Belle And Sebastian - Late Developers

by Zena Grieg

published: 20 / 3 / 2023

Label: Matador Records
Format: CD

intro

Eclectic latest album from Glasgow indie-pop band Belle and Sebastian

Glasgow indie-pop band Belle and Sebastian have brought out a new album, twenty-six years after their debut, ‘Tigermilk’. Appearing less than a year after their 2022 release, ‘A Bit Of Previous’, ‘Late Developers’ is an eclectic mix of genres. Like their 2022 release it is full of new songs recorded during the pandemic. Themes include spirituality, love and the dread of getting old. Songs to listen out for in this eleven-track collection include: the mid-tempo rock opener ‘Juliet Naked’ with its frenetic energy; the catchy ‘Give A Little Time’; ballad ‘Will I Tell You A Secret’ with its unexpected harpsichord; the soul-infused, Motown-inspired ‘The Evening Star’; indie dance track ‘When You’re Not With Me’, highlighting Sarah Martin’s strong vocals; surprising synth-pop lead single ‘I Don’t Know What You See In Me’, which main songwriter Stuart Murdoch described: “All music is escape, and perhaps we managed to escape a little further than usual with this unexpected tune”; the funky duet between lead singers Stuart Murdoch and Sarah Martin ‘Do You Follow?’; the acoustic, country-tinged ‘When The Cynics Stare Back From The Wall’; and the ebullient Afro-Caribbean-beat title track closer. A melodic pop record with engaging lyrics and narrative, ‘Late Developers’ is a sonically exploratory, confident progression for this versatile band.

Track Listing:-

1 Juliet Naked
2 Give A Little Time
3 When We Were Very Young
4 Will I Tell You A Secret?
5 So In The Moment
6 The Evening Star
7 When You're Not With Me
8 I Don't Know What You See In Me
9 Do You Follow?
10 When The Cynics Stare Back From The Wall
11 Late Developers

Band Links:-

https://www.belleandsebastian.com/
https://www.facebook.com/belleandsebastian
https://twitter.com/bellesglasgow

Label Links:-

http://www.matadorrecords.com/
https://twitter.com/matadorrecords
https://www.facebook.com/MatadorRecords
http://matadorrecords.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/matadorrecs
https://www.instagram.com/matadorrecords/

Play in YouTube:-

Have a Listen:-

interviews

Interview (2009)

Ben Howarth speaks to Chris Geddes, the keyboardist with Belle and Sebastian about how their own one-off 1999 festival, the Bowlie Weekender had a crucial impact on the All Tomorrow's Parties festivals, and, after a long absence, his band's own plans for the future

live reviews

Manchester Academy, Manchester, 21/7/2023

Amanda J Window enjoys an exuberant set from Scottish indie pop outfit Belle and Sebastian at the Manchester Academy.

Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, 28/10/2104

features

Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2015)

Belle And Sebastian - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...

In our series, in which our writers write about ten songs that made them love a particular artist or band, Erick Mertx writes about his favourite songs by Belle and Sebastian

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