SummersRadio™ New Music! Sarah Cracknell - 'On The Swings'
Saint Etienne's Sarah Cracknell has just released a new song online today called 'On The Swings'! 'On The Swings' is the first song released from her forthcoming new solo album called 'Red Kite' which will be released June 15th on Cherry Red Records.
It's certainly been a long wait for a new solo album from Sarah - her first solo album 'Lipslide' was first released in 1997! 'Red Kite' features twelve new songs including 'Nothing Left To Talk About' which features Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers) and another song called 'Take The Silver' that features the Rails.
'On The Swings' is as lovely as a fresh spring morning... Enjoy!
Hey this is our 1,500th post - how about a bonus track?
Mark Brown Featuring Sarah Cracknell - 'The Journey Continues' (Vocal Club Mix) From the 2008 single... Enjoy!
Seattle's Beat Connection have just released a new remix of their latest single 'Think/Feel' online! Beat Connection opened up for Saint Etienne when they performed in Seattle at Showbox last month - they also remixed Saint Etienne's track 'Last Days Of Disco' - and now the London trio has returned the favour and remixed their single 'Think/Feel'.
'Think/ Feel' is from the band's album called 'The Palace Garden' which is released on the Moshi Moshi Records label and it's available now on itunes (in the U.S.). Thus far this chilled remix is not yet available commercially so... Enjoy!
Beat Connection also recently released the official video for the original version of 'Think/Feel' which features some nice surreal dreamlike imagery... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ New Music! Saint Etienne - 'Solid Gold'/ 'Landscape'
So I saw Saint Etienne in Seattle last night - and they were utterly Amazing! The setlist was a fantastic combination from their vast catalogue - 17 songs and two encores! The sound was flawless and they had background visuals as well. Here's a peak at the setlist:
At one point early in the evening Pete Wiggs came out to chat with one of the opening acts - Beat Connection - and I seized the opportunity to ask him if he would sign a couple cd's that I brought with me. Not only did he sign them, but he said that Sarah and Pete hadn't arrived yet so he would hang on to them to get them to sign it as well - then he later returned them to one of their crew who was working the merch table who then hand delivered them to me at the front row! How incredible is that?
Here are a few photos from the show:
As an added bonus the band were selling a new U.S. double disc version of 'Words And Music By...' on this tour - and it's completely different from the U.K. double disc version! The U.K. version features twelve remixes, while the second U.S. bonus disc called 'More Words And Music' features ten new songs! I listened to it a few times on the long drive home to Vancouver and I've chosen my two favourite tracks so far to post today.
First up is the first track on the 'More Words And Music' disc called 'Solid Gold' - a post break-up song about being strong and moving on... Enjoy!
'Landscape' is the fifth track on 'More Words And Music' - a largely instrumental Kraftwerk-y atmospheric tune that is well suited to travelling - for real or just in your mind... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ STARTLEFEST 2012 HalloweenSpectacular! Saint Etienne - 'Haunted Jukebox'
It's time to bring STARTLEFEST 2012 to a close - I hope you weren't too startled by what you've heard! We've got one more scary song though - 'Haunted Jukebox' is the closing track on Saint Etienne's latest album 'Words And Music By...'. I mentioned being haunted be ex-lovers previously - this song relates to that, but in this case it's the memory triggered by music itself that gets you.
'Haunted Jukebox' is certainly and apt title for Halloween - and let's be honest - what band is more frightening and evil than Saint Etienne - the Marilyn Manson of British electronic pop? Actually this post is the perfect segue - it's Halloween night, and tomorrow I travel to Seattle to see Saint Etienne live at the Showbox! I can't wait!!!
Behold the malevolent Saint Etienne and 'Haunted Jukebox'... Happy Halloween everyone! :)
SummersRadio™ Concert News! Saint Etienne! Saint Etienne - 'Tonight' (Extended Version)/ 'Last Days Of Disco' (Erol Alkan's Extended Rework)
Saint Etienne have just announced their first North American concert dates in over five years today! Although they started their 2000 tour here in Vancouver we're not on the list of blessed cities this time BUT there are a couple of shows within driving distance! They will be performing in Seattle at the Showbox on Thursday November 1st - and at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland the night previous.
The band have this to say about the shows:"we're itching to bring you our party friendly set - featuring lots of "Words and
Music..." interspersed with a liberal assortment of yer classics. And there'll
be support from some of our current fave bands and DJs, a different 'act' every
night (details on who and where soon) ...a veritable Pandemonium Shadow Show." I can't wait!
