The Splendour of Fear is the second album by English alternative rock band Felt, released in 1984. It is a largely instrumental album based around long guitar passages inspired by classical guitar music, with only tracks 2 and 5 having any lyrics.

The Splendour of Fear
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1984
Recorded1983
StudioWoodbine Street Studios, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Genre
Length30:48
LabelCherry Red
ProducerJohn A. Rivers
Felt chronology
Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty
(1982)
The Splendour of Fear
(1984)
The Strange Idols Pattern and Other Short Stories
(1984)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Record Collector[2]
Sounds[3]

The cover art is taken from the poster for the 1966 Andy Warhol/Paul Morrissey film Chelsea Girls, designed by Alan Aldridge. According to Lawrence, he had discovered the image in a library book without knowing who the artist actually was, having assumed it was Warhol himself. Aldridge never approached the band for using it without his permission.

Track listing

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All words by Lawrence. All music by Lawrence and Maurice Deebank.

No.TitleLength
1."Red Indians"1:57
2."The World Is as Soft as Lace"4:19
3."The Optimist and the Poet"7:54
4."Mexican Bandits"3:51
5."The Stagnant Pool"8:29
6."A Preacher in New England"4:18

Personnel

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Felt[4]

  • Lawrence – rhythm guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, and 5), vocals (tracks 2 and 5), lead guitar (track 5)
  • Maurice Deebank – lead guitar
  • Mick Lloyd – bass guitar (tracks 1–5)
  • Gary Ainge – drums (tracks 1–5)

Production

  • John A. Rivers - production

References

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  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ Rathbone, Oregano (February 2018). "Felt – Crumbling The Antiseptic Beauty, The Splendour Of Fear, The Strange Idols Pattern And Other Short Stories, Ignite The Seven Cannons, The Seventeenth Century". Record Collector (476).
  3. ^ Gibson, Robin (1984), "Startle it up", Sounds
  4. ^ "Felt – the Splendour of Fear (1984, Vinyl)". Discogs. February 1984.