Belle and Sebastian’s frontman Stuart Murdoch flexes his indie-pop muscle within a much broader harmonic sphere. When asked about this self-titled debut (Murdoch's first new venture since 'The Life Pursuit' from Belle and Sebastian in 2006), he said "I was out for a run and I got this tune in my head." Wow I wish I could the say the same for me. He went on to say that "It occurred to me that it wasn't a Belle and Sebastien song. I could hear female voices and strings, I could hear the whole thing, but I couldn't envisage myself singing it with the group." The other members of the Glaswegian indie-pop band Belle and Sebastian, Chris Geddes (keyboards), Richard Colburn (drums), Bobby Kildea (guitar and bass), Mick Cooke (trumpet and bass), Sarah Martin (violin, keyboards, guitar and vocals) and Stevie Jackson (vocals and guitar) did help with the backing in God Help the Girl, accompanied by a 45 peice orchestra. Many female vocalists were auditioned including the lead vocalist, the Irish Catherine Ireton. Overall there are nine different vocalists in the project.

The result of five years of hard work is an outstanding multi-faceted musical narrative spanning the emotional spectrum of chief vocalist Ireton. The blend of diferent harmonies and voices together with the impressive range of instruments and different musical styles, ensures it covers a wide range of different sounds.
This album tells a story if you listen for it, each vocalist bringing a different charcater to life. Murdoch is even working on a film musical version to bring this album to the screen in 2010.

The genres blur in an incredibly refreshing way, ageing with Ireton as she sings a life-story of love, loss and loneliness. Be prepared for innocent first love, to heartbreak, to depression. With strong influences from musicals and slight religious undertones, this journey will take you from lounging in a late night jazz café, to bopping along with a sixties girl group and then toe-tapping to classic pop and eighties indie as Catherine grows up, falls in love, breaks up and then spends the remainder of the album wishing she hadn’t. The thought and careful construction of this album is outstanding. Ireton's lilting vocals are breathtaking; she has a beautifully clear voice that rings out above the whole orchestra so you can hear every single word.

After listening to this album time and time again, my interpretations of how this musical narrative plays out have altered. That's another thing about this album, it takes you by surprise over and over. This is my review of each seperate song and how I took it to fit into the story now that i have listened closely countless times.

1. Act of the Apostle:

The maturing of the main character, the poignantly named Eve, which Catherine ireton voclaises. It is based on Belle and Sebastian's 'Act of the Apostle II' with a musical style twist. It interweaves the ageing of musical technology with her mental ageing, as well as the age gap between her and her parents. She mentions a transister radio: 'I tune in at night when my mum and my dad start to fight. I put on my headphones. And I tune out I'm thinking of digital.'
This song starts with just vocals and very gradually builds up until the full orchestra is backing her. I think it's nice how this introduction of more and more instruments and more complex sounds reflects the process of growing up. She ends on a significant note telling us she wants to find 'the face behind the voice'

2. God Help the Girl:

Sunshiney, and upbeat sixties girl-group inspired song about how she is 'not looking for a boyfriend', but then a verse later: 'This ain't no play on words, my love for him's absurd'. A stand-out track for me. I like how the genre ages here as she grows up.

3. Pretty Eve in the Tub:

Stuart Murdoch takes the main vocal role on this track, with Ireton joining in later, giving this song a different feel altogether from what we've heard so far. This album keeps you musically on your toes. I think this song tells the tale of Eve's first relationships - perhaps settling on the character sung by Murdoch.
'Boys and queing, trouble brewing, but you take it all away.'

4. A Unified Theorey:

This is an instrumental jazz peice. I view it as a kind of 'interval' in this musical inspired album.

5. Hiding Neath My Umbrella:

A slightly sadder piano ballad that is one of the more reflective peices backed strongly by strings. Again Ireton and Murdoch sing, but this time about how 'the weather is changing.' Perhaps this relationship is not really working (whether they are married or not is another point..)

6. Funny Little Frog:

Really stand-out track for me. This is a remake of Belle and Sebastian's Funny Little Frog which was their most succsessful single, debuting in the charts at #13 in 2006. Sung by Brittany Stallings, this song is upbeat and punchy and has an older feel to it while remaining more quite poppy. My interpretation was that this was a girl falling in love with Eve's partner in the previous song. 'You're my guy and you don't even know it.'

7. If You Could Speak:

Slower accoustic number sung by mostly by Ireton accompanied by softly strummed guitar. This song encompasses the confusion of Eve in what direction to pursue next in her life.

8. Musician, Please Take Heed:

Haunting and slightly depressing number. This has a strong, fast-paced beat and has a feel to it of eighties indie. This is about Eve's depression and experimentation with drugs, sex and rock and roll.
'I will give into lust, I will do what I must.' 'Ill take a dose I don't mind trying.'

9. Perfection As A Hipster:

New male singer introduced in Neil Hannon. His vocals are good, but pale I think next to the female voices. Really nice harmonies though between Ireton and Hannon. This song decribes his meeting with Eve, the harmonies are especially nice as he is completely taken with her and she is not really that interested in him as a person.

10. Come Monday Night:

The single release from th album and you can see why. Again Ireton takes the lead again (but believe me this never a bad thing - she really is a cut above the rest on this album) This song has a good clash of a modern beat and older melodies and harmonies.

11. The Music Room Window:

Again, a very short instrumental muscial 'interval'. It's refreshing to have a mix of length and style within the album.

12. I Just Want His Jeans:

Sung by Asya from Smoosh. Really cutesy innocent vocals, but not actually in a bad way, and adds well to the ecelectic range of vocals. This is mostly vocals with very minimalistic guitar and keyboard backing which is a nice contrast to the earlier swelling tracks. I'm not entirely sure how this fits into the story - I think it may be a continuation of Eve's story about her feeling towards the Hannon character. But I may have totally the wrong end of the stick with it anyway! Anway this is a good track and continues the move to a more modern sound.

13: I'll Have to Dance With Cassie:

Upbeat, and not too suprisingly a dancey number. However, this has very modern lyrics about'e eve's experiences in a club. However this seems to be all about how she 'has to dance with cassie' or settle for something sub-standard such as the Hannon charcater because 'the dream boy never asked'. Very relateable lyrics. Another stand-out track for me.

14: A Down and Dusky Blonde:

Really stand out track. About having to settle for something other than the love of your life: 'But I need a freind so I choose you (...) the truth is crushing like a heel. I will forget the kiss and feel if you will too.' Five female vocalists interweave harmonies beautifully, echoing the universal nature of the subject matter. Great, vivid, thought-provoking lyrics: 'I'm not a brunette, i'm a down and dusky blonde.'

Overall this is a truly original album, not that generic ‘original’ we’re getting all far too used to. I will be awaiting the film with much anticipation. A real gem and not just for Belle and Sebastian fans. Although a depressing end for the girl, who I suppose God did not help after all, a breath of much needed innovative air for the rest of us.