BELLE AND SEBASTIAN – “Legal Man”
A goofy 60s-pop pastiche which sounds a little like the theme from Eurotrash, a little like Stereolab on a Ribena high, and a little like a group doing whatever they want, because they know their fanbase is going to buy it anyway. You might think this absolute security would be great for a band’s creativity, but ultimately that sort of thinking can end up with Be Here Now, probably the record “Legal Man” is least like in the whole world (excepting that both records aren’t exactly what you’d call modernist). “Legal Man” is fast and dumb – but only like a kid on a bicycle is fast and dumb, it doesn’t rock out or anything – and sounds great in precisely these circumstances: a sunny day in the city, after a walk with a mate. Every other time I’ve heard it, this playback included, it’s been solid six-out-of-ten material.