'Words And Music...'s first single 'Tonight' is about the anticipation of seeing your favorite band live - how appropriate! This is the 'Extended Version' from the 12" single and digital EP... Enjoy!
Here are the full dates for the tour:
Saint Etienne 2012 US tour October Wed
24 Toronto ON - The Opera House On sale now
Thur 25 Washington DC - U Street Music
Hall On sale 10am Thursday 6/Sept
Fri 26 New York NY - Webster
Hall On sale 12noon Friday 7/Sept
Sat 27 Boston MA - Paradise On sale
12noon Saturday 8/Sept
Mon 29 Chicago IL - Lincoln Hall On
sale now
Wed 31 Portland OR - Wonder
Ballroom On sale 10am Friday 7/Sept November Thurs 1 Seattle
WA - The Showbox On sale 10am Friday 7/Sept
Fri 2 San Francisco CA - The
Fillmore On sale 10am Sunday 9/Sept
Sat 3 Los Angeles CA - Fonda
Theatre On sale 10am Saturday 8/Sept
This is one of twelve excellent remixes from the 'Deluxe Edition' of 'Words And Music...' available on a double cd and a digital download - 'Erol Alkan's Extended Rework' of 'Last Days Of Disco'. It starts out sweet and mellow but around 2:30 in it transforms into a full on techno monster - and then it morphs some more... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ It's My Party! Saint Etienne - 'Over The Border'/ 'I've Got Your Music' (official video)
Today is my birthday and while I'm not having a party per se I've got at least two related posts planned before I become comfortably numb and/ or too sedated to post anything! :)
If you check out SummersRadio™ regularly you probably already know that London's Saint Etienne are one of my all time favorite bands - and their latest album 'Words And Music By...' (released in May) is one of the finest of their career. It's basically a concept album about music - which when you think about it isn't as common as one might initially think.
Bob Stanley has said that 'The general theme of the album is marking a route in your life through music' - hence the map on the cover art - which contains a total of 312 song titles! The opening track 'Over The Border' is my most favorite - as Sarah Cracknell's voice is always beautiful - but it's equally magical when she speaks (which we rarely get to hear) and here she tells a brief history of her life in music. Naturally I can relate as my entire life has revolved around music - every song is a memory - so many albums are a part of me.
So 'Over The Border' is a fitting birthday post song - as she talks about getting older - and doing so many things that I remember vividly as well - buying my first records - memorizing charts - and so on. It's an exquisite song that any massive music lover at any age can relate to... Enjoy!
Bonus Track/ New Video! 'I've Got Your Music' is the second single and video (I hope that 'Over The Border is the third!) released from their new album. The concept for the video is a simple but effective one - the band invited fans to send them a video clip of you holding up the cover of one of your all time favorite records. It's fun to see how many you can recognize - and I'm clearly not the only fan who also loves fellow Londoners the Pet Shop Boys as well... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ New Music + New Remix + Free Download! Saint Etienne - 'I've Got Your Music' (Golden Filter Remix) (includes free download)/ (Single Version)
London's Saint Etienne have released their new single 'I've Got Your Music' online! 'I've Got Your Music' is the follow up to 'Tonight' and is the second single from their forthcoming new album 'Words And Music By Saint Etienne' which is released on May 21st on the Heavenly Recordings label.
You could be in Saint Etienne's new video for 'I've Got Your Music'! If you act quickly Saint Etienne has a contest on Facebook asking you to send in a video clip of you holding up your favorite 12" record - the deadline for entries is tomorrow: http://www.facebook.com/SaintEtienneOfficial
This is the catchy 'Single Version' of 'I've Got Your Music'... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ New Music! Saint Etienne - 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'/ 'Tonight' (Club Clique Remix)
While we anxiously await the release of Saint Etienne's new album the band has just recorded a cover of the Beach Boys classic 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'! The song is the first track on a new compilation called 'Pet Sounds Revisited' - a tribute to the Beach Boys 1966 album. The cd is being released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beach Boys and will be given away free on the cover of the June 2012 issue of the British music magazine Mojo. You can order a copy from anywhere in the world here: http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/displayitem.asp?sid=5355&id=51418
Saint Etienne's cover begins stripped down with just the vocals of Sarah Cracknell - then morphs into some dreamy Burt Bacharach style production - alternating with some almost dancey bits... Enjoy!
