Pitchfork

If you're feeling sinister today, we've got some news that will lift your twee spirits right back up to kitten-snuggling euphoria: Belle and Sebastian have announced that they will return to longtime home Matador Records for the U.S. release of their upcoming album, The Life Pursuit. Due February 7, the disc also now has a full tracklisting. And it is:

01 Act of the Apostle Part 1
02 Another Sunny Day
03 White Collar Boy
04 The Blues Are Still Blue
05 Dress Up in You
06 Sukie in the Graveyard
07 We Are the Sleepyheads
08 Song for Sunshine
09 Funny Little Frog
10 To Be Myself Completely
11 Act of the Apostle Part 2
12 For the Price of a Cup of a Tea
13 Mornington Crescent

Rough Trade, which handled the last new B&S; album, 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, is putting out The Life Pursuit on February 6, so it appears that there's no love lost there. That label will also release the LP's first single, "Funny Little Frog", on January 16, though the format(s) has yet to be determined. We hypothesize that it has something to do with Crazy Frog's illegitimate child and will be released only as a ringtone.

In other Belle and Sebastian news, Stuart Murdoch and Sarah Martin harmonize sweetly on the new Future Pilot AKA single, "Eyes of Love\x94. They can be viewed performing with Future Pilot AKA on BBC2 Scotland's "The Music Show" on December 2. That same show recently taped an all-Belle and Sebastian episode, to be aired at an unannounced time, but currently viewable on the show's website.

Various B&S; members will also flex their DJ muscles in the coming weeks. Chris Geddes will spin "gentle folk" (according to the B&S; website) at Mono at King's Court in Glasgow, Scotland on November 24. The following night, he'll bring "a mind expanding soundtrack of psyche, acid-rock and Turkish break-beats" and "maybe even prog" to the masses at Electric Mud at Mint Lounge in Manchester, England. Bob Stanley of St. Etienne will also man the decks.

Geddes, along with Richard Colburn, will spin on December 9 at the Social in Nottingham, England, and in Barcelona, Spain (with Bobby Kildea) at Razzmatazz on December 17. The latter engagement, which is a "Rough Trade night", will also feature label honcho Geoff Travis and the Super Furry Animals on the wheels of steel. Whee!

Finally, it is time to rehash those B&S; tour dates, which unfortunately are strictly overseas. The band's website promises worldwide dates to come. Phew!

For much more than the price of a cup of tea:

01-15 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
01-16 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
01-17 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
01-18 Aberdeen, Scotland - Music Hall
01-26 Birmingham, England - Academy
01-27 Liverpool, England - Academy
01-28 Newcastle, England - Academy
01-29 Manchester, England - Ritz
01-30 Manchester, England - Ritz
02-01 Bristol, England - Colston Hall
02-02 Cambridge, England - Corn Exchange
02-03 Brighton, England - Dome
02-05 Dublin, Ireland - Ambassador
02-06 Dublin, Ireland - Ambassador
02-07 Belfast, Northern Ireland - Ulster Hall
02-09 Sheffield, England - Octagon
02-10 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo

* Pitchfork Review: Belle and Sebastian: Push Barman To Open Old Wounds
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