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Dec 07, 2017 By Christopher Roberts Belle and Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian are releasing three interconnected EPs, all titled How to Solve Your Human Problems. How to Solve Your Human Problems Part 1 is due out tomorrow (December 8), Part 2 is due out January 19, and Part 3 is due out February 16. Then all three EPs will be collected in a vinyl box set and CD compilation, both due out February 17. Previously the band shared Part 1‘s “We Are Beautiful” (as well as a video for the song) and Part 2‘s “I’ll Be Your Pilot.” Now “I’ll Be Your Pilot” has a video. The black & white clip mainly features close ups of various people’s faces. Alas it is a TIDAL exclusive for now. TIDAL members can watch it here, everyone else can watch a 1-minute clip and wait for it to surface on YouTube.

Frontman Stuart Murdoch had this to say about the video to TIDAL: “I wanted to do something that was really intimate and personal. I was playing the song and I was watching Andy Warhol’s The Screen Tests [for inspiration]. Back to the ‘60s in The Factory, Andy Warhol used to invite people that he thought had interesting faces. He used to just put them in front of the camera, and just start the camera rolling. He let them do whatever they wanted to do, and it was interesting because sometimes they would do very little, and sometimes you would get an emotional response.”

In a previous press release Murdoch said “I’ll Be Your Pilot” is about his 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!”

Last year the band announced that they were working on new music that they planned to release as a series of vinyl EPs and frontman Stuart Murdoch posted a casting call looking for models to appear on the covers of the EPs. They weren’t necessarily looking for professional models, but rather regular people who are fans of the band. The cover art for each EP is culled from this project. Fifty fans were selected to be photographed in a London photo studio and were also recorded answering the following question: “How do you solve your human problems?”

Murdoch said in a previous press release that the band’s relationship with their fans is “very comfortable” and he feels a responsibility to their 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?”

The band’s last album was 2015’s Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance.

Belle and Sebastian 2018 European 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

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