Belle and Sebastian
Write About Love
(Rough Trade)
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There is a moment during Write About Love, the eighth studio album from the loose-knit Glasgow outfit Belle and Sebastian, when the stars seem to align. It's the surprise appearance of the recent Oscar hopeful Carey Mulligan, who lends her breathy vocal to the album's title track and alludes to a different life with the lines: "I hate my job / Every day I'm stuck in an office."
The star, who is best known for portraying a frustrated 1960s schoolgirl in An Education, was surely born to record with the group, whose vast catalogue of twee coming-of-age pop contains dozens of songs about such characters, and whose record covers are invariably adorned with black and white images of them. But like the rest of the album, the brief but perfectly played match-up almost never came to be.
Stuart Murdoch, the group's complicated and rather delicate frontman, has spoken at length about how he felt they had drifted apart during the years since their 2006 release, The Life Pursuit, and about his surprise that they found time to record together again. He had been busy with his music and film project, God Help the Girl, while the drummer, Richard Colburn, was most recently heard playing with the alt-country supergroup Tired Pony.
But Write About Love doesn't sound like a last-ditch attempt to preserve a fading dream, or worse, an incoherent collection of recordings that demonstrate what everyone learnt during their time off. Instead, the album sounds as though it could have been made at almost any point during the group's 15-year career. It opens with I Didn't See It Coming which, led by Sarah Martin's gentle vocals, slowly grows into the kind of densely arranged, swinging pop tune that Belle and Sebastian do best. Later on, the brilliantly titled Calculating Bimbo is a reminder of Murdoch's ability to combine charming wordplay and emotionally resonant delivery.
Write About Love (featuring Mulligan) is perhaps the album's high point, featuring a supercool 1960s-style organ sound and guitarist Stevie Jackson's snappiest riff. All the retro elements coalesce perfectly over one of the best choruses the group has ever created and a hilarious call and response lyric between Mulligan and Murdoch. Indie purists will feel less comfortable about the album's other major collaboration, however. The song Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John features the velvety tones of the multimillion seller Norah Jones. Played like a smoky Diana Ross ballad, there's no denying that the song is skilfully executed, but it will sink or swim depending on the listener's preconceptions about Jones.
One of the album's rare upbeat numbers is I'm Not Living in the Real World, a brilliantly ecstatic pop tune sung with all of Jackson's optimistic energy and driven by an "ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh" backing vocal. Even its drastic key changes are hugely enjoyable. Towards the record's end, a succession of pleasant but slightly unremarkable ballads causes the album to drag, but there are some incredible moments tucked-away there too. A reflection on Murdoch's relationships with his bandmates, Read the Blessed Pages features one of his most intimate performances to date, while the synth-drenched Sunday's Pretty Icons manages to pull-off a dark and suspicious tone that feels entirely new for the group.
While their last release was heavy on theatrical rock songs about cartoonish characters, (Funny Little Frog, White Collar Boy, for example), this album - dominated by understated ballads - feels much more personal in nature. But it would be a mistake to assume that Murdoch's love songs are all autobiographical, or equally that his third-person creations aren't actually all about him. The truth is that Belle and Sebastian have returned with no great statement of intent. Instead, they've just done what they always do: lovingly delivered the best pop music they know how to make.
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Recommended related albums Belle and Sebastian
If You're Feeling Sinister (1996) With horns, strings, complex arrangements and Stuart Murdoch's wry delivery, B&S's second album brought the band international critical praise and became an instant indie classic. Standout tracks include The Stars of Track and Field and Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying.
God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl (2009) Stuart Murdoch wrote an album of songs specifically to be sung by female vocalists, then enlisted a bunch of unknowns to record them. He now has plans to turn the project into a musical film, which will begin shooting in 2011.
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (2002) Dreamy vocals and pop hooks helped the contemporary jazz singer Norah Jones (a guest on Write About Love) to shift more than 20 million copies of her debut. Features the international hits Don't Know Why and Come Away With Me.
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Mobile phone packages comparison
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MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
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Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.