May 2000 - Sinister - missprint.org

Sinister: Date: Mon, 8 May 2000 13:18:47 +0100
by Mark Casarotto 08 May '00

08 May '00

Chris Paluch said: "Twee is about being dreamful and poetic, with an added touch of unrequited love and misery, and sorta cute. It means being hopelessly shy, and well sentimental, but not towards things, but towards memories, relationships, etc [...] But twee tends to have its serious moments, and a search for meaning that is well, perfectly human. Twee is all about well being yourself." Hmm. I don't really think it is. The twee described above is an expedient melange. One angle is what we (some of us at any rate, myself included) want it to mean, a useful tag that we can use to differentiate ourselves from other types. It combines elements of the insult reclaimed, along with a sense that we know others find our attitudes a bit cloying and whimsical and WE DON'T CARE. The other side of twee is what we want others to be, most particularly our heroes. I can't speak for everyone, but do we really crave "unrequited love and misery"? I don't. It's horrible. But I sometimes enjoy hearing others telling me about it (*on occasion*, not all the bloody time) - the tortured artist you can empathise with, or even want to be like, but without the bad bits. So by all means, if you want to claim the word to describe a philosophy you find appealing, or maybe just recognise around you, go for it. I just think it's misleading claiming that it's what twee (small 't') is, because it isn't. The NME - just ignore them, really. Ever since they've been allowed to use FUCK instead of f___ they've been like gleeful schoolboys. Stuart did have a valid point to make about Primal Scream, or rather not about Primal Scream, but about Belle and Sebastian - Primal Scream were there as an EXAMPLE. Stuart has issues about the politicisation of pop, and used Primal Scream's stance to express what he thinks. Which is a lot more interesting, but sadly you won't read about it in the music press. Ian Watson was nice, though. The delectable Sarah Garrett Sonner should post more often. Don't even think of going back to lurkdom, hon :-) And it's not just cos I want a listcrush vote, even though I thought Sebastian Bach was in Skid Row. Is that not right? The Luscious Pouting Robin Stout should post even more often. I really fancy her. Mark xxx p.s. thanks to Erica and Lucy for not mentioning which tipsy, extremely embarrassed listee who bigged up Belle and Sebastian in the corniest way imaginable last week... ******************************************************************* The contents of this e mail from HIT Entertainment PLC are confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient you must not copy or further distribute this e mail; please notify us by telephone on 020 7224 1717, and delete the e mail from your computer. This e mail has been checked by our anti-virus system before leaving us; we accept no responsibility for the e mail and any attachments once they leave us. www.hitentertainment.com www.bobthebuilder.org ******************************************************************** +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: To twee, or not to twee?
by Robin Stout 08 May '00

08 May '00

Hello again On the subject of being twee, or not, I think the problem is one of who's labelling who. Concepts such as romance and sensitivity have had their insides torn out by sentimentality, Ally McBeal and his'n'hers dressing gowns. I'm unable to say that someone is 'genuine', even if they're the most authentic person I've met, without the spectre of Bob Hoskins, the honest guv'nor, jumping into my head and making me feel uneasy about saying it. I think most honest emotions or qualites like these are undermined by the fact that too often they're pretended. So that makes twee a funny word, because from what I can gather it is defined to mean "sickly sentimental", but people use it as a mark of authenticity. Someone may label you twee as an insult, because you're rubbish at PE and you like rabbits, but you're quite proud of these things so you think, if these things are twee, then that's what I am and it'as okay. It's sort of like being called a queer, or a nigger I suppose. It depends on who's labelling who. Mind you, I don't think labels of any sort are a great idea. If you want to be known by a label, you may as well be a tin of beans. I think most people who like Belle and Sebastian know what they like about them, without calling it tweeness. I've met a few random people by wearing my B+S t-shirt, who've come up to me in the street and said not "Hey, you're twee! That's great", but just said "Hey! Belle and Sebastian!". That's all it takes really. I think if someone asked me if B+S were twee, I'd say they write sad, pretty songs with lots of words, but no, they're not twee. Sorry for being a little long-winded. It's funny how the list sometimes becomes all earnest and full of issues like it is now when most of the time it's full of random nonsense. If I was writing this last week it would be full of bums and titties and that incident with the goldfish and the "novelty" shorts. But never mind. I really fancy eating a sausage. Right now! Bye! Robin x +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: dance dance dance to (the Belle & Sebastian song on) the radio
by Lawrence Mikkelsen 08 May '00

