Editing Belle and Sebastian (section)

===''If You're Feeling Sinister'' and early EPs (1996–1998)===
The warm response ''Tigermilk'' received led to the band being signed to [[Jeepster Records]] in August 1996, who released their second album ''[[If You're Feeling Sinister]]'' on 18 November.<ref name="pbs">{{Citation |title=Belle and Sebastian 2nd Melbourne show! |url=http://www.pbsfm.org.au/Documents.asp?ID=2536&Title=Belle+and+Sebastian+2nd+Melbourne+show!++ |work=PBS 106.7FM |access-date=4 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070916203738/http://pbsfm.org.au/Documents.asp?ID=2536&Title=Belle+and+Sebastian+2nd+Melbourne+show%21++ |archive-date=16 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album was named by ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' as one of the 100 greatest albums between 1985 and 2005,<ref>{{Citation|title=100 Greatest Albums, 1985–2005 |url=https://www.spin.com/2005/06/100-greatest-albums-1985-2005/ |work=Spin|date=20 June 2005 |access-date=11 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804123605/https://www.spin.com/2005/06/100-greatest-albums-1985-2005/ |archive-date=4 August 2009 }}</ref> and it is widely considered the band's masterpiece.<ref name="notebook" /> Just before the recording of ''Sinister'', [[Sarah Martin (musician)|Sarah Martin]] (violin/vocals) joined the band.

Following this a series of EPs were released throughout 1997.<ref>{{Citation |last=Hornby |first=Nick |title=Lazy Line Painter Jane |url=http://www.salon.com/music/sharps/1997/11/14sharps.html |work=Salon |date=14 November 1997 |access-date=5 November 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071210214633/http://www.salon.com/music/sharps/1997/11/14sharps.html| archive-date= 10 December 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> The first of these was ''[[Dog on Wheels]]'', released in May and consisting of four demo tracks recorded prior to the real formation of the band. In fact, the only long-term band members to play on the songs were Murdoch, David, and [[Mick Cooke (musician)|Mick Cooke]], who played trumpet on the EP but would not officially join the band until a few years later. It charted at No.&nbsp;59 in the UK singles chart.<ref name="pbs" /> The ''[[Lazy Line Painter Jane]]'' EP followed in July. The track was recorded in the church where Murdoch lived<ref name="lim">{{Citation |last=Lim |first=Dennis |title=Winter of Their Youth |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/1998-09-15/music/winter-of-their-youth/ |work=The Village Voice |date=15 September 1998 |access-date=5 November 2007 |archive-date=5 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805062619/http://www.villagevoice.com/1998-09-15/music/winter-of-their-youth/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and features vocals from [[Monica Queen]]. The EP narrowly missed out on the UK top 40, peaking at No.&nbsp;41.<ref name="pbs" /> The last of the EPs was October's ''[[3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light]]''. The EP was made Single of the Week in both the ''[[NME]]'' and ''[[Melody Maker]]'' and reached No.&nbsp;32 in the charts, thus becoming the band's first top 40 single.<ref name="pbs" />

Despite the band's growing popularity, during this period they kept a low profile at the insistence of Murdoch, who was still regaining his strength following years struggling with [[Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome|myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)]]. The band played gigs sporadically, rarely gave interviews, and refused to appear in publicity photographs, often getting friends and acquaintances to pose instead. The relative reclusiveness helped to create an aura of mystique around them.