Belle And Sebastian Detail Ninth Studio LP 'A Bit Of Previous', Share First Single Unnecessary Drama
Wednesday, 02 March 2022
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Hollie Fernando
Belle and Sebastian have announced their first studio album in seven years.
The Scottish band's ninth album is called 'A Bit Of Previous' and will arrive on May 6 via Matador, marking their first proper LP since 2015's 'Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance'. Since then, they've put out the 'How To Solve Our Human Problems' three-part EP series in 2017 and 2018, along with 'Days of the Bagnold Summer', a soundtrack for the 2020 film of the same name.
After plans to record in Los Angeles in 2020 fell through due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brit Award-winning group crafted the LP in their hometown of Glasgow.
"We did it together, us and the city," Stuart Murdoch wrote in the liner notes. "This record was the first ‘full’ LP recording for B&S in Glasgow since 'Fold Your Hands Child', 1999. We clocked in every morning, we played our songs, we wrote together, we tried new things, we took the proverbial lump of clay, and we threw it every day."
It's previewed by the lively first single, Unnecessary Drama, a punchy slice of power-pop. Frontman Stuart Murdoch revealed: "The song is about a young person experimenting in being a human again after a forced hiatus. The person is weighing up whether or not it’s worth the mess! Still, you dip your toe in and it becomes delicious, and you get too much of it. Between trouble and nothing, we still choose the trouble."
Head below to view the record's four variant sleeves, a different design across each LP, CD and digital format. The indie version of the LP includes a bonus 7" with standalone track A Bit Of Previous.
The seven-piece will embark on a new run of US dates this spring and summer, with a rescheduled UK and Ireland tour lined up for the autumn. They also have rearranged European gigs in the diary for 2023. Tickets are on sale now.
'A Bit Of Previous' tracklist:
1. Young And Stupid
2. If They're Shooting At You
3. Talk To Me Talk To Me
4. Reclaim The Night
5. Do It For Your Country
6. Prophets On Hold
7. Unnecessary Drama
8. Come On Home
9. A World Without You
10. Deathbed Of My Dreams
11. Sea Of Sorrow
12. Working Boy In New York City
Belle and Sebastian Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Sun July 17 2022 - MOTHERWELL Concert Hall
Sun November 13 2022 - CARDIFF Great Hall - Cardiff Uni
Mon November 14 2022 - LONDON Roundhouse
Tue November 15 2022 - LONDON Roundhouse
Thu November 17 2022 - SHEFFIELD O2 Academy Sheffield
Fri November 18 2022 - LIVERPOOL Eventim Olympia
Sat November 19 2022 - HULL Asylum - Hull University Union
Mon November 21 2022 - ABERDEEN Beach Ballroom
Wed November 23 2022 - EDINBURGH Usher Hall
Thu November 24 2022 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 City Hall
Fri November 25 2022 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy
Sun November 27 2022 - CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
Mon November 28 2022 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Tue November 29 2022 - SOUTHAMPTON O2 Guildhall Southampton
Wed November 30 2022 - BRIGHTON Brighton Dome
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