Over the past few days I’ve been listening a lot to the latest release by the greatest band in the world. (I once got in trouble with some folks from MIT by referring to The Velvet Underground as the greatest band of all time, but I’m willing to suffer some jibes in the defense of Belle & Sebastian.)
I ran across them a few years ago via a friend, their magnificent Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant. With sharp, funny lyrics and retro cover art—both of which reminded me of The Smiths—mixed with a full sound that mixes pop, folk and classical orchestration, I very quickly became obsessed.
I’m stunned most of all by how few people seems to know about them, which is why I’m writing this now. From their first record, their sound was utterly unique and fully formed, and over the years they’ve evolved with various personnel changes, moving into a more self-conscious, but no less brilliant, pop sound.
Listen out for the first single from The Life Pursuit, “Funny Little Frog”, as well as the fantastic tracks, “Act of the Apostle” and “To Be Myself Completely”.
(Originally posted at the Contemporary Nomad)