Late Developers

Description

Arriving almost back-to-back to 2022’s Top Ten album ‘A Bit of Previous’, ‘Late Developers’ comes on like its predecessor’s sun-kissed cousin. It is a full-hearted embrace of the band’s brightest tendencies that is not only fresh and immediate but possessing of that Belle and Sebastian je ne sais quoi of a group that will always be there for you with the perfect word or melody for the moment, while admitting tunefully that ‘Every girl and boy / each one is a misery’ (‘When The Cynics Stare Back From the Wall’). ‘Juliet Naked’ channels frantic Billy Bragg-energy with rugged electric guitar and a football stadium worthy chant from Stuart Murdoch. The aforementioned ‘When the Cynics Stare Back From the Wall’ is an unearthed 1994-era pre-Belle and Sebastian gem, with help from Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell. ‘So in the Moment’ is breathless psychedelic pop that is arguably one of Stevie Jackson’s best ever songs. ‘When We Were Very Young’ is Smiths-esque jangle rock that is bittersweet, devotional and yearning: ‘I wish I could be content / With the football scores / I wish I could be content with my daily chores / With my daily worship of the sublime’.

Tracklisting

Disc 1
1. Juliet Naked – Belle and Sebastian
2. Give a Little Time – Belle and Sebastian
3. When We Were Very Young – Belle and Sebastian
4. Will I Tell You a Secret – Belle and Sebastian
5. So in the Moment – Belle and Sebastian
6. The Evening Star – Belle and Sebastian
7. When You’re Not With Me – Belle and Sebastian
8. I Don’t Know What You See in Me – Belle and Sebastian
9. Do You Follow – Belle and Sebastian
10. When the Cynics Stare Back from the Wall – Belle and Sebastian
11. Late Developers – Belle and Sebastian