This Welsh guitar-pop outfit has outsurfed its Britpop-era brethren on some eight studio albums, grabbing all manner of influences from the vintage record bins (glam rock, rustic folk, techno, soul) and presenting their tunes with the latest production techniques; the group released one of the first audio-DVD surround-sound albums, "Rings Around the World," in 2001.

The band's ambition has always been balanced by a light touch with a thoughtful pop tune. But more recent albums, "Phantom Power" and "LoveKraft," have been slightly plodding, weighed down by lengthy, droning jams and an excessive democracy at the microphone.

On "Hey Venus!," the band gets back to its roots: Bowie/Ronson-influenced pop tunes that rarely exceed four minutes. Gruff Rhys (who's issued 2 solo albums between SFA duties) handles most of the lead vocal duties, as well he should. But guitarist Huw "Bunf" Bunford's turn on nutty glitter anthem "Battersea Odyssey" works well enough. Elsewhere, the Furries time travel; "Noo Consumer" borrows from the Tubeway Army for its uptight '80s feel.

"Hey Venus!" is a back to basics album at first listen, but the quintet is still ambitious--just more subtly so. The easy-going "Carbon Dating" incorporates layered, almost carnivalesque orchestration, without drawing too much attention to itself. "Hey Venus!" Is far from ostentatious, and it's as rich as anything this still vibrant band has done.