Belle and Sebastian -‘If You’re Feeling Sinister’ (Jeepster, 1996)

I once told a (perhaps understandably rather incredulous) member of Aberfeldy that Belle & Sebastian were one of the reasons I moved to Scotland. An overstatement? Well, not much of one, and it served as an important introduction for the band for me.

I hadn’t heard Tigermilk when this came out, towards the end of my first term at University. Not many copies of the 1,000 pressed had made it down to London, so when a friend at university played this for me, I was somewhat hooked. Thanks for that, Ben.

I recorded, and and took it home for the winter holidays. During that holidays I took my brother to his first gig (The Cure –quelle surprise), but the musical memory of this time is listening to this album almost on repeat. I’d heard twee-pop before in many guises, but coming at a time when the musical goliaths, for better or worse, were Britpop, The Spice Girls, and drum’n’bass, this was something totally different.

I fell hook, line and sinker for them.I’ve bought pretty much every single, EP and album as they have come out, even if it took me a while to see them live. On a visit to Scotland in 2000, I was briefly introduced to guitarist Stevie Jackson in Fopp on Byres Road, which is there to this day (the shop, not Stevie Jackson). A couple of years later I was even privileged to go round to his flat with a mutual friend 9thanks Sandy!), where he played me a track from the then-forthcoming Storytelling LP ‘Fuck this Shit.’ And awed as I was, I even managed not to make an idiot of myself. The only thing that disappointed me was that the stories on the sleeves of the back of the records weren’t true (!).

THe occasion when I did make an idiot of myself involved the drummer in a bar in Glasgow in 2004. Several pints down, having been introudced by the same mutual friend (and chatted up the woman who’d directed The Delgados’ ‘No Danger’ video) I took it upon myself to raise something with the drummer. ”ere, that track on your new album [‘Stay Loose’ from Dear Catastrophe Waitress], are you f**in’ takin’ the PISS out of Elvis Costello or what?’ Sorry mate. I gave up drinking a few years later.

This is just a gorgeous, gorgeous album. There others have been great, too, but this is the one for me. And is it any worse to move to another place for a band than a girl (or boy))?

Belle and Sebastian -‘The Stars Of Track And Field.’ mp3

Belle and Sebastian -‘Fox In the Snow.’ mp3

Belle & Sebastian

A third great scottish band (there is no order to this, neither alphabetical nor greatness, just how highly I rate them).

Belle and Sebastian first entered my world in 1996 when a friend at university leant me their second album If You’re Feeling Sinister. Their debut, Tigermilk, had already been released earlier that year and was already as rare as hens’ teeth. One of my proudest claims to fame is going round to one of the band’s flats for a cup of herbal tea, and actualy managing to play it cool. One of my more embarassing moments was drunkenly yelling at one member of the band in a pub in Glasgow two years later: ‘ ‘ere, that track [‘Stay Loose,’ off Dear Catastrophe Waitress], are you taking the piss out of Elvis Costello or what?!?!’ (Just for the record, I no longer drink). It would be an exaggeration to say that they were one of the reasons moved to Scotland in 2001, but not that much.

Anyway, there’s lots of Belle and Sebastian that I could point to as to why they are one of the great scottish bands, but as I was asked to re-post the two belle and Sebastian sessions I posted earlier this year, why not these?

From May 11, 2001:

‘Shoot The Sexual Athlete.’mp3
‘The Magic Of A Kind Word (For Papa John).’ mp3
‘Nothing In The Silence.’ mp3
‘(My Girl’s Got) Miraculous Technique.’ mp3

And from July 25, 2002 (Live at Peel Acres):

‘You Don’t Send Me.’ mp3
‘Roy Walker.’ mp3
‘Love On The March.’ mp3
‘Sleep On A Sunbeam.’ mp3
‘Desperation Made A Fool Of Me.’ mp3

Belle and Sebastian’s official sites are here

Their MySpace is here

Thanks to all those who sent me the mp3s originally, especially David and Ray.

This session was recorded in 2001. Many thanks to the kind readers who sent this in.

As far as I can tell, these tracks are unavailable elsewhere -they are certainly not listed at iTunes (yes, alright, clever clogs, I know that’s not the final word but it’s pretty comprehensive, in the UK, generally speaking).

Belle and Sebastian -‘Shoot The Sexual Athlete (Peel Session).’ mp3

Belle and Sebastian -‘The Magic Of A Kind Word (Peel Session).’ mp3

Belle and Sebastian -‘Nothing In The Silence (Peel session).’ mp3

Belle and Sebastian -‘(My Girl’s Got) Miraculous Technique (Peel Session).’ mp3

Belle and Sebastian official sites (sic!)/Belle and Sebastian mySpace

Thanks to everyone who has sent me stuff over the last few days much appreciated. Bear with me as I try to put it into coherent(ish!) posts…

For once, this was a session I did tape, but don’t have the technology to edit from cassette to mp3 yet. But thanks to everyone who sent this in, especially David and Ray.

You Don’t Send Me (2002 Festive Fifty no.20)

Roy Walker

Love On The March

Asleep On A Sunbeam

Desperation Made A Fool Of Me

For more about this session, check here.

There is much more to come, including their session from 2001. Watch this space…

Oh, can anyone help with the Anti-Hero tracks ‘Rolling Stones t-shirt’ and ‘You Got Nothing’ If so, please get in touch.

Belle and Sebastian’s official website