Belle And Sebastian – fold your hands child, you walk like a peasant

Stuart Murdoch recalled that this album felt more difficult to make than prior albums. Musically the songs were more complex and “demanded a pop precision that you just couldnt skirt around” requiring the group to practice and refine things more than they had traditionally.[1]

The band introduced many stylistic changes on this album, such as an organic strings section and more songs with lead vocals by other members of the band; Sarah Martin sings on “Waiting for the Moon to Rise”, Isobel Campbell sings on “Family Tree”, and performs duets with Stevie Jackson (who sings in an unusually low voice) on “Beyond the Sunrise” and Stuart Murdoch on “Women’s Realm”. Jackson also sings lead vocal on “The Wrong Girl”. It is the last Belle & Sebastian album to feature bass player Stuart David, who departed the band after the album’s completion.