This is the sound of a beloved band, but it feels neither like a victory lap nor a flaccid filler. It is Belle & Sebastian’s first LP in seven years and the first since 1999 to be fully-recorded in their native Glasgow. There are enough memorable lyrical and instrumental moments for the record to be distinct in what is ultimately a tight, steady discography. While several tracks feel deliberately designed for live settings, others arrive sounding a little static—particularly as ‘ABOP’ comes in to land. At its best, this is a playful album that weaves through heavy topics like a gentle, thoughtful breeze.
21/30
A favourite: ‘Come on Home’
‘A Bit Of Previous’ is out now via Matador Records.
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