SAINT ETIENNE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Saint Etienne's cult classic Good Humor marks its quarter-of-a-century anniversary with this special splatter vinyl reissue edition. It comes with the original artwork and inner sleeve that was used back in 1998 when it first dropped and it has aged fantastically well. The title is an intentional US spelling to kick back against the 'quintessentially English' tag the band often got given. It also found them leaving behind indie dance and serving up some extra acoustic and orchestral elements with plenty of synth-pop hooks and dance grooves.

Review: Second time around for Saint Etienne's 2012 album "Words and Music by Saint Etienne", a typically breezy, summery and ear-pleasing affair in which Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs and Sarah Cracknell delivered a suitably glossy, up-beat take on synth-pop that arguably owes more to the Pet Shop Boys and their own early works than some of their more celebrated albums. Highlights are plentiful, from sunny opener "I've Got Your Music" and the string-laden swell of "The Last Days of Disco", to the largely acapella "Record Doctor", baggy and Balearic "Twenty Five Years" and the attractively jangling "Haunted Jukebox". Pop perfection tailor made for sunny days and lazy afternoons: don't sleep!