Belle & Sebastian are a Scottish band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. After releasing a number of albums and EPs on Jeepster Records, they are now signed to Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom and Matador Records in the United States.
While their early sound was commonly filed under "twee pop", a description the band have rejected, Belle & Sebastian have much in common with influential indie bands such as The Smiths and Felt, and also take in other influences, such as northern soul and funk, as well as a sense of irony and humour, that are not usually associated with twee. Audiogalaxy classified Belle & Sebastian music as chamber pop, as they used instruments not very common in pop such as flute, cello or trumpet.
Past members:
Isobel Campbell: 1996–2002 (vocals and cello)
Stuart David: 1996–2000 (bass)
Belle & Sebastian were formed in Glasgow, January 1996, when Stuart Murdoch met bassist Stuart David. Together they recorded some demos which were picked up by Stow College's Music Business course which, every year, produces and releases a single on the college's label, Electric Honey. As the band had a number of songs already and the label were extremely impressed with the demos, Belle & Sebastian (named after Belle et Sébastien, a children's book by French writer Cécile Aubry) were allowed to record a full-length album – Tigermilk. The album was recorded in three days and a thousand copies were pressed on vinyl. These original copies can now sell for up to £400. By this time, the band had expanded to feature Stevie Jackson (guitar and vocals), Isobel Campbell (cello/vocals), Chris Geddes (keys) and Richard Colburn (drums).
Off the success of the debut album, Belle & Sebastian were signed to Jeepster Records in August 1996 and If You're Feeling Sinister, their second album, was released three months later. Just before the recording of the album, Sarah Martin (violin/vocals) joined the band. Following this, in 1997, a series of EPs were released. The first of these was Dog on Wheels, containing four demos which pre-date most of the current members of the band. In fact, the only long-term band members to play on the songs are Murdoch and David (although Cooke also played on the EP he was not officially a band member at the time). The EP charted at a modest #59 in the UK singles chart.
The Lazy Line Painter Jane EP followed in July. The track was recorded in a church hall and features vocals from Monica Queen, and narrowly missed out of the UK top 40 – peaking at #41. The last of the 1997 EPs was 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light, released in October. The EP was made Single of the Week in both the NME and Melody Maker and reached #32 in the charts, thus becoming the band's first top 40 single.
1998's The Boy with the Arab Strap album followed, and reached #12 in the UK charts. During the recording of the album, Mick Cooke was asked to join the band as a full member. Mick had played on the band's previous albums. Shortly after the release of the album, the band were awarded with Best Newcomer (despite being on their third album) at the Brit Awards, beating competition from Steps. This Is Just a Modern Rock Song EP followed.
In 1999, the band curated their own festival – the Bowlie Weekender. Tigermilk was also given a full release by Jeepster before the band started work on their next LP. The result was Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, which became the band's first top 10 album in the UK. A stand-alone single, "Legal Man", was also released and reached #15. The band made their first appearance on Top of the Pops following the release of the single.
Soon afterwards, Stuart David left the band to concentrate on his side-project, Looper, and writing books. He was replaced by Bobby Kildea of V-Twin, who also plays guitar. The "Jonathan David" single -- sung by Stevie Jackson -- was released in June 2001, followed by "I'm Waking Up to Us" in November. The latter was produced by Mike Hurst and was the first time the band had worked with a producer. Most of 2002 was spent recording a soundtrack album, Storytelling (for Storytelling by Todd Solondz), and touring. Midway through their US tour, Isobel announced she was leaving the band.
The band left Jeepster in 2002 and announced they had signed to Rough Trade Records. The band completed their first album for their new label (the Trevor Horn produced Dear Catastrophe Waitress) in 2003. The album showed a marked contrast from their first four albums, showcasing a more accessible and "produced" sound. A documentary DVD, Fans Only, was released by Jeepster in October 2003, featuring promotional videos, live clips and unreleased footage. A single, "Step Into My Office, Baby" (from Dear Catastrophe Waitress) followed in November 2003 – it was the first single/EP from the band to be taken from an album.
"I'm a Cuckoo" was the second single released from the album, and picked up more radio play than any previous single or EP by the band. It became their highest charting single to date, reaching #14 in the UK. The Books EP followed – a double A-side single lead by "Wrapped Up in Books" from Dear Catastrophe Waitress and new song "Your Cover's Blown". The EP became the band's third top 20 release in the UK singles chart and the band went on to be nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and an Ivor Novello Award. In January 2005, the band were voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by The List, beating Simple Minds, Idlewild, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, and The Proclaimers, among others.
Push Barman to Open Old Wounds – a compilation of the Jeepster singles and EPs – was released in May 2005, while the band were recording their seventh album in California. The result of the recording sessions was The Life Pursuit, produced by Tony Hoffer. The album became their band's highest charting release to date upon its release in February 2006, peaking at #8 in the UK and #65 on the US Billboard 200. Its preceding single – "Funny Little Frog" – also became their highest charting single, reaching #13.
In October 2006, members of the band were involved in putting together a CD of new songs for children called Colours Are Brighter, made unique by the involvement of major name bands such as Franz Ferdinand and The Kooks. A more detailed video report from stv is available here.
Discography:
Tigermilk (1996)
If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
The Boy with the Arab Strap (1998)
Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant (2000)
Storytelling (2002)
Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003)
The Life Pursuit (2006)
