Felt Crumbling The Antiseptic Beauty/Splendor Of Fear CD - Import

On Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty, there are hints of Felt's later English pop grandeur -- on the instrumental opener "Evergreen Dazed," for example, which (sans rhythm section) pits guitarist Maurice Deebank's cascading, euphoric noodlings against Lawrence Hayward's clear acoustic strums -- but overall, this is a fairly primitive affair. There is a stripped-down psychedelic feel to certain tracks, with drums pounding out a tribalistic, rolling beat beneath Deebank's complex guitar runs and Hayward's obtuse vocals. Later in their career, particularly on 1985's The Strange Idols Pattern and Other Short Stories, Felt would finally curb all that minimalist atmosphere into three-minute pop gems (while maintaining their skewed, unconventional palette); here, however, the pieces are in place but the overall vision is still rudimentary. On The Splendour of Fear, Felt still hasn't figured out how to tame all that glorious atmosphere into a distinct vision. The classically trained Deebank can unravel glistening guitar scales like nobody's business -- and Lawrence's obtuse vocal delivery certainly possesses an uncanny charm -- but this release can be monotonous at times, lapsing too often into meandering guitarscapes. The tone of the album is set on the first track, which opens with an extended dirge-like instrumental that finally gives way to Lawrence's vocals. The eight-minute-plus track "The Stagnant Pool" is a highlight here, simply because it seems purposeful -- with Lawrence's ominous vocals giving way to an emotional, melodic guitar jam that anticipates the later work of the Smiths' Johnny Marr. ~ Erik Hage
This collection contains the first two Felt albums, CRUMBLING THE ANTISEPTIC BEAUTY and THE SPLENDOUR OF FEAR--in actuality, two six-track mini albums. Both are built around the gorgeous guitar work of Maurice Deebank and Lawrence Hayward (who only goes by his first name). Most of these tracks feature long instrumental passages, the guitars augmented by spare drumming, with occasional vocals from Lawrence, who talks/sings, in the manner of Lou Reed.
CRUMBLING's highlights include "Evergreen Dazed," a beautiful instrumental, the stately "Birdman," highlighting Lawrence's singular vocal style (detached, tired, and bored, a combination more engaging in practice than you'd imagine), and "I Worship the Sun," which emphasizes Deebank's complex and sinuous guitar lines. As good as CRUMBLING is, SPLENDOUR is better if only because of the improved production. Standouts include the slow-burning instrumental "The Optimist and the Poet," and "Mexican Bandits," a gorgeous track built on stunning guitar interplay and rolling drums. This, as with most of Felt's records, is an essential purchase for fans of truly alternative music.

Two classic EPs from the indie pop act featuring singer/songwriter Lawrence Hayward (Denim/Go-Kart Mozart), 'Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty' (1981) and 'The Splendour of Fear' (1984), together on one CD. Standard jewelcase.