08 May '00

Just in regard to Youn's post (and I know he did kinda clarify his point soon afterwards) I'd just like to share a transcendant moment. My girlfriend and I travelled from Auckland, New Zealand, to Melbourne, Australia, last year from New Year, mainly just because we wanted to avoid the "New Zealand is the first country to see in the millenium" malarky. Anyway, there wasn't all that much to do on New year's eve itself, aside from your usual swag of E-fueled dance parties and a fireworks display. In the end we begrudgingly decided to go to a "indie" night, out of sheer desperation and a desire not to spend the night in our hit stuffy little room. Anyway, the usual Britpop circa 95-96 was being played ... and me, being a miserable git, was sitting in the corner, my NHS spectacles steamed up and my feet very sore from so much walking all day. Anyway ... amongst the dull indie pop came "She's Losing It", and I got up and danced and danced and danced and, for two minutes, I have never felt so happy. I'm sure it depends on the context .... but right then I have never felt so amazing, and Belle & Sebastian have never sounded so good. Quoth Morrissey " and when you're dancing and laughing and finally loving .." I don't think I ever knew what he meant up until that point. A beautiful moment. Secondly, Youn implied (I think) that Belle & Sebastian (and Stuart M) seem to have, in some way, renounced their principles. I'd just like to say that I don't think that artist development,or progression, is a bad thing. I love the first two Belle & Sebastain albums more than virtually any otgher albums in the world, but i don't know if I'd love another hald dozen albums in the exact same style. not that I'm suggesting that I'd like B&S to go nosebleed techo, drum and bass or anything. I just think it's important from the to follow their creative urges. On a more selfish and self serving note. I have never seen a Belle & Sebastian video clip, nor any moving images of my favourite band. Should anyone who has all the promo videos on tape (from a PAL SECAM country, and not an NTSC country) be willing to make me copies of videos, live performances etc., I will love them forever, and might be able to trade them for some good, but not B&S stuff. I think there was a documentary or something last year too?? I'd REALLY appreciate hearing from someone about these things. I remember that Jeepster said they'd put out a video more than a year ago, and thus far .... nothing. I'm desperate kids, desperate! Take care (all twelve hundred of you) Lawrence Mikkelsen http://www.akn.quik.co.nz/mikelsen/aboutme +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: The genius of Stuart "Patty Page" Murdoch
by Pelican303＠aol.com 08 May '00

08 May '00

Oh shock and horror eternal...my world has been turned upside down. Hasn't yours? Or I the only who noticed the striking similarity between the "greatest melody of all pop music" (which obviously belongs to Slow Graffiti for those of you out there who, also, are slow) and certain song sung by one Patty Page...at least I think it was Patty Page...it was someone with an alliterative name like that ("alliteration will conquer all")... you know...the old 50's chick who did "How much is that doggie in the window?". (You all will be amused that upon first typing that I accidentally wrote "How much is that donkey in the window?") well I saw an ad on PBS for some biography on her singing some song ("I go walking...with my darling") with a rather similar melody...though the harmonic pattern was different, but I was still crushed. (Why is it that neither PBS, ABC, CBS, or NBC sound as cool as BBC?) Well, in light of this discovery, I'm giving up my Belle and Sebastian fandom...I'm done with the whole thing (a few minutes later Rob runs off for a "B&S fix"...oh yeah...that's goooooood). Anyway...I apologize for the lack of content involving twee and selling out...maybe next time. Can I just say, there are way too many cute girls on this list for just one crush vote. I just want you chickies to know that I am in love with each and everyone of you (some more than others...don't you get jealous Kal ;) ). I suppose that's all. I will now drive my moped back into the shadows. The anti-mod Rob +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister:twee indeed
by Ryannanbi＠aol.com 08 May '00

08 May '00

Hello everyone. My name is ryan and this is my first post. I promised myself to save this wonderfully special moment(smiles) until i had a reason to introduce myself. And after reading david's wonderful essay on the definition of twee...or at least his interpretation...i feel awfully refreshed and am deciding to post. I can't continue without saying i am a little tiny bit anxious being a newcomer, but everyone just seems so gosh darn nice and twee... Really i don't have much more to add besides i am about to turn 22, love to write and play music, live in New Jersey(ugh), and am obviously quite into Belle and Sebastian. About that post, though...there was just something about the eloquence of david's post that...well...it's a bit brilliant, i think anyway. Thats all. I wish a had a great story to tell ...or at least a funny joke, but for now i'll take my chances with this ridiculously bland first attempt at making new friends with other B&S enthusiasts(its quite hard to find them around here). with love and other warm feelings, ryan +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: It only figures that I'd ride my bike into wet cement
by GardeningAtNight＠aol.com 08 May '00

