It seems that Stuart Murdoch is not very keen on talking with journalists... to say the least. So we asked Mick Cooke, the band's trumpet player, to tell us about the fourth album of Belle & Sebastian, soon to be released...

A few days before the release of Belle & Sebastian's fourth LP, how do the members of the band feel ? How do you feel ?
Good question. Excited. Nervous, perhaps. I think people will like it.

How was the recording of this new album ?
Difficult at first. It took us a while to get some of the songs sounding as good as we'd like them. "The Model", for instance, was recorded on three separate occasions, and each time there were maybe five takes of the song. So we have about fifteen versions of that song on tape somewhere. Only one was good enough ! But by the summer of last year, we decided to just have some fun. That was when "Legal Man" and "Judy Is A Dick Slap" were recorded.

Do you feel like the band has been affected when Stuart David left for Looper ?
I think it's a positive thing that he left, in that his time was occupied by Looper already, so that was holding the band back somewhat. In the end, he thought it was only fair to leave the band.

How is it to work with Stuart Murdoch ?
Great, he's a lovely guy, we have a good laugh, and he's very willing to take on people's ideas. We all feel that the song is the most important thing at the end of the day.

How do you contribute to B&S songs, do you come with your ideas or does everything come out during the recording session ?
No, most songs are written before we go into the studio, and are generally fairly well-arranged by that time. Somebody, be it Stuart, Isobel or Stevie, etc, brings in a song with the lyrics, vocal melody and chords, and then the band all chip in ideas for the arrangement. The exception with this session was "Legal Man", which everybody was involved in writing from the outset.

What's new on this album ?
I think "Don't Leave The Light On Baby" was a new sound for us (though obviously not a 'new sound' - new in the way that second hand clothes are new to the wearer when just recently purchased), as was "Beyond The Sunrise". We experimented more with instrumentation too, so there's harpsichord, tubular bells and big string sections there too.

Who are the Maisonnettes ? How did you come about to record a song with them ?
The Maisonnettes was a joke term for Isobel, Sarah, and our friend Rozanne, who was singing vocals on "Legal Man". When they were recording they were talking about maisonnettes - the houses - and the name stuck. Nothing to do with the real band, the Maisonnettes. We hope they don't sue, which would be ironic, what with the song being called "Legal Man".

B&S is sometimes called the biggest swindle of the 90's. The last band to get that treatment was the La's ... Do you feel honoured ?
I don't understand what they mean. Is it because we're considered to be doing nothing new? I'd go along with that. We never try particularly hard to do something new. Very few bands that try that sound good.

Do you plan to go on tour this summer ? Where ?
America first, southern Europe, then UK.

Isn't it a bit "schizophrenic" to play in a ska band and in Belle & Sebastian ?
I suppose so. I like lots of kinds of music. It adds strings to your bow.

James' trumpet player has been accused by the press to have sabotaged "Seven", the album that should have led James to power and glory. Do you feel the pressure ?
I've not heard that one. I don't feel threatened though, we're on the fourth LP now, and I've not been accused of that. Yet...

What is your influence on the music of the band ?
Hmmm, difficult to say. We all listen to such a wide variety of music. I suppose I occasionally provide a slight jazz thing, particularly on "The Boy With The Arab Strap". But I don't profess to play jazz, I'm a pop trumpet player, jazz is too hard for me anyway !

Etienne

Reviews :
"Tigermilk"
"The Boy With The Arab Strap"
"This Is Just A Modern Song"

Concerts review :
Black Session + La Cigale (October 1998)