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Sound of Water

 
Album Review: Sound of Water
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Sound of Water

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  • Artist: Saint Etienne
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: June 22, 2000
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Ten years on, Saint Etienne found themselves at a bit of a crossroads. They had long ago stopped having hits in the U.K., settling into a cult audience in both their homeland and the U.S. There isn't an inherent problem with having a cult audience, but cult bands often have the stigma of being on the cutting edge. At the start of their career, Saint Etienne was on the cutting edge. Their first two albums were at the foundation of many '90s pop trends, including the revival of swinging '60s London, the unabashedly melodic bent of Brit-pop, the fascination for forgotten easy listening artifacts from the '60s, the kaleidoscopic blend of '60s sound and '90s sensibility later heard on Beck records, plus the insurgent twee-pop of the late '90s. For their tenth anniversary, they decided to reclaim the cutting edge with Sound of Water. The album strove to keep the concise, song-oriented focus of Good Humor, while expanding the horizons of their music to focus on abstract, dreamy, electronic sounds. There are moments of pop pleasure here, surrounded by spare, languid electronica sections, vaguely reminiscent of the High Llamas. This is where maturity pays off. Saint Etienne never lingers too long in one area, letting the album flow gracefully between these two extremes and placing some very good pop melodies along the way. There are no knockout singles on par with those from So Tough or Tiger Bay, but Saint Etienne has pretty much given up on the pop charts, preferring to concentrate on cohesive, stronger albums. That may mean that Sound of Water simply isn't as exciting as their earlier work, and it also means that there isn't a good gateway song to the record. But that's OK, since with repeated plays, Sound of Water reveals itself as a first-rate effort. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Late Morning Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (4:13)
Heart Failed (In the Back of a Taxi) Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (3:41)
Sycamore (Lyrics) Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (3:46)
Don't Back Down (Lyrics) Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (4:49)
Just a Little Overcome (Lyrics) Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (3:41)
Boy Is Crying (Lyrics) Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (3:52)
Aspects of Lambert Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (3:30)
Downey, CA (Lyrics) Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (4:24)
How We Used to Live (Lyrics) Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (9:02)
The Place at Dawn Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs Saint Etienne (1:47)

Credits

Saint Etienne (Producer), Saint Etienne (Main Performer), John Miller (Drums), Sean O'Hagan (Arranger), Gerard Johnson (Arranger), Gerard Johnson (Producer), Gerard Johnson (Engineer), Gerard Johnson (Mixing), To Rococo Rot (Arranger), Jez Williams (Guitar), Simon Reynolds (Liner Notes), Philip Lee (Design), Stuart Reid (Percussion), Charlotte Hodson (Vocals (Background)), Edgar Jones (Bass (Electric)), Edgar Jones (Bass (Upright)), Shoichi Kajino (?), Mitch Stevens (Vocals (Background))
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Wikipedia: Sound of Water
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Sound of Water
Studio album by Saint Etienne
Released June 22, 2000
Recorded 2000
Genre Ambient
Trip-hop
Electronica
Length 42:45
Label Sub Pop

Mantra - MNTCD1018

Heavenly - HVNLP72
Producer Saint Etienne, Gerard Johnson
Professional reviews
Saint Etienne chronology
Built on Sand
(1999)		 Sound of Water
(2000)		 Interlude
(2001)

Sound of Water (2000) is an album by Saint Etienne. At the time of release, this album split the band's fanbase between those who preferred the poppier tune-based sound of Good Humor and singles like "You're in a Bad Way" and "He's on the Phone" from those who appreciated the band's new direction, which was more electronic in nature. Sound of Water was developed as Saint Etienne's ambient and experimental statement.

The album's lead single was the sprawling, multi-movement "How We Used to Live," which was not edited down from its 9 minute running length for single release.

Their previous US release Places to Visit was clearly the beginning of this new direction. Many of the artists with whom they collaborated on that EP are present on Sound of Water.

During the group's tenure with Sub Pop (1998-2005), Saint Etienne released many albums. Places to Visit preceded Sound of Water. In turn, the label released Interlude a year afterwards. Interlude is an album of mostly b-sides from the Sound of Water singles, as well as a couple from the Good Humor era.

The album is one of the few releases on which the band did not collaborate with Ian Catt in some way. The album was co-produced by Gerard Johnson and had arrangements by To Rococo Rot and Sean O'Hagan. It was recorded at To Rococo Rot's studio, Amber Sound, in Berlin, Germany. The band have described the recording sessions as 'working in an airless, windowless oven'. The album and singles artwork were all designed by Julian Opie an artist famed for his portraits of the band Blur.

