beats by Gruff Rhys.

No.TitleLength
1."This Is Just the Beginning"0:50
2."Candylion"2:31
3."The Court of King Arthur"3:24
4."Lonsome Words"2:55
5."Cycle of Violence"2:56
6."Painting People Blue"2:53
7."Beacon in the Darkness"3:18
8."Con Carino"2:18
9."Gyrru Gyrru Gyrru" (Translation: "Driving Driving Driving")3:17
10."Now That the Feeling Has Gone"3:01
11."Ffrwydriad yn y Ffurfafen" (Translation: "Explosion in the Sky")2:40
12."Skylon!"14:36

Personnel edit

 
Gruff Rhys and Lisa Jen performing live at Custom House Square, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom in 2007 in support of Candylion
Musician credits
  • Gruff Rhys – Music and Beats
  • Lisa Jên – Extra Vocals (2, 4, 6 to 8, 10, 12)
  • Owen Evans – Double Bass (2 to 6, 10, 12)
  • Kassin – Gameboy Beats (9)
  • Gorwel Owen – Tamboura (7), Stylophone (12)
  • Marçal – Extra Special Production (8, 9, 12)
  • Tandi Gebara – Birambau (12)
  • Felipe Pinaud – Flute (5, 11, 12)
  • Jonathan Thomas – Pedal Steel (6)
  • Rhodri Puw – Bell (4)
  • Siwan Puw – Sleigh Bells (7)
  • Samantha Caldato – Intro Vocal (1), Air Steward Vocal (12)
Technical credits
  • Gruff Rhys, Gorwel Owen and Mario Caldato, Jr. – Producer
  • Gorwel Owen – Recording (at Stiwsio Ofn, Llanfaelog, Wales)
  • Mario Caldato, Jr. – Mixing and Extra Special Percussion Recording (at AR Studio 3, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)
  • Igor Ferreira and Cesar Miranda – Mixing Assistant (at AR Studio 3, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)
  • Stewart Hawkes – Mastering (at Metropolis, London)
  • Sean O'Hagan and Marcus Haldaway – String Arrangements (at Dairy, Brixton, London)
  • Marc Lane – Engineering (at Dairy, Brixton, London)
  • Amanda Britton, Sally Herbert, Brian Wright, Jacqueline Norrie, Laura Melhuish – Violin
  • Marcus Holdaway – Cello
  • Pete Fowler – Artwork
  • Pete James – Artwork, Art Direction and Photography

Charts edit

Chart Peak
UK Albums Chart[11] 50

References edit

  1. ^ "CD: Gruff Rhys, Candylion". The Guardian. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Candylion - Gruff Rhys". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  3. ^ Gill, Andy (5 January 2007). "Album: Gruff Rhys". Culture. The Independent (Review). Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Gruff Rhys: Candylion". Nme.com. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Gruff Rhys: Candylion". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  6. ^ "The Times & The Sunday Times". Thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Twisted Ear | General Blog". Twistedear.com. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  8. ^ "The Wheel's Still in Spin: Gruff Rhys - Candylion". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2007.
  9. ^ Pattison, Louis (3 January 2007). "Gruff Rhys – Candylion". Reviews. Uncut. IPC Media. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. [failed verification]
  10. ^ Candylion (Review) at AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. ^ "GRUFF RHYS | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 13 August 2014.