Description
#saintetienne #vinyl #vinylrecords
Eagerly coming after their 11th installment ‘I’ve Been Trying To Tell You’, the seasoned trio Saint Etienne gives their listeners an auditory treat with their latest album – The Night. Setting a mood of relaxation layered with subtleties of introspection, the album’s contemplative tunes mirror the calm yet penetrating ambiance of nocturnal rain, streaming down the windowpanes, entering the listeners’ space as though they’re part of a late-night serenade; an inviting yet evocative invitation to dip into the crevices of their own musings.
Since they rose to recognition in the 90s, the London-based band has been delivering vibrant melodies that marry the ethos of club culture with the charm of 1960s pop. For those unfamiliar, the band consists of an incredibly talented trio – Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, and Pete Wiggs. They first bathed in the spotlight with the acclaim earned by their debut album Foxbase Alpha (1991). Undeniably, the timeless marvels – ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ and ‘Nothing Can Stop Us’ became anthems for an entire generation.
Strolling further down the memory lane, not mentioning the band’s doubling down on their artistry with So Tough (1993), and Tiger Bay (1994), would surely be an oversight. Fast forward to their release Good Humor (1998) and Sound of Water (2000), Saint Etienne shifted their musical platter slightly and took a detour towards ambient music.
Offering a 2 o’clock AM sonic experience in 2024, The Night showcases yet another facet of their musical potential. Encased in a monochromatic depiction of colors, the effervescent pianos and raw strings seem to seamlessly sync with the cacophony of the late-night, urban neighborhood. ‘Gold’ is a particular standout, intricately infusing jazz-pop with honking saxophones.
Reflecting their rich past filled with diverse influences, two of their other albums – Finisterre (2002) and Tales From Turnpike House (2005) mirrormed their original sounds mixed with variations inspired by their exploration along the way. Their journey in the 2010s has been a full circle homecoming with albums Words and Music (2012) and Home Counties (2017) rekindling their core influence areas laid down in the 90s club scene culture.
Shifting the focus back to The Night, the vinyl design of the album is as spellbinding as the music inside. Although the band had ventured into incorporating samples in I’ve Been Trying To Tell You (2021) after nearly two decades, it was in The Night that they finally hit the bull’s eye, cementing Saint Etienne’s position in ambient music once again. The splattered vinyl edition of the album is essentially a vivid tapestry of delightful sounds that certainly stimulates an immersive sensory adventure into the realm of uncanny rhythms and delicate melodies.
