Guide me into Felt

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Yup, cult band, 80s, indie, Cherry Red, Denim.

But they've re-released like a GAZILLION albums recently. What do I NEED? PO2 albums, or something.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Denim - Denim On Ice

Never liked any Felt I heard.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Felt -- Classic or dud??

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I liked Denim, but I've never ever ever knowingly heard any Felt. Thing is, if it hadn't all been re-released I'd be much more up for it. Now it's there, I know it can wait. Indie music, women, cha.

Yeah, seen it Julio, but I need an entry level exactly which LPs shd I buy type guide.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Felt

1)The Strange Idols Pattern and Other Short stories
2)Poem of The River
3)Forever Breathes the Lonely Word

I would recommend starting with those three.

― cl, Monday, 12 January 2004 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Nice thread title

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

they were so bad live, it put me off the rekkids.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Get Forever breathes the lonely word from the Creation stuff and splendour of fear from the cherry red stuff. They are both really quite wonderful. The bubblegum perfume album is the creation compilation with all their short poppy songs on (I'm not sure that this has been re released).

Avoid the maurice deebank solo piffle.

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Monday, 12 January 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"Primitive Painters" on "Ignite The Seven Cannons" is sublime.

― Paul T, Monday, 12 January 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

You need all their records. And every Denim record and the Go-Kart Mozart record. By far, the most important artist of the last 30 years.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 12 January 2004 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

That's really helpful, Scott. But which do I buy first? Just on the off-chance I don't 100% agree.

Amazon.co.uk Review
These are the two most commercial early-80s Felt albums, and The Strange Idols Pattern, from 1984, is also the best. Its delicate, gossamer-thin sound perfectly couches Maurice Deebank's sparkling, intricate guitar lines and Lawrence's breathy introspection; the whole thing sounds like cool, clear water, trebly and spacious, and has immense charm. 1985's Ignite The Seven Cannons saw Martin Duffy--later of Primal Scream--join on keyboards, but the transition from the original Felt sound to the lush, organ-driven atmospherics of later years was not a smooth one. For the most part, Duffy's contribution just clutters a muddy mix, but there are moments where the new Felt sound falls into place--brilliantly on the sullen epic "Primitive Painters". --Taylor Parkes

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 12 January 2004 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

if you don't mind the sound made by an organ then 'forever breathes...' should be fine.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 12 January 2004 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Start with Strange Idols Pattern then. You will love it and then you will want to buy all of them.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 12 January 2004 17:05 (twenty-two years ago)

whatever you do, don't buy the dvd. i love felt more than any manjack, womanjack or babyjack alive, and i was very disappointed by the dvd. it was not of a quality befitting the regal bards of a dismantled throne.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 12 January 2004 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

That TP review is of a previous reissue which paired TSIPAEOSS and ITSC, rather than the handsome individual reissues which recently emerged on Cherry Red, just in case that wasn't clear.

The problem with "Ignite..." is the dreadful Robin Guthrie production, Lawrence should never have got involved with dodgy old goths. "Black Ship In The Harbour" is unbelievably good, mind.

I remember an article in "Jamming" from (I suppose) about '83 or '84 which said something amounting to "listening to Felt is like taking the same 10 minute walk every day: it seems like repetition but you end up being interested in the small differences." This is no doubt a paraphrase which falls into the 'bleeding liberty' category.

My favourite Felt LP is "Crumbling The Antiseptic Beauty" because my brother bought me a white label copy in '84 and it still seems ridiculously mysterious: not even any cover art, just green handwriting on the label.

I bought the new reissue of "The Pictorial Jackson Review" a few weeks back and it's really not very good at all.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 12 January 2004 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

You'll want something that showcases Maurice Deebank and something that showcases Martin Duffy. I'd suggest The Splendour of Fear and Forever Breathes the Lonely Word. You wouldn't go wrong with Ignite the Seven Cannons though. It's also worthwhile to get Stains on a Decade because it has a lot of non-LP tracks that are good (Penelope Tree, a better version of Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow). But the essential albums for me are Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty and The Splendour of Fear.

My favorite part of Felt was Maurice Deebank on Guitar, so I'm less interested in the later stuff. I also think his solo album is classic and brilliant, save the fact it's called "Inner Thought Zone."

