Today’s announcement of three new releases from Belle and Sebastian, How To Solve Our Human Problems Part 1, How To Solve Our Human Problems Part 2 and How To Solve Our Human Problems Part 3. To celebrate this announcement, Belle and Sebastian has revealed a new song titled “I’ll Be Your Pilot.”

The single encapsulates the essence of the groups gentle attention to melody, and takes as its subject Stuart Murdoch’s young son: “Having your first kid is a huge event, so I wrapped a lot of things I felt about Denny into the song. Being a dad made me feel a little like the pilot in The Little Prince, hence all the references to the Sahara!”

Just as those three early EPs are at the very heart of the Belle and Sebastian canon, so these three new releases deserve to be treated not as a stopgap, but as definitive releases in their own right. How To Solve Our Human Problems is both an era of its own, and part of a long, rich history. How To Solve Our Human Problems is, if you like, Belle and Sebastian Redux.

When Belle and Sebastian felt new music percolating within them, they decided to break from the working methods of the recent years and instead stay at home, record the tracks as and when, often producing themselves, working with friends and collaborators to see what emerged. Working in Glasgow gave them the freedom to work without the constraints that making an album can impose: they could take their time honing and experimenting.

One thing that has defined Belle and Sebastian has been their relationship with fans, and that’s apparent in the new EPs. For the three sleeves, the group issued a call to fans to come to be photographed by Murdoch at a studio in Belsize Park in North London. Fifty were selected, and all those photographed were also recorded answering the question: “How do you solve your human problems?”

These days, Murdoch accepts, the band’s relationship with their fans is “very comfortable.” They’re now seeing a second generation – the children of their original fans, kids who’ve found them as the internet has opened up the whole of pop history. But in the past few years, he has started thinking about his own responsibilities to those fans. “I do feel it’s not just about the music anymore, and it shouldn’t be. You have this platform to spread good vibrations. Life is short! What are we doing here? Are we becoming better people?

Belle and Sebastian
How To Solve Our Human Problems Part 1
Tracklisting:

1. Sweet Dew Lee
2. We Were Beautiful
3. Fickle Season
4. The Girl Doesn’t Get It
5. Everything Is Now

Belle and Sebastian
How To Solve Our Human Problems Part 2
Tracklisting:

1. Show Me The Sun
2. Same Star
3. I’ll Be Your Pilot
4. Cornflakes
5. A Plague On All Other Boys

Belle and Sebastian
How To Solve Our Human Problems Part 3
Tracklisting:

1. Poor Boy
2. Everything Is Now (Part Two)
3. Too Many Tears
4. There Is An Everlasting Song
5. Best Friend

Tour Dates:

Mon – 05-Feb – Belgium, Antwerp, De Roma
Tue – 06-Feb – France, Strasbourg, La Laiterie
Wed – 07-Feb – France, Paris, Salle Pleyel
Fri – 09-Feb – France, Nantes, Stereolox
Sun – 11-Feb – Luxembourg, Rockhal
Mon – 12-Feb – Switzerland, Zurich, X tra limmathaus
Tue – 13-Feb – Italy, Milan, Fabrique
Wed – 14-Feb – Italy, Bologna, Estragon
Fri – 16-Feb – Germany, Munich, Muffathalle
Sat – 17-Feb – Germany, Berlin, Admiralspalast
Sun – 18-Feb – Germany, Frankfurt, Batschkapp
Mon – 19-Feb – Netherlands, Amsterdam, Carre
Wed – 21-Feb – Denmark, Copenhagen, DK Studio 1
Thu – 22-Feb – Sweden, Stockholm, Munchen Brewery
Fri – 23-Feb – Norway, Oslo, Sentrum Scene
Sat – 24-Feb – Sweden, Gothenburg, Studios
Tue – 06-Mar – UK, Cornwall Truro Hall
Thu – 08-Mar – Wales, Cardiff, Millenium Centre
Fri – 09-Mar – Wales, Aberystwyth, Arts Centre
Sat – 10-Mar – UK, Nottingham Rock City
Mon – 12-Mar – UK, Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Tue – 13-Mar – UK, Cambridge Corn Exchange
Thu – 15-Mar – UK, Brighton Dome
Fri – 16-Mar – UK, London Troxy
Sat – 17-Mar – UK, London Troxy
Mon – 19-Mar – UK, Liverpool Philharmonic
Tue – 20-Mar – UK, York Opera House
Thu – 22-Mar – UK, Gateshead Sage
Fri – 23-Mar – Scotland, Perth, Concert Hall
Sat – 24-Mar – Scotland, Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Mon – 26-Mar – Ireland, Dublin, Vicar St
Tue – 27-Mar – Ireland, Dublin, Vicar St