Everything changes, including Belle & Sebastian. That is sometimes difficult to accept, especially for those who (rightly) count B&S albums like and among their favorites. But they too have to admit that the Scots already broke with their image as a band of introverted melancholics in 2003 when they teamed up with hit producer on . The ninth album Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance is at
… first hearing an even bigger break in style than that record already was. That's mainly because of cs have been inspired by disco, and together with producer Ben H. Allen have added quite a few synthesizers. Songs like Enter Sylvia Plath, The Party Line and Play For Today are miles away from the melodic guitar pop of yesteryear. And the flirtation with Balkan influences in The Everlasting Muse is also hard to swallow. But, Murdoch still writes intelligent, subtle songs, the flute in Allie is old-fashioned sweet and Ever Had A Little Faith? could have been on one of the first albums. Fortunately, some things do remain the same. (IV)more