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Monday, 12 January 2004 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

For the most part, Duffy's contribution just clutters a muddy mix, but there are moments where the new Felt sound falls into place--brilliantly on the sullen epic "Primitive Painters"

What is this guy talking about? That song is all about Maurice Deebank. It's the last gasp of the old Felt sound!

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Monday, 12 January 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

If you can find the Cherry Red "Absolute Classic Masterpieces Volume 1" (ugg, what a godawful title, even for Felt) compilation, then that's a great primer for their Cherry Red reads, (1979-1985). It's a reverse chronological comp, kina.

The Creation one, "Absolute Classic Masterpieces Volume 2", is also great.

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 12 January 2004 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

"reads" = "years"

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 12 January 2004 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

**The problem with "Ignite..." is the dreadful Robin Guthrie production**

Tim OTM. Unlistenable.

'Crumbling..' is the only one worth having - fantastic stuff. I wish it was the only thing they'd released. Oh maybe 'My Face is On Fire' and 'Penelope Tree' too.

The Duffy era stuff is 90% shit. The last album on Creation (Me and a Monkey on the Moon) is 100% shit.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 12 January 2004 18:20 (twenty-two years ago)

another vote for: The Strange Idols Pattern
as being Felt's best

next best: both Forever Breathes the Lonely Word and the Splendour Of Fear

later contenda Denim On Ice is among Lawrence's best ever albums too

― Paul (scifisoul), Monday, 12 January 2004 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

"Ballad of the Band" and "Primitive Painters" are their catchiest tracks.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 12 January 2004 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm with all the Denim love, every-single-thing he has touched from Back In Denim onwards is magnificent and inspired and perfect really. The only Felt I have is the compilation one from last year which I got because I wanted Primitive Painters and Space Blues (which is surely their greatest moment by a really big measurement); most of the rest of it is perfectly great but I have always been entirely unprompted to buy any of the actual albums, even now that I actually CAN. (I did find the oldendays creation-version of Poem Of The River in bargain bin about a year ago but it is Not Good and my copy is now languishing somewhere on amazon marketplace under the assumption that it is in fact a gloriously treasurable collectors item)

Any opportunity to flag up NEW RECORD PLEASE LAWRENCE (I keep reading that Denim Take Over is finished and the new Go-Kart Mozart is finished and his gloomdoomy Big Solo Thing is finished so PLEASE IN FACT RELEASE AT LEAST ONE OF THEM. thanks)

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 12 January 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Look for tracks..."Penelope Tree" "World as Soft as Lace". I prefer the early stuff as it more atmospheric, poetical and etheral. This is the complete antithesis of Denim tracks such as "Tampax Ad" and "Fish and Chips". However, having said that, "I'm Against the 80's" is a 24 carat classic, a riotous venting of Lawrences spleen.

― Treacle, Monday, 12 January 2004 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Yet another vote here for The Strange Idols Pattern. Definitely leave Me and a Monkey... for the time being.

Plus that first Go-Kart Mozart record still gets funnier and more unsettling with every listen. Can't wait for a new one...

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 12 January 2004 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

You can read my brilliant Go-Kart Mozart review here(that record barely existed in the u.s.-same with denim-i tried to do my part):

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0043/seward.php

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 12 January 2004 22:06 (twenty-two years ago)

i would start with the two "absolute classic masterpieces" compilations. my first exposure to felt was "ballad of the band" which i still utterly adore.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 12 January 2004 22:49 (twenty-two years ago)

you make the go kart mozart album sound incredible. is it actually incredible shit?

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Monday, 12 January 2004 23:07 (twenty-two years ago)

its wonderful and perverse and strange and maddening and wild and unlike most things. i dig it.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 12 January 2004 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

it's more just shit. download the mp3s for a laugh, and the liner notes are funny too if you know somebody who has a copy, but by no means is it worth paying more than $1.99 for.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 01:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Another album to avoid until you're sure you know what you're doing: Denim's "Novelty Rocks."

― dlp9001, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 02:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Novelty Rock is so absolutely uncategorically NOT to be avoided; likewise the Go-Kart Mozart album. They are perhaps more gloriously dark and damaged and gleeful and delirious and frightening than Anything Else Ever (well, nothing more-so springs to mind right now), in no sense are they just squeaky haha thumb-twiddlings. These are Masterpiece Records and I want more of them now please.

