Lawrence thinks he should have been a star, he has released sixteen albums in a career that has now been going for forty years and is still striving for that elusive hit.
To be fair to him much lesser talents have had their moment in the sun so why should he not?
He has led three bands through the decades, Felt, Denim and Go-Kart Mozart (now renamed Mozart Estate).
Forever Breathes the Lonely World was Felt’s sixth album (the band made ten) released in 1986 and clocks in at eight songs in thirty-two minutes.
Future Primal Screamer Martin Duffy had joined Felt and it’s his organ playing that is pushed to the front, but it works perfectly with their normal jangly guitars. The opener Rain of Crystal Spires is a perfect example.
The main song on the album All The People I like and Those that are Dead is over five minutes of guitar and organ. Halfway through the music practically stops and Lawrence just croons the songs title before the band come back in. It’s a beautiful song.
You can see why he thinks he should have been a star as its considerably better than 1986 number one Every Loser Wins by Nick Berry.
This is a concise tight enjoyable album, certain songs like Grey Streets remind me of another great band who never got the success they deserved, The Go-Betweens. The rest of the band band join Lawrence with harmonising on Gather Up Your Wings and Fly on this the bands most accessible album.
If you have only heard of Lawrence but never actually heard his music, this is a perfect place to start.
7/10
GIVE IT A STREAM: All The People I like and Those that are Dead