Search - St Etienne :: Finisterre

Nothing can stop them...

52pilot | Atlanta, GA USA | 11/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I chimed in with my thoughts on "Sound of Water" so I obligated to review "Finisterre." It's a definite return to the form of "Tiger Bay" and "So Tough." (I may be alone in thinking a return to form wasn't completely necessary, because I enjoyed the chill-out direction they were headed with "Sound of Water." Another album or two like that and they would have crossed paths with one of my other favorite bands, Alpha.) "Finisterre" pulls together everything good about the past few albums, with a healthy dose of electro thrown in. The electro is no surprise considering the band's penchant for remixes. Every electro DJ in my town had been spinning the Two Lone Swordsmen mix of "Heart Failed" since the first club nights crept up. But like Dot Allison's latest album, the out-right electro exercises here pale in comparison to more traditional material. "Amateur" and "B92" are almost throw-away tracks, but they are reminders that this is the St. Etienne of 2002 and not of 1992 (especially with "B92"'s refrain of "The boys are back in town/and Nothing can stop us now"). In "New Thing," though, the electro sound combines with classic St. E style to make a great club number. Some of the other tracks have more of a traditional deep house thump like "Hug My Soul." Those include the single "Action" (if you put them on a parallel line with New Order this is their "Regret"; the same sentiment and mood are echoed here), the superbly blissful "Shower Scene," and "How We Live Now," which builds for three euphoric minutes before Sarah ever hits the mic. The disc has just as many great moments that don't shout out to club culture. The instrumental "Language Lab" has a "Hill Street Connection"/"Misadventures of Margaret" feel to it. "Stop and Think It Over" echoes "Misadventures" as well as the slower numbers on "So Tough," with Sarah delivering one of her best vocals yet. "Summerisle" is the closest they come to the moody textures of "Sound of Water." (Does anyone know who the other vocalist on this cut is?) "The More You Know" does indeed sound a bit like Broadcast, but that's not a bad thing at all. Two other tracks feature guest vocalists speaking the verses with Sarah singing the choruses. "Soft Like Me" is painfully catchy but on this album it's one of the weaker tracks. You can't help but think that Sarah could have done something better with the verses. The title track, however, uses the same formula to much better effect. Sadly it stops before even hitting four minutes, despite having the feel of an epic along the lines of "Cool Kids of Death." Hopefully a new b-sides collection like "Interlude" or "Mess of Help" will be along before they close the book on "Finisterre." "Andersen Unbound" and "7 Summers" off the "Action" single mix the experimentalism of "Sound of Water" with the more '60s-influenced songwriting of "Good Humor." "Andersen" in the least would have made a great addition the the album. They haven't disappointed me yet, and at this rate I doubt they ever will."

Saint Etienne return to the dancefloor

52pilot | 10/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After exploring jangly-candy-coated rock a la the Cardigans ("Good Humour") and minimalistic electronica ("Sound Of Water"), Saint Etienne joyously return to dance-oriented pop, reminiscent of their first three albums (particularly "Tiger Bay") and the results are fantastic.Album opens with the one-two punch of "Action" (the first single) and "Amateur." An interesting guest slot on "Soft Like Me," Wildflower provides a brit-girl rap (!) as Sarah sings a chorus that will get stuck in your brain after only one listen. "Shower Scene" is begging for a floor-filling dance club remix, and "New Thing" utilizes new wave era/electroclash/analogue synth sounds, all the while sounding modern and relevent.... a song that is definitely single-worthy.In an interesting twist, British actor Michael Jayston provides spoken-word vocal interludes between the tracks. Some of his narratives are rather humorous ("Our Father, who art in Heaven, please stay there"), but ultimately I don't think this aspect of the album really works. I found his voice to be a bit of an interruption in the flow.Regardless, I'm thrilled with this album. It's their best since "Good Humour" and if they ever deserved some mainstream success, now would be the perfect time for it."

Saint Etienne -- We Do Synth Pop Right

Laura M. Witkowski | Charlotte, NC | 12/27/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It seems that the 80's electro-funk sound is back (examples include Ladytron, Madonna's new "Die Another Day" single, Chicks On Speed...) and I can safely say... "Why? What did we ever do to you?" Despite my less than enthusiastic embrace of this 80's trend, I can attest that if anybody was going to take on the task of using this trend for the betterment of electro-pop, than it would be Saint Etienne. Finisterre contains electro-funk done right among other pop gems. You may remember them from their semi-hit cover of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" back in 1992. Since then, this band has put out some of the best and catchiest pop records of the decade. Although they get much attention is the U.K., their fan base in the U.S. is devout, but pretty tiny. Their newest release shows them keeping up the pace with, and at times surpassing some of their best work. "Amateur" is a better song and Sarah Cracknell's vocals more compelling than Madonna's on "Die Another Day," yet you certainly won't be hearing this one 10 times an hour on top 40 radio."