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Key phrase "until you're sure you know what you're doing."

― dlp9001, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 02:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, well, yes. I don't think there's anything fundamentally difficult about Novelty Rock though, what is not to love?

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

you know, the go kart album and even denim ARE love 'em or hate 'em kinda propositions. as this thread has proven.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

but felt, they are more easily likeable in general.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Agreed. I am just drunk on the Denim-adorin' (also it is almost 3am and I am not going to get to go to bed tonight).

Now I think a full-Denim-reissue-programme is called for, none of the albums are actually in print or very-obtainable anymore, and yet their profile is perhaps as high at the moment as at any point since early-97-ish (this all relative, I realise. But Mojo snuck Back In Denim into their Britpop-revisited cover feature last year, and Denim On Ice into their olde-english-kook-artistes one, so you sense that people are WANTING to write about them - has the world "caught up with Denim" as Lawrence prophesised it would? will it imminently do so? How totally would it REWL if it really did?)

(sorry, yes, this is a Felt thread. I wish I found Felt more thrilling, is perhaps what I am essentially saying here)

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 02:58 (twenty-two years ago)

dude, it's cool. hell, i'm pimping articles i wrote years ago in the hopes that i will turn one more person on to the weirdness of it all. and i love it all! i'm sick. and this Me And A Monkey On The Moon-hate is bumming me out too. That was the start of the current weirdness if you ask me. that and maybe the space blues single. oh i could go on and on....

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 03:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I do LURVE Space Blues giantly, it always strikes me as Luke Haines' Baaader Meinhof thingo covering Suede's Savoir Faire (I love Savoir Faire and mean this as an absolute compliment. yes.)

I also love that it reportedly sprung from collective-Felt-desire to record an acid house track, this is the direction that EVERYONE should have subsequently taken (had they done so we would doubtless now all be livin it up in silvery-echo-tube moooon colonies and it would be the Actual Future and everything etc)

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I always loved Pictorial Jackson Review: I think it shows them at their least precious. As does Ballad of the Band (+ b side) & Me & a Monkey on the Moon

― bham, Tuesday, 13 January 2004 10:44 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

Sorry about this... My computer still being broken, I only skim ILM at the moment, but I sort-of have to point out that all internet-sales blurb written by me is definitively non-canonical. Done for much-needed money, on the grounds that 1. no one using Amazon to buy CDs is interested in "writing", only light cliches and quick opinion, and 2. they might as well have someone with taste advising them. "Lush organ-driven atmospherics", oh my gooooooddddddddd. "Gossamer-thin". Ugh.

1. Penelope Tree
2. Fortune
3. Crystal Ball
4. A Preacher In New England
5. Space Blues

― Taylor Parkes (Taylor Parkes), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 29 January 2004 12:44 (twenty-two years ago)

four years pass...

o shi taylor parkes responded to my thread!!!!!!!

― banriquit, Thursday, 26 June 2008 16:58 (seventeen years ago)

what is up with 'southern state tapestry', why does the guitar line feel so familiar?

― banriquit, Thursday, 26 June 2008 16:58 (seventeen years ago)

I remember hearing that Belle & Sebastian stole their whole sound from Felt, and I thought "I almost like Belle and Sebastian, I bet I'll love Felt," then I boiught Absolute Classic Masterpieces and didn't like it. This was a long time ago. Where do I dive back in if this is still what I'm waiting to hear? Seems that Bubblegum Perfume album seems like a good place to start?

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Thursday, 26 June 2008 23:25 (seventeen years ago)

bubblegum perfume is beautiful

― dell, Thursday, 26 June 2008 23:26 (seventeen years ago)

creation era vs cherry red era. numerous barfights have resulted b/c of this divide

― dell, Thursday, 26 June 2008 23:30 (seventeen years ago)

i've banned myself from all felt threads. and all swans threads. okay, i'm going.

― scott seward, Thursday, 26 June 2008 23:35 (seventeen years ago)

Hi Scott!

― energy flash gordon, Friday, 27 June 2008 02:09 (seventeen years ago)

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