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

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.