Chamber pop veterans Belle and Sebastian are coming to the Greek Theatre in Berkeley this weekend, touring behind their first album in five years, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. The familiar trademarks of the group’s sound are present on their ninth studio recording, from Stuart Murdoch’s acerbic wit to their penchant for writing stirring, gorgeous melodies (especially on soaring opener “Nobody’s Empire”), but many of the tracks are exploring more dance-centric territory. Propulsive rhythms reverberate throughout: the slinky, gripping groove of “The Party Line,” the electro, ABBA-esque dance-floor burner “Enter Sylvia Plath,” and the Latin-inflected percussion of “Perfect Couples” all contribute to the new sonic direction. Tunes like “Allie” and “The Book Of You,” however, harken back to the Dear Catastrophe Waitress days when the band was channeling the boogie-rock spirit of Thin Lizzy. Whatever style they choose to tackle, they’ll be sure to get you moving your feet this Sunday night.

Belle and Sebastian, Real Estate, Perfume Genius
The Greek Theatre
April 12, 2015
5pm, $49.50 (all ages)