I came to know Belle & Sebastian a few years before their breakthrough release, Dear Catastrophe Waitress, came out in North America. I remember listening to an Internet radio station looking for some new music with Fox in the Snow came on. I must’ve stopped and thought, “What is this?” because at some point, on a day later, I bought a copy of If You’re Feeling Sinister. And then the band’s complete back catalog.
Fox in the Snow
Fox in the Snow is everything that I love about Belle & Sebastian, and music in general. It’s a beautifully written story punctuated with wonderfully simple and concise music. I like the way that the song builds upon itself, musically, yet it maintains that stripped down feeling of a very simple folk song. And if Belle & Sebastian’s musical chops are sufficiently demonstrated on a song like Fox in the Snow, have a listen to some of their other stuff. Their more recent releases, which are decidedly more upbeat and produced, are a departure from tracks like Fox in the Snow but still showcase a wonderfully talented band.
Belle & Sebastian are possibly my favourite band, so choosing a track was difficult but since Fox in the Snow was the first one I heard it holds a certain sentimental value, too. Check it out.
