Feline, The Stranglers

The Stranglers – Feline

Artist: The Stranglers

Title: Feline

Album Type: Seventh Studio Album

Original Release Date: January 1983

Label: Epic Records

Genre: New Wave / Sophisti-pop / European Rock

Background & Production Feline marked a major sonic departure for The Stranglers, moving away from the jagged punk and dark psychedelia of their early years toward a more refined, European-influenced sound. Recorded at ICP Studios in Brussels, the album was the band's first for Epic Records. Produced by the band alongside Steve Churchyard, the sessions famously utilized acoustic guitars, electronic drums (the Simmons kit), and lush synthesizers. This shift reflected the band's growing interest in French and Mediterranean aesthetics, trading their signature "men-in-black" aggression for a sleek, atmospheric elegance.

Musical Composition & Style The album is characterized by its sophisticated textures, minimalist arrangements, and a heavy focus on melody and rhythm over distortion.

• The Lead Single: European Female is the album’s centerpiece, featuring a hypnotic, flamenco-inspired acoustic guitar riff and Dave Greenfield’s shimmering keyboards. It became a Top 10 hit in the UK and a staple of the era.

• Atmospheric Rock: Tracks like Midnight Summer Dream showcase Jean-Jacques Burnel’s distinctive, melodic bass lines paired with a dreamy, almost cinematic production that leaned into the emerging "New Romantic" landscape.

• Rhythmic Innovation: The use of acoustic guitars (played by Hugh Cornwell) against the electronic pulse of Jet Black’s drumming created a unique "acoustic-electronic" hybrid that set the album apart from other 1983 releases.

• Lyrical Themes: The lyrics are observational and sophisticated, dealing with themes of travel, romance, and European identity, delivered with Cornwell’s trademark dry, baritone wit.

Legacy & Collector Notes Feline reached #4 on the UK Albums Chart and remains one of the most respected entries in The Stranglers' extensive catalog. For vinyl collectors, the original Epic Records pressing is highly valued for its crisp, clear production. The cover art—featuring a striking, stylized feline silhouette—perfectly mirrors the album’s sleek and mysterious contents. It is an essential title for Shopify stores focusing on New Wave evolution, Post-Punk survivors, and 80s European art-rock.

• Keywords: The Stranglers, Feline, European Female, Epic Records, 1983 Vinyl, New Wave, Hugh Cornwell, JJ Burnel, Dave Greenfield, Midnight Summer Dream.

• Collection Ideas: 80s New Wave Masterpieces, Post-Punk Evolution, European Art-Rock, The Epic Records Years.

• Related Artists: Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure, The Sound, Joy Division, Simple Minds.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve