Sinister: this is year zero

[Honey]

OK list opening again now.  Here's a mail to start you off - Stuart M
and Chris's little column they're writing for the Glasgow University
Guardian paper (not THE Guardian).  Katrina from the band office sent
it me to send along - she says she will send them regularly, bless
her.  And yes, the irony of it being a diary is not lost on me.  Now,
do the right thing.

Honey


*******

DIARY OF A BAND
29th September 1999
Belle & Sebastian write for Guardian.  No, really.

My first deadline is here and I am not in LA.  This doesn't happen to Honor
Fraser.  It's not even as I've had a particularly busy day.  I skived the
morning because I'd been playing bass particularly badly on a tune last
night.  I didn't want to hear it again straight away.  After I'd cleaned the
house I spent some time phoning record dealers down south to try to get some
new tunes for DJ gigs I've got coming up.

The band has been in the studio for the past several weeks recording for a
new LP.  It should have been finished by now but it isn't, although a lot
has been done.

The other week everyone got a letter from the label with a schedule
explaining how it takes 20 weeks from when we're finished to when the album
is released.  This means it won't be out until well into next year, which
wasn't what we'd originally hoped.  Sometimes the process of recording can
be pretty wearing.  After your initial enthusiasm for a new song and
enjoyment of playing what seems like a good take, you then have to face up
to your own inability or lack of taste.  In the cold light of day the tune
is worked on until it's finished to everyone's satisfaction.  When you are
playing you can't think you're good.  Afterwards is harder.  That's when you
start comparing your efforts to your favourites.

Fortunately, I work with people with the talent and enthusiasm to see things
through and have a purpose to what they're doing.  When I finally went along
to the studio today Bel was mixing a different tune and it sounded amazing.

Chris Geddes

to be continued ...

DIARY OF A BAND
13th October 1999
The next thrilling installment of 'Guardian's' exclusive Belle & Sebastian
diary

The band aren't up to much at the minute so there's not much to tell you.
Bel's making her second LP just now so most of us are playing for her.  It's
sounding very good just now, but she's got quite a bit to go so I shan't
curse it by telling you much about it.

I bumped into Richard this morning on the way to Dublin.  It's quite rare to
see him, although I share a flat with him.  He manages to be the only one in
the band to live a sort of celebrity lifestyle apart from maybe Stuart
David.  Mick gets around quite a lot but doesn't quite have the knack of
stepping easily from hotel lobby to award ceremony to party the way Richard
does.  Richard told me he was going to Dublin to pick up an award but fuck
knows what it's for!

Mick has just been voted 48th most eligible bachelor in Scotland by a Sunday
newspaper.  Probably some horny journalist just made it up but it may help
him to get invited to the sort of parties that Richard gets invited to.
Just as long as he keeps playing with the fabulous Amphetameanies, because
that's what he's best at.

I haven't seen Sarah, but I do know that Stevie's gone to play jazz with a
man called Bill Wells in Aberdeen.  Beans has gone to play Northern Soul in
the south, and Stuart David's book 'Nalda Said' came out this week, which is
very good.  So I think everyone's pretty happy.

Me and Richard spent last weekend collecting jumble in a van for our sale on
Saturday.  I put up notices in the University but you didn't come.  It
must've been too early for you.  You missed a lot of good stuff.  It's a
good way to save on clothes and furniture.  But it's funny the stuff people
try to give you ... old pants, little bits of plastic.  We spent most of the
time trying not to piss ourselves.

If you have any queries or problems about how to be a student, or what bus
to get, or whatever, you may write to me care of 'Guardian'.  the band's
full of people that have perfected a 'student lifestyle'.  What with your
Rector being away all the time you must be feeling a bit abandoned ...

Stuart Murdoch

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