Saint Etienne
Foxbase Alpha

THE REVIEW

This, at least for me, unknown London band, which borrows its name from the French football team of the same name, was founded by a duo of friends active in the British musical world (as DJs and journalists). They are later joined by the attractive (just for a change) Sarah Cracknell, relegated in this debut album still to a mere collaborator (though singing in most of the tracks), but then becoming a permanent member, soon becoming, in fact, a figure of reference for the public (for whatever reasons). The album was released in 1991 and, though not strictly fitting in the genre, you can tell that in Great Britain we are at the dawn of the trip-hop explosion (it's the same year as Blue Lines), as sophisticated but catchy and enchanting electronic sounds reign supreme, with a predominance of nocturnal and intimate sounds, although far from the darkness of the darker and more crepuscular Massive Attack or Portishead.

We indeed move in decidedly more carefree fields, in a mix between indie-pop, electronics (acid house, dub, dance...) and chill out, for an album that doesn't scratch and may therefore seem less impactful to some, but also very enjoyable in its flirtatious lightness and refined accessibility. What the band does is essentially provide a summary (for the general public?) of the various sounds of the era, giving us a colorful fresco, musical and not, of London twenty years ago. This patchwork/collage spirit, made of citations and tributes (suitable, after all, with the works of the two founders) is also felt from the use of clips taken from films inserted between one track and another. Although probably not too well-known to the Italian public and not as revolutionary as some other contemporaries of theirs, the album nonetheless gained good acclaim among enthusiasts, elevating it to a cult album.

Even today, the album has not lost anything in terms of appeal and immediacy, and for lovers of less brainy and more tuneful electronics, it will provide material for several hours of pleasant listening.