Album Reviews

Album Review: Saint Etienne – Good Humor/Tales From Turnpike House (Universal/Heavenly)

By | Published on Thursday 30 September 2010

Saint Etienne

The last two albums in the series of St Et Deluxe Edition reissues then; first up is ‘Good Humor’. Recorded in Sweden with a live band, it’s very much a reaction against both the Britpop years that preceded its release (in 1998) and the group’s earlier, more synthetic material. Whilst there are no classics here (lead single ‘Sylvie’ always was and still remains superior in its Trouser Enthusiasts remixed version), it’s a consistent album that holds up surprisingly well, and the second disc is awash with typically excellent b-sides and rarities from the era.

‘Tales From Turnpike House’, meanwhile, is the trio’s most recent album and arguably their most fully realised yet. An album with a loose concept, it’s a tenement symphony housing everything you’d want from a Saint Etienne album – pulsating synth-pop, with two Xenomania productions, impeccable retro credentials by way of Tony Rivers’ gorgeous Beach Boys-style vocal arrangements, spooky ambience (‘Birdman Of EC1’) and quirkiness, with its David Essex vocal cameo.

The bonus disc includes nine unreleased tracks (with two corkers in ‘Another Cup Of Coffee’ and ‘Must Be More’) but the omission of three tracks from the period (‘Oh My’, ‘Dream Lover’ and brilliant b-side ‘I’m Falling’) is nothing short of criminal, frankly. Still, those concerned more with enjoying effortlessly fine pop than with the strange vagaries of record company compilers will do well to get hold of both of these albums, the latter in particular. MS

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