Pitchfork

Belle and Sebastian are a lot of things, but "pursuers of ladies on the internet" seems a trick more apt for Queens of the Stone Age. (Just playing, Mrs. Homme) Still, that's exactly what bandleader Stuart Murdoch appears to be doing with a typically mysterious upcoming project.

Earlier today, Murdoch posted an entry in his diary on the band's website, grumbling about a frosty summer in Glasgow and then spinning a (thinly-veiled, autobiographical?) yarn about a boy, two girls, and the superior summer they spent wasting away the hours playing music. Murdoch alludes to a set of songs written-- but never recorded-- by these characters, which he'd like to complete with the help of the two girls from his story, or, failing the discovery of some sort of tear in the continuum between fantasy and reality, two adequate stand-ins. And that, lassie, is where you come in.

Stuart's looking for females of the tune-carrying persuasion to sign up to iMeem, familiarize themselves with a slightly slowed down take The Life Pursuit's "Funny Little Frog" or the new track "The Psychiatrist is In" (hey, I've heard that somewhere!), and then submit a recording of your karaoke take on the track here. You'll get to be yourself, and you'll get to sing!

Stu's also looking to get a picture of each lady out of it: not for any creepy purpose (we think), but because he's looking to eventually turn this project into a film. Here, for your embedded pleasure, are takes on the tracks with vocals from the "White Collar Boy" single's cover star Catherine Ireton:

Fellas, don't fret: "right now we're looking for the girls," the diary reads, "but the boys may follow." Is Stuart looking to replace Isobel Campbell or that other Stuart? Aren't there already enough people in Belle and Sebastian? Does Stevie Jackson get under everyone else's skin as bad as he does mine?

Ladies, you've got 'til October 1. Thanks to Stereogum for the tip.