It was 20 years ago the Saint Etienne first gave us their brand alternative dance pop, 1991’s Foxbase Alpha may not have been their most successful on release but now there is no doubt about its status as their best, a fact this is clear from tonight’s setlist.
However, there is time for Swedish trio The Radio Dept. to woo an, at the time, sparse audience with some chilled out dream pop. TRD have been going nearly as long as tonight’s headliners and despite not gaining as much commercial coverage they have received much critical acclaim perhaps no more so than with latest album Clinging to a Scheme.
Tracks like ‘Heaven’s on Fire’ and ‘Never Follow Suit’ form highlights of a beautiful yet short set, and as the band leave a fuzz filled stage one by one you can’t help but hope they return to play a headline slot in the near future.
Tonight though is about Saint Etienne, and the trio originating from Croydon don’t let down. Sarah Cracknell and co may not have the youth they once had but there is no argument that their songs are still relevant today, so much so that Girls Aloud could easily release these tracks and no one would bat an eyelid.
They open up with the disco driven ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ before a projection of wonderfully fun looking scenes from the ‘60s. The electro beats of ‘Burnt Out Car’ keep the constant pop bliss oozing until Foxbase Alpha tracks kick in with the captivating ‘Spring’, which was remixed brilliant by Air France earlier this year.
Christmas fever has certainly hit Saint Etienne this year. The release of album A Glimpse of Stocking, a selection of festive merch and Cracknell’s constant chats of the season shows excitement is clearly apparent. It appears now Cracknell has two young children the Christmas period is just as exciting for her as no doubt it is for her children.
The band’s first single, Neil Young cover ‘Only Love Can Break Your Love Heart’ proves the set highlight, as the former dance chart no.1 sets toes a tapping and demonstrates why Saint Etienne were equally as important in the dance movement as they were in the sugar coated, C86 pop scene.
After a couple of encore’s including another dance chart no.1 in ‘Nothing Can Stop Us Now’ and a wee Christmas ditsy in keeping in the theme, the band call it an evening. A surprisingly early finish isn’t met with much disdain as Saint Etienne prove once again they and their music can capture an audience just as it did a couple of decades ago.
Photo: Stewart Fullerton
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