The BBC Sessions

Belle & Sebastian will not let us feel bored during the time-out

The Scottish band Belle & Sebastian exists for twelve years now. Despite that it is quite often compared to many other collectives and performers such as for instance The Smiths, Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake the band has had its special sounding practically from the very beginning which has brought it the title of the greatest Scottish band ever. Every music listener should decide for oneself whether it is close to reality or not for Belle & Sebastian is quite an original band remarkable for a special delicacy and sophistication. Only the lyrics whose constant author is the band’s front-man Stuart Murdoch can be called literary masterpieces for they are so rich in smart ideas and unexpected metaphors. Currently Belle & Sebastian has decided to take a short time out and do not plan to release any new material for a while but the fans will not feel bored. This autumn the Scottish collective present us with a splendid compilation The BBC Sessions, a double album containing a great deal of pleasant moments and letting us make sure once again what amazing songs this wonderful band Belle & Sebastian can create.

Nice surprises on The BBC Sessions

The first part of The BBC Sessions is called Radio Sessions and consists of 14 tracks of the material recorded from 1996 to 2001 and there are five almost unknown compositions among them and some are recorded with the participation of the former band’s vocalist Isobel Campbell. The second part Live in Belfast contains 12 composition from the recording of a live performance that took place in Belfast in December of 2001 on which we can hear Belle & Sebastian playing on stage. From the very beginning the compilation is just shooting with one hit after another: The State I Am In, Like Dylan In The Movies, Judy And The Dream Of Horses, these songs are known to everyone who is interested in the Scottish collective’s creative work at least a little. A bit changed guitar part on The Stars Of Track And Field allows the whole song to sound in a new way whereas the fans’ favorite Lazy Jane pleases with Murdock’s great vocals and the drummer’s faultless work. The rarities Shoot The Sexual Athlete, The Magic Of A Kind Word and Nothing In The Silence featuring Isobel Campbell have proved to be the most pleasant surprises for all the Belle & Sebastian fans pleasing with new beautiful and complicated melodies and as always interesting lyrics, naturally this compilation would not be complete without such hits as Here Comes The Sun and I'm Waiting For The Man, presented in their new unusual versions and the final The Boy With The Arab Strap, depicting the real life’s sceneries in a romantic and surrealistic light.

Another opportunity to listen to most of the hits

No doubt Belle & Sebastian has already made itself the reputation of a successful band playing stylish music that can be appreciated only by true connoisseurs. During the time of its existence it has created a lot of hits many of them being juts B-sides and today we have another opportunity to listen to most of them collected together on The BBC Sessions. On the whole this album suggests that we remember the best moments of the collective’s creative work and appreciate all the members’ matched playing for which it does not obviously make any difference where to play their excellent music for they feel equally comfortable in their equipped recording studio, in the radio studio and on stage. Certainly the songs’ sounding on The BBC Sessions is not dramatically different from their album versions and this mainly speaks for the fact that Belle & Sebastian does not adopt anything artificial in the songs creating most interesting audio effects with the help of usual instruments. Nobody knows how much it will need to take a rest and gather itself up to record the following creation, and in the meantime we have a remarkable record The BBC Sessions, the best way to make the expectation less wearing.