Over twenty years on the clock for Saint Etienne and, having been absorbed in various distractions for the last seven of those, here is album number eight. In the early-’90s, the indie dance scene was gathering steam and the band were swept up with it, providing a mellower antidote to bands with an inclination towards rock. Time has moved on since then, although we’re not sure that Saint Etienne have! There’s nothing essentially bad about that, but the only maturity in their sound is towards a more ambient quarter. Elevator music not quite, but rising out of the background might be an issue.
6/10
Words by TC
