Sinister: Rough Guides: Peter's first draft

[Honey]

This is designed to set the ball rolling....
 
The meek might not inherit the earth, but Belle and
Sebastian will be sitting there quietly until the very last
vote is counted. Their songs are snapshots of the twilight
autumnal teatime of the soul, populated by perverted vicars,
lovelorn school kids, Sid James and a brussel sprout called
Elvis.
 
Eight people make up Belle and Sebastian. They are Stuart
"Stewpot" Murdoch, an ex-amateur boxer with lyrical hotline
to the emotionally orphaned; Chris Geddes, the alarming
result of an LSD drenched sexual union between Rick Wakeman
and Worzel Gummidge; Sarah Martin, a roller-skating
stylophone, xylophone and telephone whizz; Isobel Campbell,
a one-woman string quartet and tambourine thumper; Stuart
David, paving the way with his monolithic bass foundation
shakers; Stevie Jackson, whose delicate guitar runs recall
Mike Oldfield at his best; Mick Cooke; trumpet vounteer with
the patience of a saint, and last but not least, Richard
Colburn, extended drum solos made to measure.
 
They met over butterfly cakes and tea at a church hall fund
raising function.
 
Only 1000 copies were pressed of their debut album,
"Tigermilk". It namechecked Funkadelic and The Velvet
Underground, but managed to avoid sounding like either. The
lyrical pivot was "do something pretty while you can". The
follow-up LP, "If You're Feeling Sinister" showed a wider
public that the group had lost none of their charm or
quirkiness, but were maturing into a tight group that packed
a "get yer boots on" punch when necessary.
 
Sporadic live appearances delighted the devoted and
infuriated some non-believers. Oasis conquered Knebworth,
Belle and Sebastian's Kelvingrove Park festival disappeared
in the Glasgow drizzle. Poetic justice.
 
Three EPs followed, increasing in competence and confidence.
A trip to New York earned the band favourable reviews in
staid publications such as The New York Times and the
legendary New Yorker magazine. A triumphal concert in a
medieval square in Barcelona was a fitting climax to a hazy
summer for Belle and Sebastian.

Record company interest is said to be at a high level, with
rumours of a Terry Thomas vintage car chase across Europe in
search of the near mythical "Tigermilk" mastertapes.
 
 

Records.
If You're Feeling Sinister LP (Jeepster)  A treat for jaded
ears. Vicars base sermons around it.
3, 6, 9 Seconds of Light EP (Jeepster) Gentle and rollicking
in equal amounts. Good for the soul.

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