"All back to Furryland for some Welsh weirdness. Considering the fact that most of these 'Under The Influence'-type celebrity mix CDs are actually compiled by stylists and managers, there's something refreshing about Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys' obsession with the stoned sounds of '70s Wales. This idiosyncratic array of prog rock funky drumbeats and fuzzed-up pop will confuse those who think that Welsh music only consists of male vocal choirs and eisteddfods. From the handclaps and acoustic la-la-la stomps of Meic Stevens' 'Y Brawd Houdini' to the gentle outer-space folk of Huw Jones' 'Dwr' or the swirling prog dynamics of Edward H Dafis' 'Calan Gaef', 'Welsh Rare Beat' demonstrates that Wales was full of freaked-out weirdos long before Rhys's band formed. In a sea of blando compilations, it's an essential purchase which gives a unique insight into the strange pop-art experiment that is Super Furry Gruff's brain. Classic. 9/10"
NME (AUGUST 2005)
"Finders Keepers - the rarities obsessed offshoot of Manchester's Twisted Nerve imprint - have outdone themselves here. Enlisting the knowledge and enthusiasm of Gruff Super Furry, they've put together a choice assortment of songs from Welsh label Sain. Though loosely described as folk, tracks such as the tabla-driven Dwr and Mae Rhywyn Wedi Dwyn Fy Nhrwyn (sampled by Cashmoney) show Sain to be a mix of punk ideals, warmth, wit and political activism; given life by a bewildering array of musical styles. It's got heart, soul, funk and fury and though you may not understand the language, you'll sure get the message. 5/5"
FLY MAGAZINE (AUGUST 2005)
"A compilation of Welsh music from the Sain label is a niche interest outside of Cyrmu, sure. But left in the hands of Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys, Andy Votel and Dom Thomas, the result is an often amazing trawl through a seldom travelled musical path. Unless you're Welsh, of course, almost all the tracks are going to be new to you, except perhaps Meic Stevens: the grand-daddy of the alternative Welsh music scene. From druidic folk (Eleri Llwyd) and proto garage psych (Y Tebot Piws) to drawn out freak jams (Huw Jones' 'Mathonwy'), Welsh Rare Beat is both exciting and user friendly, unearthing a musical heritage far removed from close harmony male choirs. Rhys' sleeve notes put the whole in great socio-political context too. Indispensable. 9/10"
CITY LIFE (AUGUST 2005)
"An otherworldly set of rare Welsh folk, meticulously compiled by Andy Votel and Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys. No drugs required: it's weird already"
OBSERVER MUSIC MONTHLY (JULY 2005)
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