Monocled Alchemist

“My Face Is On Fire” / “Trails Of Colour Dissolve” (Cherry Red CHERRY 45) October 1982

FELT ‘My Face Is On Fire’ (Cherry Red) Felt are a constant source of bewilderment to me. This tumbling, breathy love song —“oh no, oh no, don’t let them break you down” — is almost ecstatic in its own quiet introspection, but Felt need to break out, become more focused, less fussy, more celebratory and positive if they are to ever repeat on 45 the fragile success of their ‘Crumbling The Antiseptic Beauty’ LP, which had a sharp clarity that sparkled.

Maybe Felt pour down like silver too much when they really need an injection (is there an alchemist in the house?) of a new gold dream, to give them the vision, the joy and most importantly the commercial appeal of Simple Minds.

Felt | My Face Is On Fire | (Cherry Red) 1982

I have to admit, here and now, a personal error . . . when I rave-reviewed ‘New Gold Dream’ the other week, I trusted that everyone would appreciate what an important, vital, sensual, musical, emotional peak it represented. Never thinking I would have to actually tell you — you’d realise, and for once, I would err on the side of economy in my written heraldry. I was wrong!

And so, to shine a light on the inescapable truth, I have to say . . . ‘New Gold Dream’ is the best album released this year, and a track such as the sultry ‘Someone Somewhere In Summertime’ can paint heart-pictures across the miles — this inner beauty is known to me, a special girl in Hartlepool and a friend of mine with thoughts on Australia. That said though, the Felt single is still a lovely sound just with a hint of too much loneliness. (Sounds, 09/10/82)