Despite some indications that Belle and Sebastian’s ninth might be a politically motivated album – Allie’s reference to “bombs in the Middle East”; the title itself – Stuart Murdoch and co ultimately focus on matters of the heart, whether in Glasgow or Gaza. The gorgeously ambient Today (This Army’s for Peace) drifts into a slumberous state despite its tormented lyrics, single The Party Line is the disco-dancing partner to 2004’s Your Cover’s Blown, and Nobody’s Empire – a song about Murdoch’s chronic fatigue syndrome – tackles illness with dexterous delicacy. Most importantly though, this album retains the group’s old sense of humour: Enter Sylvia Plath is, quite incongruously, a sequin-studded Eurovision romp, and Perfect Couples – a song about marrying young and breaking up early – tackles “sexual tension by the fridge”, baskets on bikes and fruit-based snacks with elegantly wry wit.