AS recent efforts from Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Manic Street Preacher James Dean Bradfield and the forthcoming Noel Gallagher release would appear to demonstrate, solo albums from members of major British bands are de rigueur at the moment.
Be that as it may, though, such extra-curricular efforts tend to be terribly self-indulgent affairs, which only the most ardent of fan takes much pleasure from.
Having said that, there is the odd exception to the rule.
One such record is the second solo offering from Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys, which perhaps goes a long way to explaining why music fans in the Capital have been excited for months now about the Welshman's appearance at Liquid Room on Sunday.
Unlike his first solo outing, Yr Atal Genhedlaeth, Candylion finds Rhys singing mainly in English (much to the delight of his non-Welsh speaking fans). It's a record on which Super Furry fans find that same unique mix of psychedelic rock, folk and electronica.
Refreshingly, though, Rhys' solo record is laced with some sweet, summery 1960s pop.
"It was mostly recorded over two weeks," explains the 37-year-old, whose first name still seems to confuse most people outside Wales, but for the record is pronounced Griff.
"A few people came in and played various things - bells, and things," he continues.
"There's a guy called Owen Evans on double bass, and a girl named Lisa Jen from a band called 9 Bach - she's originally from my home town of Bethesda and it's nice because we both share the same accent.
"Then I put on some strings with Sean O'Hagan, and I went out to Brazil for a week and we mixed it out there."
Releasing his second solo album, it transpires, is just the latest in an eventful year for the singer.
The Super Furries have just finished recording their eighth studio album (the follow-up to 2005's Love Kraft), and while an exact date is still to be finalised, Rhys reveals that an August release is looking most likely.
That might sound like more than enough to be getting on with, but as well as a number of festival appearances lined up for the summer months, Rhys has recently announced the formation of Neon Neon, a side project with Bryan Hollon, aka Boom Bip. The duo's first record is also due for release this summer.
"It doesn't actually have a name yet, but the theme of the album is the De Lorean car manufacturer," explains Rhys.
"It's sort of an album about the American nightmare, based on the life and times of John De Lorean. It's about his life.
He grew up from humble beginnings to build a car plant in Belfast.
"We're still working on it, but it will hopefully be out in the next few months."
Originally a drummer for the band Emily, Rhys first found fame in Wales as the front man of Ffa Coffi Pawb, which means "everyone's coffee beans" when translated.
On signing to Ankstmusik, Ffa Coffi Pawb became one of the leading bands on the Welsh music scene, releasing three successful albums - Clymhalio, Dalec Peilon and Hei Vidal.
By this time, Rhys had put down the drumsticks and learned to play guitar in a unique way.
Left-handed, he started to play on his brother's right- handed guitar, but, rather than invert the nut and re-string it, he taught himself to play a right-handed guitar upside down, so the bass strings are on the bottom.
When Ffa Coffi Pawb disbanded in 1993, Rhys and drummer Dafydd Ieuan, who himself had played for fellow Welsh outfit Catatonia, formed the basis of Super Furry Animals.
According to legend, when offering them the deal after a gig in Cardiff, Creation Records boss Alan McGee asked that they sing more songs in English. Confused, Rhys pointed out that all the songs that night had been in English.
Nevertheless, a deal was signed and the Super Furries went on to release their critically-acclaimed first album, Fuzzy Logic, in 1996.
Since then, they've gone on to become one of Wales' biggest ever musical exports.
But despite the enormous critical and commercial success of the band, Rhys still likes to work outside the band when he gets the time.
The reason for this, he says, is that he just loves making music.
"We don't really tend to take time out to do our own stuff - there are always gaps between touring and you get bored," he explains.
"Daf's [Dafydd Ieuan, SFA's drummer] been using up any time he's had in the studio in Cardiff, and likewise, I'll head up to Gorwel's [Owen, SFA's producer] house in North Wales and write some songs.
We just do stuff in the gaps."
Shrugging off any talk that there's something slightly egotistical about the making of a solo album, Rhys says: "I suppose I've been in bands for 20 years.
"You get to know what will work, what your friends will enjoy playing and what will wind them up.
And besides, I've just got so many songs.
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