Belle and Sebastian: Write About Love (Rough Trade)

There is perhaps little point in tryin to "sell" Belle and Sebastian, a Scottish group which has appeared at Elsewhere a couple of times (here), because their deft and literate pop has now been spread over almost 10 albums . . . so you've either got them, or not.

And the album title here perhaps won't have wide appeal (didn't they always, in some form or another?)

But rather than this just being another extension of their smart, widely referenced pop (folk, Bacharach, string sections, lovely sad ballads) here they have Norah Jones as a guest/frontperson on the delicious Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John which might seduce a few more in.

If that's what takes then fine by me because B&S may be a little light for some, but their music is smart and lyrics often wry, and there is real pleasure to be taken in spotting their influences and borrowings which come and go in the blink of an eye. (Try the title track here - it sounds like at least half a dozen other songs in places, yet it is always them.)

And they have a sense of humour.