There always has been a sweet perversity lingering somewhere beneath the sweatered exterior of Glasgow's Belle And Sebastian. Behind the canny pop idealism is a sense of rock rebellion. The lonesome-boy earnestness is offset with misanthropic humour, and ornate arrangements are scratched up by shaky singing. Heck, they can even raise smiles with an unbelievably pretentious title such as Fold You Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant, which, it warrants mention, fits their fourth full-length album like a comfortable pair of Clark's.

Out Tuesday, FYHCYWLAP follows steadily in the tradition of 1998's The Boy With The Arab Strap -- an instant classic that put the reclusive indie group front and centre in their native U.K., and, more surprisingly, haunted bestseller racks in downtown Toronto record stores for months.

Not as immediately catchy as its predecessor, the new disc uses a virtually identical formula: A grim opening lullaby unfurls into soaring orchestral pop (I Fought In A War). Mid-album stride is reached with a dreamy funk voyage (Don't Leave The Light On Baby), and there's the clap-along Northern Soul-style workout at the climax (Woman's Realm, There's Too Much Love).

The band is clearly enjoying a love affair with its latest gear acquisitions, namely harpsichord, mellotron and tubular bells, but the real developments lie in the writing itself, which is subtle and ultimately brilliant. And, though the large lineup still hinges on the work of frontman Stuart Murdoch, violinist Sarah Martin nearly steals the show with Waiting For The Moon To Rise, a chilly bit of psychedelic folk that sounds more like Nick Drake than Nick Drake did.

Meanwhile, singer Isobel Campbell's duet with a bottomless-voiced mystery man on Beyond The Sunrise should have Scott Walker fans reeling in excitement. Another gem.

Check it out if you like: Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, The Smiths, Housemartins/Beautiful South and, uh, Belle And Sebastian.

Track Listing 1. I Fought In A War
  2. The Model
  3. Beyond The Sunrise
  4. Waiting For The Moon To Rise
  5. Don't Leave The Light On, Baby
  6. The Wrong Girl
  7. The Chalet Lines
  8. Nice Day For A Sulk
  9. Woman's Realm
  10. Family Tree
  11. There's Too Much Love