7/10

Throughout the last decade and a half, Belle And Sebastian have been greeted as one of the most inspiring folk-pop outfits on the world stage. Their distinctive approach to the genre has resulted in countless critically-praised outings, and even reach a true zenith within their career to date with the outstanding offering 'A Bit Of Previous' last year. And clearly still buzzing from the creative process behind that last LP, the band have produced a quick turnaround to deliver their twelfth studio album 'Late Developers', a record that continues the energy behind their previous full-length.

On 'A Bit Of Previous', Belle And Sebastian unveiled some brilliantly fresh and inviting delights that found their driven direction revived and refreshed, but for 'Late Developers', it feels like they are almost riding on the coattails of their recent effort. While there are still plenty of bright and enticing moments scattered throughout this new collection, it does feel more like a series of off-cuts from their most recent sessions, never quite building up to the heady heights of their last full-length.

That is not to say that 'Late Developers' is a poor release by any means. In fact, it still stands as one of the more passionate and heartfelt entries in their repertoire to date. But sharing it so close to 'A Bit Of Previous' will always leave it in the shadows, despite its fun and enjoyable approach.