Dear S, The man who lives across the street has thick spectacles, a small paunch and a library of books which pattern the walls of his study with multicoloured stripes. He curls up by the record player and wiggles his toes in those thick woollen socks. He has to open the windows to stop them steaming up in this weather, and the sound of The Life Pursuit slinks over the sill and dances in my bedroom. I've only heard a few of the songs, but they sound good to me. Sukie in the Graveyard is my favourite of the ones I've heard. It's everything that's good about the modern Murdoch sound! I'm not too sure about the lyrics, but I'll try my best. I know you won't be able to hear it for a while, but maybe you can sing it as you float high seeking those tropical winds. Although you're so small, You're very well read, Touching the names and the dates of the dead. Leaving your trail, To glisten in the sun, A snail in the graveyard, you couldn't have more fun. *Instrumental - Stevie "Adverb" Jackson tugs his todger, accompanied by the sound of an asthmatic sparrow chirruping in a paper bag* You curl up in my slipper, Hiding in your shell, You may be warm but it ain't so swell, For me. If I want, To warm up my toes, I'll have to take you home to the mossy headstones. *Long and absurd outro on an organ pumped by a big bottomed nun* Isn't it great?! Did you get much for Christmas? It was sort of quiet in Stout Heights. I only got one card: a dainty letter from Oscar Wilde, scented like a pink hampster and full of the most silly words. I think he makes half of them up just to sound clever. The girls came round and pulled the cats' tails. Wendy asked me "why did the skeleton cross the road?", and I, playing the funny uncle, said "to buy some more bones?". "Yes", she said. "Are you sure?" "Yes!" And that was that! I think she needs to brush up on her joke-telling skills! My sister bought me a letter-writing set, so I can write to you more often. I promise to do it more than I have. The pigeon's name is Trevor, by the way. He knows his way home well enough. Just feed him an acorn and send him on his way. Robin x PS: I've hidden something special under the postage stamp, so peel it back carefully if you don't mind being SPOILED! Where is it? At the bottom of the letter of course, just keep on going... *small spoiler ahead* Although it's a few weeks until the new album arrives, the lyrics to the songs have already been put on the belle and sebastian website. When your balloon finally lands, try looking at www.belleandsebastian.com I'd post the full address but there simply isn't room under this stamp... +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+