GOD HELP THE GIRL - S/T

Belle And Sebastian fans have watched closely since Stuart Murdoch announced, through the band’s website, his Idol-like audition for vocalists for the vanity project that would result in this album and the forthcoming film of the same name. It’s been 3 years since B&S’s The Life Pursuit, and some may view Murdoch’s decision not to credit this new record to his band as an act of hubris, a move to consolidate his role as the indisputable master of the Belle And Sebastian brand and to broaden his own brand to include svengali, much the same way that Prince began nurturing other mostly non-start artists and dabbling in film himself before plunging into commercial failure. Thankfully, Murdoch is still maturing as a songwriter, continuing to push himself beyond his indie roots and developing into a classic songwriter in the mode of his idols. Beyond a few key vocals, he defers microphone duties to the wonderful Catherine Ireton, who won the contest, as well as Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy), Asya (Smoosh), and others. A bold gambit and an artistic success.