The other day I finally managed to see Lawrence of Belgravia, Paul Kelly's documentary film about Lawrence Hayward, the frontman of the criminally under-appreciated groups Felt, Denim and Go Kart Mozart. I've always liked Lawrence's music and - even more - his deadpan and perverse take on modernity ('I knew it was crap, the Internet', he opines at one point in the film). Along with Mark E. Smith and Jarvis Cocker, Lawrence is one of British indie music's most endearing curmudgeons.
Using a long-take visual style that recalls the work of Patrick Keiller, Kelly's film meditates on the injustice of Lawrence's lack of commercial success. It is funny and moving, so go to see it now if you can. But since the film assumes knowledge of Lawrence's musical background, it would be a good idea first to familiarise yourself with the man's oeuvre. I recommend the following, very beautiful, song by Felt:
Using a long-take visual style that recalls the work of Patrick Keiller, Kelly's film meditates on the injustice of Lawrence's lack of commercial success. It is funny and moving, so go to see it now if you can. But since the film assumes knowledge of Lawrence's musical background, it would be a good idea first to familiarise yourself with the man's oeuvre. I recommend the following, very beautiful, song by Felt:
Also check out this comic gem by Denim:
And this from Go Kart Mozart, which I always think of as a neat rejoinder to news media stereotypes of the lazy working class - a masterpiece of 'reverse discourse':
RSS Feed
