belle and sebastian
Girls in peacetime want to dance

Let's start with the title...

For me, truly dreadful.

Having said that, and having freed myself from any bias stemming from the title (which I find dreadful) of the album, I try to talk about this new work by the Scottish band.

Beginning by saying that the title (which I find dreadful) of the album is somewhat reflected in some songs, unfortunately.

Starting from the third track ("Play for today") where the female voice, which is definitely not Isobel Campbell’s, nor does it seem to be Sarah Martin’s, has the luxury of taking the supporting vocal role to Stuart Murdoch’s voice.

And especially in a track like "The party line" which starts like one of those from my beloved Bee Gees from the era of Saturday Night Fever, but within Belle and Sebastian that rhythm seems quite out of place to me.

Then I think that even in my beloved "Tigermilk" there was a "dance electronic" track ("Electronic renaissance") so, come on, they haven't changed that much after all.

And that's where I discover the old Belle and Sebastian, with their mid-tempo pieces green with Scottish meadows, mood killers while remaining melancholic, with Murdoch's voice dominating, even when they try to put it in the background ("The book of you"), or when it is right at the forefront as in the electronic-literary ride "Enter Sylvia Plath", which could ultimately be a new "I could be dreaming".

So I go back to the beginning and (re)discover the first two slow and caressing tracks (the first with a guitar played backwards... and another drawing an arpeggio that reminds me of "Cupid de Locke" by the Smashing Pumpkins) where Murdoch's voice is in full evidence (for me the voice of the "mother" that wishes you goodnight when you are a child; a punch in the face to anyone who messes with it, to use the words of Pope Francis...).

And finally, I discover the bouncy (but not dance) "Nobody’s Empire", very much early Belle and Sebastian with those background bells and trumpets, "Ever had little faith?", practically a piece from "The boy with the arab strap", and "The everlasting muse", truly a great piece (the most innovative and peculiar of the album).

In short, apart from the title (which I find dreadful), a great dance album..., but in the Belle and Sebastian way.

And moreover, I only notice at the end, with the cover, a bit dreadful itself as well, but with the same color as that of Tigermilk.

Definitely worth a listen.