Cherry Red Records

With the increasing amount of reissues floating around, we feel it is about time to feature some of the more worthwhile albums seeing a second go. Hopefully, this can become a weekly section. After all, we would not be pretentious music writers if we did not constantly say how much better it was ten years ago. The irony being ten years from now we will probably say that about music being made today.

The most recent re-release from Cherry Red records (a small UK distro) lacks in the usual extras normally found in modern day reissues. There is no considerable increase in sound quality, or an extra disc filled with rarities and b-sides. Instead, the real virtue in Felt’s Forever Breathes the Lonely Word is that it is actually available again. Felt was a heavily underrated band led by the eccentric Lawrence Hayward. The group released nine albums between 1981-1989; however, Forever Breathes the Lonely Word stands as the group’s finest hour (well, technically the album clocks in around 30 minutes, so I guess it would be their finest half hour).

Forever Breathes the Lonely Word- to put it in simple terms – is a pop masterpiece. Obviously that is a rather lofty statement to make, but I figure I am allowed to make them every once and awhile. Felt kicks the album of with the catchy organ hooks of “Rain of Crystal Spires”. The opening song as well as the album’s best track, “Grey Streets” are both marked jangling guitars and a rich organ; a combination that makes up the album’s trademark sound. Hayward’s unique vocals bring an added dimension to the band’s perfectly constructed melodies. The vocal delivery is not perfect; however, what Hayward lacks in pure vocal ability, he more than makes up for it in the charm permeating through Felt’s songs. The more I listen to Forever Breathes the Lonely Word, the more I find myself enjoying it.

Hayward’s vocal stylings do not catch on immediately; yet, Hayward’s lyrical skills grab your attention quickly. Felt’s lyrics are unique and instantly memorable. Hayward’s songwriting is refreshing and heavily influential on current groups like Belle and Sebastian. Lines in the vein of “maybe I should entertain the very fact that I’m insane” only further showcase Hayward’s cleverness as a musician.

Needless to say, I was ecstatic to finally find this album. Forever Breathes the Lonely Word is an underrated benchmark album. While the group started to fall apart and release albums of only instrumentals, Forever Breathes the Lonely Word stands as a testament to the immense talent of the album. Perhaps its greatest weakness is that it is way too short at only 31 minutes. It took a search across a number of stores mainstream and independent alike. I was rather disappointed to find that certain overpriced “independent” record stores did not even carry a best of for this group amongst its needless supply of novelty lunch boxes(cough New World cough). While relatively unknown, Felt influenced many indie pop groups over the succeeding years. Hayward and co’s unique brand of jangle pop still holds eighteen years after Forever Breathes the Lonely Word’s first pressing. While this album is difficult to find, it is well worth the search.