Chosen By: Stu
Comments -
Dean: What a folky ambient record. I've heard Belle and Sebastian before but passed it over, labelling it ‘too banal', ‘not stimulating enough’. But this reminds me of the Vince Guaraldi Trio and in particular a much loved Peanuts refrain, Linus and Lucy.
It has a a playful, innocence that, on this listen, accomplished a reaction within me akin to being charmed and that is not a frequent condition. I found the lyrics simple, honest and yet, as the title suggests, a little sinister. Perhaps that combination of child-like sentiment and themes of an adult nature meet one another in a disturbing and intriguing way. I think this was for me the biggest selling point. Thanks Stu. Never really heard that combination before and I enjoyed it immensely.
I've been keeping a lot of the group’s recommendations in my music library lately. As I'm sure you all know, the group's name came from a book about the adventures and relationship between a boy and his dog. The authoress was French. It was first animated in Japan. Seems all to make a lot of sense 🌟
Paul: I sometimes wonder about the difference between songs and poems (and rap and spoken word for that matter.) Where does poem end and song start? This album has made me think about that again.
The upbeat songs sound like songs I'll grant you and I like those better. The title track and Judy and the Dream of Horses for example. They are slightly more memorable. The slower ones are more like poems with music behind. And I don't really dig them.
There are some good rhymes in here - yes, 'discus' and 'Widnes', 'sinister' and 'minister' for instance but I could have read them in a book. I sense the poetry in some of this but I really don't feel the music.
Ben: I really like Dear Catastrophe Waitress but I struggle to like this album. I can appreciate the voice but the instrumentation is too harsh for my taste, it lacks warmth, it’s too raw. Maybe it’s too downbeat, are there any bangers? I saw one commentator comparing b and s to the smiths but I dont see that.
Where’s the energy, the fun, the singability, the toe-tapability? Nah, it’s not for me. I’m fast forwarding 6 years to Dear Catastrophe Waitress, it’s sooo much better. Yes, there are two slowys on that album but they fit in nicely and I can appreciate them when they are contrasted with the upbeat songs.
Stu: Like many bands, B&S hooked me right at the very start and have kept me company right up to this day, purchasing each record upon release day and thankfully never disappointing. Straight off the bat I feel in love with Stuart Murdoch, band leader and enigmatic. A Poetical, university educated foppish lad with 6 other art school kids making beautiful music. The Smiths reference comes from the style of the record covers, the literature they read and the song titles and the attention to deal of the artistic side. When you witness them play live the whole thing just falls in to place. Between 10 and 15 members on a rotating basis with all manner of instruments make it a complete joy. I witnessed them at Glastonbury and it was by far and away the best performance of the week! They always invite about 10 fans up on stage to dance around. Please go check out their other LPS and particularly their single LAZY JANE PAINTER. Also, please check out Isobel Campbell who left after the first few records to go solo. PLUS, another band in a similar style is CAMERA OBSCURA, which I visited yesterday at the foot of the castle. Finally, do check out THE DELGADOS! I’m here, home of Postcard Records and spending a week in this city perfectly illustrates all these wonderful bands!! B&S 🌟
It’s burnished on the 4 chambers of my beating heart.
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