08 May '00

David who is obviously heartless said: << I will also cross myself off the list of people who go skipping in meadows with bunnyrabbits. I trust no explanation is required. >> I want an explanation. How can you resist bunny rabbits? I saw one chasing another up a hill yesterday on my way home and it made me go weak and say "awwwwwwww." Sarah said: << * Sometimes it takes a while for my friends to be converted. One close friend for whom I made a B&S mix tape in December phoned me last week to tell me she’d finally realized their genius. She said, “what’s that band you sent me? Sebastian Bach? [she doesn't read labels well] They’re in my walkman all the time now, I love the part about the gay brother standing up with a sailor friend at his sister’s wedding!” My listcrush vote goes to the cutie who can tell me who Sebastian Bach is. >> I can't exactly say who he is but I know of him. He was in a band called the Last Hard Men. Of course, when I was 12 years old I did a slide show on my then-favorite band (er, the Smashing Pumpkins) and mentioned that band too. I noticed my teacher giving me a funny look when I said the name but I thought she just didn't like rock music. Whenever I see his name mentioned I laugh for a good long time, it's probably because of his 80's hairdo. But I'm not a cutie so I probably won't get your (or anyone's for that matter - wah!) listcrush vote. About selling out: don't be silly. About Jen: I'm just going to assume that all the booze you've had lately has destroyed your memory, so that's why I haven't gotten a letter from you about boys and why football sucks and all that grate Jen stuff. About Legal Man: I don't know why I'm so weird about these things, but for some reason I keep putting off calling the radio station on New Music Sunday and requesting Legal Man. I really doubt they've got it but the guy is British so maybe I'd get some sympathy from him. Or a good smacking. Probably that. I don't think the cover art is much different than regular B&S, it's sort of like LLPJ. I quite like it. Who's in the picture, though? About twee: In the online dictionary it says "(chiefly British) sweet." About why age 15 is crap: I've been all hyped up about going to the Apples in Stereo gig this Friday, but then I read in the listings that it's 18+. Does anyone know how much clubs usually enforce this, or if they'll let me in with a parent, or if I need to speak with them beforehand and make an arrangement? I'll cry if I can't go. And it's wrong to make girls cry. So, please help me if you can. Samantha +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: late for the party
by Cjmonty＠aol.com 08 May '00

08 May '00

just a fan-come-lately wondering if anyone knows of the origins of the "dog on wheels" cover pic. a fav-oh-rite of mine, that. no wise words to give today (or maybe anyday), too busy trying to finish the courses. but i agree with kaleidoscopic and his brand of twee... maybe B&S isnt strictly twee but Le Pastie is about as twee as i can imagine. The songs have an odd ability to revive my own sentimental memories, as if written just for little old me. Good luck with monday, everyone. colin +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Hello Misery, and how it is hard to define some things
by Chris Paluch 08 May '00

08 May '00

Ok, This twee definition is amusing because this is the third time i heard this argument. Twee is about being dreamful and poetic, with an added touch of unrequited love and misery, and sorta cute. It means being hopelessly shy, and well sentimental, but not towards things, but towards memories, relationships, etc. Photographs and souvineers usually avoided, since true sentiments come from the heart. Songs though twee people are extremely sentimental about, thus vast record collections. Belle and sebastian are not a strictly twee, band, but they do have alot of twee songs. But most strictly twee bands do not write songs like a century of fakers. But twee tends to have its serious moments, and a search for meaning that is well, perfectly human. Twee is all about well being yourself. Sheesh, i cannot really defne it, maybe if you read the Little prince one more time you would understand. Maybe twee is all about the beauty of life, and how simplicity may just be best. Definition is not always the best thing. Twee is probably all about being nice, and not worrying about other differances, but i could be wrong. Basically everyone has a bit of twee in them, I think so at least. If it was just about bunny slippers, cardigans, and pretty days, well that would be cuddle core. As far as Belle and Sebastian being refered to as twee, well it is pretty inacurate, they have twee songs, but no twee band would produce something as adult as IYFS. Chris ===== The sole member of the Lost Letter Society A society dedicated to turtle lovers everywhere. Http://www.mp3.com/LostLetterSociety __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: boys aren't scary, but they sure are confusing
by christa 07 May '00

