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I have read on the general board that the excellent chamber pop supremo's
Belle And Sebastian are to release a BBC sessions album in November. This made me pick up
Push Barmen To Open Old Wounds and and give it a listen. A 2 disk compilation made up of various EP's released by Belle And Sebastian, Push Barmen has indeed stood the test of time. The initial 4 tracks are from
Dogs On Wheels EP from 97 and the first thing that stood out to me was what a strong EP that was. Not one of the 4 songs can be considered filler in any way shape or form. The 4 track
Lazy Line Painter Jane EP follows and the title song is a standout. With vocal duties performed by Stuart and guest Monica McQueen this track has a 60's feel with organs in the background and a pounding rhythm. After that effort could
You Made Me forget My Dreams stand up? Well yes even though it is a slow easy paced piano influenced track it has a certain hook that makes one hum along. The following 3 tracks are from the EP
3..6..9 Seconds Of Light from again 97.
A Century Of Fakers is the lead single but I much prefer
Le Pastie De La Bourgeoisie that has again that 60's pop feel but is faster paced then so far presented.
Beautiful is just that. A sadly beautiful song of loss. Chamber pop at it's best.
Disk 2 starts with the 4 track EP from 98 called
This is Just A Modern Rock Song. The vocals from the other members detract a touch but it is still a wonderful piece of Pop with strummed acoustic guitar and even a trumpet that leads to a louder end. The next 3 track EP from 00 has an outstanding title track in
Legal Man. Again I use the 60's as a focal point but in an odd way the song sounds more like the soundtrack to a 60's spy show like The Man From U.N.C.L.E. than say a chamber pop song influenced by maybe The Beatles. The final 2 tracks are filler in the conventional sense. A jam like instrumental followed by a slow ballad. 3 tracks from the 01
Jonathan David follow. I consider this the weakest lead track so far and can only put it down to a flat vocal performance but then this EP as a whole does not match past efforts. The 01 3 track
I wake Up To Us follows and this is an return to form with the title track being what the band does best, catchy chamber pop. It is followed by the equally catchy jazzy driven
I Love My Car.
In the end a song or two and the Jonathan David tracks can be considered weaker but then Belle And Sebastian filler is better than some bands entire careers. Any one who has a serious love of the music of Belle And Sebastian would be missing out if they did not have this very good compilation, in fact I am unable to imagine a Belle And Sebastian fan without this album.
