St Etienne have never been much more than a cult band, which is a bit odd given that their shimmering dance tunes are about as commercial as indie-pop gets. The plus side to this is that they've been able to pursue whatever crazy artistic ideas they like - a concept album about the inhabitants of a London tower block, for instance. It turns out to be the perfect showcase for the Saints to do what they do best; bittersweet kitchen sink dramas set to electro beats and wistful melodies. And as always, the deliberate mundanity of the subject matter is nicely set off by Sarah Cracknell's blissfully dreamy vocals. If this turns out to be their swansong, it's a suitably high note on which to bow out.

Your Comments

No comments have been posted for this article yet. Be the first!