Felt
Cultivated, experimental pop outfit formed in 1980 whose guru is the enigmatic Lawrence Hayward (vocals/guitar). Early collaborators included Maurice Deebank (guitar) and Nick Gilbert (bass), who practiced together in a small village called Water Orton just outside Birmingham. By the time of their first Cherry Red album drummer Tony Race was replaced by Gary Ainge, and Gilbert departed to be replaced on bass by Mick Lloyd. Martin Duffy joined on organ for IGNITE THE SEVEN CANNONS. Cult status had already arrived with the archetypal Felt cut Penelope Tree. The critical respect they were afforded continued, though they had little in the way of commercial recognition. The nearest they came was the 1985 single Primitive Painters, where they were joined by Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins in a stirring, pristine pop song produced by fellow Cocteau Robin Guthrie. They signed to Creation in 1985. However, as Felt's contract with Cherry Red expired, so did the tenure of Hayward's fellow guitarist and co-writer Deebank. The latter, classically trained, had been an important component of the Felt sound, and was chiefly responsible for the delicate but intoxicating drama of their early releases. Their stay at Creation saw high points in FOREVER BREATHES THE LONELY WORD (1986) and POEM OF THE RIVER (1987). On the latter they were joined by Marco Thomas, Tony Willé and Neil Scott to add to the melodic guitar broadside. Felt bowed out with ME AND A MONKEY ON THE MOON, after a final move to Él Records, by which time guitar duties had switched to John Mohan. By the end of the '80s the band were no more, having achieved their stated task of surviving 10 years, 10 singles, and 10 albums (BUBBLEGUM PERFUME is an archive release of their Creation material, THE FELT BOX SET compiles their Cherry Red recordings). Hayward had chosen to concentrate on his new project; '70s revivalists Denim.