Belle And Sebastian

Since their creation in 1996 in Scotland, Belle And Sebastian has always been associated with a certain cosy idea of English pop. Originally a school project by Stuart Murdoch and Stuart David, the band released a first album, Tigermilk , that year. With the arrival of Isobel Campbell (later working with Mark Lanegan) and Sarah Martin, Belle And Sebastian defends a harmonious chamber pop, with a double female/male voice. If You're Feeling Sinister (1996) and, most importantly, The Boy with the Arab Strap (1998) seal this precious image at the same time as they allow Scots to make themselves known. Between changes in line up and label, and back and forth of its members, Belle And Sebastian becomes mostly Stuart Murdoch's project, never too eager to put on the releases, constantly evolving between nostalgia for past melodies and more current developments - as evidenced by the latest album, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance.