*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* January 20, 1998 BELLE AND SEBASTIAN SIGN TO MATADOR/CAPITOL Followup to critically-acclaimed If You're Feeling Sinister to be released this spring. Scottish band Belle and Sebastian , whose "If You're Feeling Sinister LP was released last year by the Enclave label, have just signed a deal with Matador/Capitol in the US (the upcoming album will be released by the Jeepster label in the UK, and Virgin in Europe) Despite a virtual moratoriumon interviews, no band photos, and sporadic live shows, If You're Feeling Sinister was one of the most acclaimed albums of 1997, showing up on innumerable best-of-year lists. Belle and Sebastian have ammassed a devoted following as well. In the UK, their Radio one Sessions were voted by listeners as among their favourites of the year, along side bands like The Verve and Radiohead. Their recent singles have been UK chart hits, despite being on a relatively small indie label. Here in the US, their only live shows--two nights in a former temple in New York City--sold out far in advance. There are numberous web sites and an internet mailing list (ed: hey that's us!!) devoted to the band, and an Official Belle and Sebastian Fan Club. (ed: hey! that's David and Katrina!) Belle and Sebastian's music is a soulful take on folk-pop, with subtle infusions of cello, trumpet, piano, and other traditional orchestral elements, and wry, almost perverse lyrics. It brings to mind such classic music as Nick Drake, Donovan, and Motown, as well as more recent heros like The Smiths, the Go-Betweens, and felt though their unique soundrenders such comparisons rather flimsy. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to If You're Feeling Sinister will be released this Spring, to be followed in the fall by a compilation of three EPs previously unavailable in the US. The band will be returning to the US in 1998 for select live dates. Both Matador and Capitol were instrumental in the signing. Capitol CEO Gary Gersh says "Belle and Sebastian are one of the most exciting bands to come along in years." As a Matador/Capitol co-release, Belle and Sebastian will be joining such Matador bands as Pavement, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and Liz Phair in this fruitful relationship. ### ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------