07 May '00

ugh i'm drunk. its gorgeous outside today and i was out in the 'garden' writing a bit, and listening to IYFS. "get me away from here" came on and i immediately got incredibly excited for the new album. new songs by this band that have been my happiness, my sadness, my drunken wailing, my silly dancing. i don't want a single soul to ruin that day, that moment, for me. i want to come home from the record store, plastic-wrapped-clingy-hard-to-open thing in my sweaty grasp. i want to empty my stereo, put it in, and listen to it straight through while puttering about. smiling and teary-eyed. i don't care if you all know i'm going to cry. i know i'm going to cry when i hear it; when i feel it in my hand. and i know that out of all 1300 of you, someone feels the same way. it will be like the sunniest day. the anticipation of it is as sweet as the weeks of wearing the sound away in my head. it'll be perfect, i promise. madflowr and i are planning the Follow-Up to Last Year's Awesome Sinister Get-together *slash* B&S Record Release Picnic for the Washington DC area. its going to be on the Saturday after the release of the new CD... June 10. i want everyone in the DC/Baltimore/Virginia/Pennsylvania to come. its going to be a blast. last year we had a fantastic time with croquet and frisbee and yummy food and smiling, lovely faces. a truly beautiful group, if i do say so. we'll be updating sinister, sinisterdc, and the jeepster meetup page with more details as they evolve. keep eyes and ears open! why are males so confusing? they don't make a lick of sense. they say one thing and then do another. they don't do what they say they will. i have had 4 grown women tell me over the course of this weekend that men never change, that they remain childish forever and ever and that women just have to 'get used to it'. grow complacent, in other words. why is this? explain to me why this is so, or if it is a lie. i'm at a transition... i'm halfway between finding men absolutely gorgeous yet mystifying, and finding them too difficult to put up with altogether. i don't want to start a list-feud, girls vs. boys. i just want to know why it is this way. <sigh> oh well, "seeing other people" is on; this should provide insight. ;) going around my elbow to get to my thumb, .christa. +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Tweeeee ...It just rolls off the tongue...
by Hoveringsoul 07 May '00

07 May '00

I am doing my best to get in near(ish) the start of a discussion, so forgive me if these thoughts seem about as organised and thought out as the contents of that drawer that holds everything that doesn't go anywhere else - assuming everyone knows what I mean on that one. What, Hippy? The definition of twee has been thrown about a bit - like an old leatherless football that has been in a puddle - and I've been thinking, unfortunately. I think I like the idea of being twee. Thing is I don't think it's twee in the "excessively sentimental" sense that I like. (Not that I am saying Collins Dictionary is wrong...). I'm hardly sentimental at all, so being excessively so would be difficult for me. I don't like souvenirs in the typical sense, and I hate photographs from holidays etc. to look at again and again, much as I adore photography itself. So, I want to cross myself off that particular list for starters. While I have the lid off my big red felt tip squeaky non-washable permanent marker I will also cross myself off the list of people who go skipping in meadows with bunnyrabbits. I trust no explanation is required. I do not consider myself naive and oblivious to the nasty side of life either and I would not like to be. There are some things that people need to be made aware of, and there are far too many people who are aware but indifferent. If this were the definition of tweeness, twee people should be shot to remind them that this happens to people occasionally. I'm running short on lists so I will move on to what I consider to be a bit twee, in the way I like. The underlying thing about my understanding of tweeness is the twee person's perception of the world. Perhaps Mr. Mike Smiley was right - it involves changing the perception of the world to make things easier. It results in a harmless tendency to make everything seem poignant and poetic. Not in a cringing melodramatic way but more a fleeting insight into the beauty of life, no matter how brutal. Like the film, American Beauty, but without the plastic bag between two wind machines. This is proving difficult to explain, and I am venturing ever nearer Collins Dictionary again....but I don't like that idea! I'm going to leave my explanation of internal tweeness at that for the moment and say that for external tweeness, I'd have to point to Ian and his notion of all of us talking whimsy about kitty and bunny. I agree. People can be as twee as they like on a philosophical level but when it comes to getting called twee all you have to do is use frilly language, wear frilly things, and show a liking for all things cute, furry, shiny, sparkly, or old-fashioned such as the classic cardigan and slippers combo. I tend to avoid this not only to prevent getting beaten up but also because in any more than small doses it annoys the hell out of me. I think it's true that most of us are not like this, but it can be fun for a bit. Yeah, that'd be right: If twee means being dreamsome and poetic in a harmless and whimsical sense, talking daftly but not necessarily wearing a cardi and slippers, then I like the fact that I'm twee. I think. Thinking can be bad for you, so I'm going to quit. Hooray for tweeness. Hooray for summer holidays. Hooray for everything. Byebye Love and subh David +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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