Late Developers is the twelfth studio album by the Scottish indie pop band Belle and Sebastian, released on 13 January 2023 by Matador Records.[6][7]

Late Developers
A blue-tinted picture of a man holding a photograph he is developing in a darkroom, with the artist name and title printed above him.
Studio album by
Released13 January 2023 (2023-01-13)
Studio
  • Banchory (Glasgow)
  • Gorbals (Glasgow)
  • Castle of Doom (Glasgow)
Genre
Length42:01
LabelMatador
Producer
Belle and Sebastian chronology
A Bit of Previous
(2022)
Late Developers
(2023)
Singles from Late Developers
  1. "I Don't Know What You See in Me"
    Released: 9 January 2023[5]

Background

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On 5 January 2023, the Scottish group posted a 10-second clip on their official website and social accounts, as an announcement teaser.[8] A few days later, on 9 January 2023, Belle and Sebastian announced their new studio album Late Developers, along with the first single "I Don't Know What You See in Me".[5][9] The official music video for the single was released on 11 January 2023.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.5/10[11]
Metacritic79/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [13]
Clash7/10[2]
Exclaim!7/10[14]
The Line of Best Fit7/10[15]
MusicOMH     [16]
The Observer     [17]
Pitchfork7.6/10[18]
The Skinny     [19]
The Telegraph     [20]

Late Developers was met with "generally favorable" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 79, based on 15 reviews.[12]

At Clash, writer Robin Murray described the album as a "fine piece of pop whimsy, delivered with self-deprecating panache."[2]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Stuart Murdoch, Stephen Jackson, Sarah Martin, Christopher Geddes, Richard Colburn, Robert Kildea, and David McGowan, except "I Don't Know What You See In Me" written by Pete Ferguson. All tracks are produced by Belle and Sebastian and Brian McNeill, except where noted

Late Developers track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Juliet Naked"
  • Belle and Sebastian
  • Kevin Burleigh
3:22
2."Give a Little Time" 3:32
3."When We Were Very Young" 3:52
4."Will I Tell You a Secret" 2:15
5."So in the Moment" 3:23
6."The Evening Star" 4:25
7."When You're Not with Me"Matt Wiggins4:42
8."I Don't Know What You See in Me"Pete Ferguson3:39
9."Do You Follow"
4:19
10."When the Cynics Stare Back from the Wall" 4:21
11."Late Developers" 4:21
Total length:42:01
Japanese bonus track[21]
No.TitleLength
12."I Dumped You First"2:22

Personnel

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Belle and Sebastian

Additional musicians

  • Ryan Quigley – trumpet, flugelhorn (all tracks), brass arrangements (1–5, 7–11)
  • Paul Towndrowtenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
  • Michael Owers – trombone, bass trombone
  • Leon McCrary – backing vocals, vocal and choir arrangement
  • Charles Henderson-McCrary – backing vocals, vocal and choir arrangement
  • Anjolee Williams – backing vocals
  • Olivia Walker – backing vocals
  • Patience Henderson-McCrary – backing vocals
  • Sarah Wilson – cello (4)
  • Brian McNeill – keyboard programming (8)
  • Pete Ferguson – vocals, keyboards (8)
  • Kevin Burleigh – percussion (9)
  • Tracyanne Campbell – vocals (10)

Technical

  • Kevin Burleigh – mixing (tracks 1, ), engineering (1, 9)
  • Brian McNeill – mixing, engineering (2–6, 9–11)
  • Matt Wiggins – mixing, engineering (7)
  • Kyle Startup – mixing (8)
  • Frank Arkwright – mastering
  • Pete Ferguson – engineering (8)
  • Tony Doogan – engineering (9)

Visuals

  • Emma Durnan – sleeve design
  • Hristian Valev – cover model
  • Marisa Privitera Murdoch – photography assistance

Charts

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Chart performance for Late Developers
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[22] 31
Scottish Albums (OCC)[23] 4
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[24] 60
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 82
UK Albums (OCC)[26] 30
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[27] 3

References

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  1. ^ Grieg, Zena. "Belle And Sebastian - Late Developers". www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Murray, Robin (18 January 2023). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Album Review: Belle and Sebastian - Late Developers -". mxdwn Music. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. ^ "The Quietus | Reviews | Belle and Sebastian". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Clarke, Patrick (9 January 2023). "Belle & Sebastian talk surprise album 'Late Developers' and "90s power ballad" 'I Don't Know What You See In Me'". NME. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. ^ Arcand, Rob (9 January 2023). "Belle and Sebastian Releasing New Album, Late Developers, This Friday". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (9 January 2023). "Belle and Sebastian announce new album with lead single "I Don't Know What You See In Me"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. ^ Hudson, Alex (6 January 2023). "Belle and Sebastian Post Mysterious Teaser". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. ^ Hudson, Alex (9 January 2023). "Belle and Sebastian to Release Surprise Album 'Late Developers' This Week". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Belle and Sebastian – I Don't Know What You See in Me". 11 January 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "AnyDecentMusic Review". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  13. ^ Thomas, Fred. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  14. ^ Hudson, Alex (12 January 2023). "Belle and Sebastian Sound Best When They're Themselves on 'Late Developers'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  15. ^ Cobar, Rene (13 January 2023). "The Line of Best Fit Review". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  16. ^ Murphy, John (13 January 2023). "MusicOMH Review". MusicOMH. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  17. ^ Mongredien, Phil (16 January 2023). "The Observer Review". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  18. ^ Hogan, Mark (13 January 2023). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  19. ^ Sefton, Max (16 January 2023). "The Skinny Review". The Skinny. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  20. ^ McCormick, Neil (13 January 2023). "Americana star Margo Price dazzles, Gaz Coombes ponders marital mid-life – the week's best albums". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Late Developers - Beat Records". Beatink.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Belle and Sebastian – Late Developers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Belle and Sebastian – Late Developers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Belle and Sebastian – Late Developers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  27. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
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