Maebh Springbett
Belle and Sebastian began as a small-scale project in Glasgow in 1994. Since then, they have risen to fame, being known worldwide as ‘that Scottish indie pop band’.
Belle and Sebastian recently released an unexpected twelfth studio album with Matador Records, Late Developers. It comes almost back to back with their album A Bit of Previous, released in May 2022. Both albums were recorded in the same session.
This release schedule is reminiscent of their debut release, Tigermilk, in 1996. Tigermilk was swiftly followed later that year by If You’re Feeling Sinister.
For the first time since Fold Your Hands Child (2000), this era was recorded in the band’s hometown. The eleven new tracks loop right back to the beginning of their journey, rebuilding a feeling of unity and nostalgia after their hiatus.
‘A certified synth pop bop’
The lead single I Don’t Know What You See In Me, which preceded the full album’s release by just four days, is a certified synth pop bop. The track delivers classic Belle and Sebastian brightness but, unlike their trademark tales of tragedy, it brings a hopeful message – “I don’t know if it’s enough/But I know I’m not about to give you up”.
“the band have always had a talent for combining gentle, airy melodies with dark lyrics”
Like a Scottish, seven-piece version of The Smiths, the band has always had a talent for combining gentle, airy melodies with dark lyrics. Juliet Naked and When We Were Very Young stand out here. The latter in particular employs a delicate touch as Richard Colburn holds down a steady pace on the drums. Simultaneously Stuart Murdoch laments the monotony of domestic life as he sings “I wish I could be content with the football score”, and later “I wish I could walk away from my scars and sores”.
This sensitivity is suddenly extinguished with the unexpected but fitting When You’re Not With Me. Immediately Bobby Kildea lays down a smooth bass which serenades Sarah Martin’s delicate vocals before the band reveals its indie rock side with blistering riffs from Stevie Jackson.
Camaraderie
With a band member for every day of the week, there is a sense of camaraderie across the album. As usual frontman Murdoch, Jackson and Martin share vocals and perform a back and forth on tracks such as Do You Follow and When The Cynics Stare Back From The Wall (the penultimate track written in 1994 before Belle and Sebastian even formed!).
“The song feels like a celebration”
The title track Late Developers is a joyous finale to end the album. Incorporating playful keys by Chris Geddes, upbeat trumpet and complete with gospel choir, the song feels like a celebration.
Belle and Sebastian, each member a talented multi-instrumentalist, continue to orchestrate themselves with ease.
And the results? A stunningly tuneful album like Late Developers.
Image courtesy of blocks via Unsplash. See image license here. No changes were made to this image.
Maebh Springbett
While Head of Entertainment for Empoword Journalism, Maebh works in the Careers department at the University of Reading. Their writing focuses on music and has been published by the likes of Music Is To Blame and Dead Good Music. They aspire to work in non-fiction publishing.