| FELT
A Decade In Music Forever Breathes The Lonely Word
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Released on 14 September 2018 – PRE-ORDER YOUR COPIES HERE
During the 80s Felt made ten albums and ten singles for the Cherry Red and Creation labels. This beautifully produced series examines the work of one of the greatest underground groups of modern times.
Part two of The Felt Decade opens with the critically acclaimed Forever Breathes The Lonely Word – they said it was the album Bob Dylan should have made in the 80s – and Alan McGee maintains it was his favourite LP released on Creation. It stands as a blueprint for a sound that captured the attention of the music world in the years that followed. Five years ahead of their time – Felt, as always, were the forerunners.
The albums that followed were lyrical – Poem Of The River – idiosyncratic – The Pictorial Jackson Review – instrumental – Train Above The City – and finally, at the very end they bowed out with the most perfect swansong – Me And A Monkey On The Moon
Felt gifted the decade with ten dark pictures that revealed details from a fragile mind – too delicate to demand that the world listen, but now, maybe, it is just starting to…
These vinyl records, unavailable for many years, have been remastered and revisited by Lawrence, and he has fashioned the ultimate definitive collections. They are available in a deluxe gatefold sleeve. The CD version comes in a bespoke 7” box, complete with various ephemera consisting of; the original album in a special gatefold sleeve – long deleted 7” vinyl single pertaining to the relevant year of release – reproduction gig flyers – double sided wall poster – and four button lapel badges for wearing with pride!
Forever Breathes The Lonely Word
Dazzling – Breathtaking – The album Bob Dylan should have made in the eighties. Martin Duffy takes over from Maurice Deebank & the teenage prodigy hammers the hammond into submission! The closest Felt came to mainstream acceptance & the first masterpiece released on creation.
| Tracklisting
1. Rain Of Crystal Spires 2. Down But Not Yet Out 3. September Lady 4. Grey Streets 5. All The People I Like Are Those That Are Dead 6. Gather Up Your Wings And Fly 7. A Wave Crashed On Rocks 8. Hours Of Darkness Have Changed My Mind
Remastered by Kevin Metcalfe and Lawrence
CD Box Single Primitive Painters / Cathedral
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Mayo Thompson recorded & produced six tracks – two of these were replaced – the remaining four songs were reluctantly remixed by Robin Guthrie at Cocteau Twins new studio. Flash forward to last year & the return of the Felt archive – amongst the masters the original Mayo Thompson mixes came to light. We have reinstated ‘She Lives By The Castle’ – one of the poetic epics the album revolves around & here, now, at last is the most satisfying version of a quite damaged & bruised masterpiece.
| Tracklisting
1. Declaration 2. Silver Plane 3. She Lives By The Castle 4. Stained Glass Windows In The Sky 5. Riding On The Equator 6. Dark Red Birds
Remastered by Kevin Metcalfe and Lawrence
CD Box Single Ballad Of The Band / I Didn’t Mean To Hurt You
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To understand ‘The Pictorial Jackson Review’ we must acquaint ourselves with Lawrence’s original inspiration – Dylan’s ‘Nashville Skyline’ & ‘Friends’ by The Beach Boys – he was obsessed by short albums full of short melodic songs. A last-minute panic though ended in the dismantling of the track list. Two of the songs that did not seem to fit were replaced with two songs that absolutely definitely did not fit. Logic becomes perverse when panic sets in. Here at last is the original album in all its ten short pop song glory. Concise ‑ minimal – a dash through a built-up area rather than a stroll in an open vista. It’s like Vic Godard said – “blind alleyways allay the jewels”!!
| Tracklisting
1. Apple Boutique 2. Ivory Past 3. Until The Fools Get Wise 4. How Spook Got Her Man 5. Bitter End 6. Tuesday’s Secret 7. Christopher Street 8. Jewels Are Set In Crowns 9. Under A Pale Light 10. Don’t Die On My Doorstep
Remastered by Kevin Metcalfe and Lawrence
CD Box Single Rain Of Crystal Spires / I Will Die With My Head In Flames |
It was stated at the time that Lawrence was not even on the record – but that was a grand folly – an insider’s joke – for Lawrence’s fingerprints are all over this record – he created the concept – devised the imagery it rests upon – and was there each day in the studio sculpting the music – it is indeed like all the others a band collaboration.
| Tracklisting
1. Train Above The City 2. On Weegee’s Sidewalk 3. Run Chico Run 4. Press Softly On The Brakes Holly 5. Spectral Morning 6. Teargardens 7. Book Of Swords 8. Seahorses On Broadway
Remastered by Kevin Metcalfe and Lawrence
CD Box Single The Final Resting Of The Ark / There’s No Such Thing As Victory
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The novel idea for the final Felt album was to engage Adrian Borland who had almost produced the first. Adrian rehearsed with the band for a week, suggesting arrangements & familiarising himself with the material. Such enthusiasm from a producer was a first. Felt, by now a trio of Lawrence, Ainge & Duffy, had moved to Brighton to join label mates Primal Scream & Creation “President” Alan McGee. In fact, Robert Young from The Scream plays elegant bass throughout. Creation though could not release the record until 1990 so Felt switched to the idiosyncratic el to fulfil their dream of ten albums in ten years. Determination – Inspiration – Revelation.
| Tracklisting
1. I Can’t Make Love To You Anymore 2. Mobile Shack 3. Free 4. Budgie Jacket 5. Cartoon Sky 6. New Day Dawning 7. Down An August Path 8. Never Let You Go 9. She Deals In Crosses 10. Get Out Of My Mirror
Remastered by Kevin Metcalfe and Lawrence
CD Box Single Space Blues / Tuesday’s Secret
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With these albums Lawrence should at last be able to step up and take his rightful place amongst the high priests of attitude and cool.
Released on 14 September 2018 – PRE-ORDER YOUR COPIES HERE
