“Felt Bat” - Lauer

Ever since I heard New Order’s “All Day Long” from their 1986 masterpiece, Brotherhood, I’ve loved a new wave-y electronic instrumental. On New Order’s track, the vocals are only until 1:49, then the rest of the track’s 5:11 is just beautifully layered bass, guitar, synths, and FEELS. Lauer’s “Felt Bat” reminds me of the best of New Order’s instrumental flourishes. Lauer mastermind, Philipp Lauer, piles on the nostalgia here with ARPs, swirling hi-end synths, and a New Order-esque baseline. Then suddenly, about 1:40 in he’s like, ‘Oh, you like The Cure, too? Why don’t I give you a Cure-esque lead guitar lick or two?”

Any Gen Xer who grew up loving New Order and The Cure will absolutely adore “Felt Bat.”