Contents

Reissue

The album is scheduled to be reissued as part of the ongoing Deluxe Editions of the band's recordings. The new version, now featuring a Heavenly catalogue number, will be released August 31, 2009 (2009-08-31). The new release features b-sides, unreleased tracks and the entire "Places to Visit" EP which was previously only released in the USA and Germany.

Track listing

2000 release

CD: Mantra / MNTCD1018

# Title Length
1. "Late Morning"   4:13
2. "Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi)"   3:41
3. "Sycamore"   3:46
4. "Don't Back Down"   4:49
5. "Just a Little Overcome"   3:41
6. "Boy is Crying"   3:52
7. "Aspects of Lambert"   3:30
8. "Downey, CA"   4:24
9. "How We Used to Live"   9:02
10. "The Place at Dawn"   1:47
2009 release

CD: Heavenly / HVNLP72CDDE

Disc One
# Title Length
1. "Late Morning"   4:13
2. "Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi)"   3:41
3. "Sycamore"   3:46
4. "Don't Back Down"   4:49
5. "Just a Little Overcome"   3:41
6. "Boy is Crying"   3:52
7. "Aspects of Lambert"   3:30
8. "Downey, CA"   4:24
9. "How We Used to Live"   9:02
10. "The Place at Dawn"   1:47
Disc Two
# Title Length
1. "Roseneck"   3:29
2. "Northwestern"   5:44
3. "Red Setter"   3:30
4. "Blofeld Buildings"    
5. "Bar Conscience"   5:14
6. "Shoot Out The Lights"   4:08
7. "Thank You"   4:30
8. "Chaos At The Gym"    
9. "Tony Jacket"    
10. "Garage For Gunther"    
11. "Ivyhouse"    
12. "52 Pilot"    
13. "We're In The City"    
14. "Artieripp"    
15. "Sadie's Anniversary"    
16. "Half Timbered"    
17. "Empty Shop"    

Credits

Saint Etienne is:

Augmented by:

Singles

How We Used to Live March 2000

12"

  1. How We Used to Live - 9:47
  2. Roseneck - 3:29
  3. Red Setter - 3:30

Note: An alternative version of the 12" exists with a 4:25 instrumental version of Red Setter[1].

CD

  1. How We Used to Live - 8:56
  2. Roseneck - 3:29
  3. Red Setter - 3:30
  4. How We Used to Live (Dot Allison Mix) - 5:58
  5. How We Used to Live (Aim Mix) - 4:32
  6. How We Used to Live (Video)

Note: Although it is not described as such, the 8:56 version on this single appears to have been remixed slightly.

Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) June 2000

CD1

  1. Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) - 3:41
  2. Thank You - 4:30
  3. Bar Conscience - 5:14

CD2/12"

  1. Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) (Two Lone Swordsmen Mix)
  2. Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) (Futureshock Vocal Mix)
  3. Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) (Bridge & Tunnel Mix)

Note: The 12" features the same songs in a slightly different order.

Boy Is Crying January 2001

CD1

  1. Boy Is Crying (Single Mix) - 3:40
  2. Northwestern - 5:44
  3. Shoot Out the Lights - 4:08

CD2

  1. Boy Is Crying (Hybrid Mix) - 5:15
  2. Northwestern (SI-Cut, DB Mix) - 5:41
  3. How We Used to Live (Paul van Dyk Mix) - 8:47

12"

  1. Boy Is Crying (Hybrid Mix) - 6:27
  2. How We Used to Live (Paul van Dyk Mix) - 9:38

References

  1. ^ Forum Discussion
v • d • e
Saint Etienne
Sarah Cracknell • Bob Stanley • Pete Wiggs
Gerard Johnson • Ian Catt
Studio albums
Foxbase Alpha • So Tough • Tiger Bay • Good Humor • Sound of Water • Finisterre • Tales from Turnpike House
Compilations
Other releases
Singles
Only Love Can Break Your Heart • Kiss and Make Up • Nothing Can Stop Us • Join Our Club • Avenue • You're in a Bad Way • Hobart Paving • Xmas 93 • Pale Movie • Like a Motorway • Hug My Soul • He's on the Phone • Sylvie • The Bad Photographer • Lose That Girl • Lover Plays The Bass • How We Used To Live • Heart Failed (In The Back of a Taxi) • Boy Is Crying • Action • Shower Scene • Soft Like Me • Side Streets • A Good Thing • Stars Above Us • Burnt Out Car • Method of Modern Love
Films
Finisterre • What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? • This is Tomorrow
Related articles

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sound of Water".  Read more