felt – forever breathes the lonely word (1986)

Felt’s career was guided by lead singer Lawrence’s grand ideas of artistic endeavour. He wanted the band to produce 10 albums and 10 singles in 10 years and then dissolve. They did. On their sixth LP, Felt carried sensitivity through bold melodies to assemble a masterpiece of organ-pop. FBTLW is a deeply intricate attempt to collate music of classical proportions with the gushing milieu of the 80s. It does so in 32 minutes, perfectly. The jaunty, Mozart-esque waltzing elevates the music to high art, while the vulnerable vocal performance and lyrics eschew snobbery for entertainment. It is inviting, in the way that depth and beauty are not always.