'Words And Music By Saint Etienne' - their new 13 track album - is released on May 21st - here's the cover art:
Last month 'Tonight' was released as a four track EP featuring an 'Extended Version', a song called 'You Are Here', the '2 Bears Remix' and this 'Club Clique Remix'. It's available on itunes and also as a limited 12" single from the band's official store here: http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/artists/saint-etienne/icat/saintetienne/
This is the 'Club Clique Remix' of 'Tonight'... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ New Music! Flow Machines - 'Synchronise'/ 'Hi-Res'
Flow Machines have just released their new album called 'Hi-Res' today! Flow Machines are an indie electronic pop band from Manchester - we previously featured their charming cover of Saint Etienne's 'I Was Born On Christmas Day' and their most recent single 'Any Other Day' on Christmas day which you can check out/ revisit here: http://summersradio.blogspot.com/2011/12/summersradio-new-music-free-download_25.html
'Hi-Res' is the band's second full length album - it features ten new tracks (including the single 'Any Other Day') and is the follow up to their debut called 'Every Last Drop'. If you're a fan of synth pop artists like Dntel, The Postal Service, Saint Etienne, and The Human League, I highly suspect that Flow Machines will be to your liking.
'Hi-Res' is available for download on their official website here: http://www.flowmachines.com/ on a 'pay what you want' basis and those who pay go on a special mailing list for bonus tracks and remixes later in the year! You can also keep up with the band on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/flowmachines?sk=wall
This is one of the standout tracks on 'Hi-Res' upon my first listen - this is track eight called 'Synchronise'. I especially like how the hypnotic vocal sample drifts from one speaker to the next.. Enjoy!
This is the title - and closing track - on 'Hi-Res' - just released today! I quite like the lyrics and overall mood/ feel of this one... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ New Video + New Remix! Saint Etienne - 'Tonight' (video premiere)/ Summer Camp - 'Losing My Mind' (Saint Etienne Remix)
London's Saint Etienne have just premiered the video for their new single 'Tonight' online today! 'Tonight' is the first single from their forthcoming eighth album entitled 'Words And Music by Saint Etienne' which is due for release in May. The release date for the single is still tbc but the band have stated on their official website (http://www.saintetienne.com/) that it will be released on both 7" and 12" vinyl, as well as on a download - and the EP will feature exclusive remixes and b-sides! The band are also touring the U.K. in May - pre-sale tickets are on sale as of today through the website.
The new album will be released as a single cd, double deluxe cd, and the band is also working on a special boxset version as well. Besides their website noted above you can also keep up with the latest Saint Etienne news on their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/SaintEtienneOfficial
This is their brand new video released today for 'Tonight'... Enjoy!
Saint Etienne have remixed the lastest single from fellow London duo Summer Camp! 'Losing My Mind' is the new single from their debut album called 'Welcome To Condale' and it will be released digitally on March 19th on the Moshi Moshi Music label.
This is the new 'Saint Etienne Remix' of Summer Camp's 'Losing My Mind'... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ New Music + Free Download! Saint Etienne - 'Tonight'/ 'Stars Above Us'/ 'Like A Motorway' (Alternative Version) London's Saint Etienne have just released their latest single online - from their first album of all new material in seven years! Saint Etienne are one of my most absolute favorite bands of all time, so this is pretty thrilling news I must say!
I was lucky enough to meet them on their 'Sound Of Water' tour in 2000, and they're all so incredibly charming - they signed all of my cd's and Sarah Cracknell signed her solo cd's as well. She also provided me with one of my most amazing - and surreal - concert moments ever. I was working as a buyer at the Virgin Megastore at the time, and they came by the store in the afternoon. That night when they came out on stage at the now demolished club Richard's On Richards (I was right in front of course) the first two words Sarah said into the mic were 'Hi Jim'! She remembered me - and my name! ♥ Swoon ♥ :)
'Tonight' is the first single from their forthcoming new studio album (their eighth) called 'Words And Music By Saint Etienne' which is set for release in May. The album will be preceded by another single next month called 'I've Got Your Music'.
Bob Stanley describes the single on their website thusly: 'Tonight is about the anticipation of going to see your favourite group. For some reason, I imagine this show is at the Forum in Kentish Town. The whole album is about the power of pop, how it affects and shapes your life.'
'Tonight' starts off with some beautiful strings and is soon chugging along with some catchy dance beats and Sarah Cracknell's always lovely vocals. It captures not only the anticipation of seeing a great concert, but also the anticipation of their first new album in seven years - 'it's been too long' indeed! If 'Tonight' is to your liking you can download a copy for free for a limited time from their official website here: http://www.saintetienne.com/ and you can also keep up with them on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/SaintEtienneOfficial?ref=ts
I hope there are some club remixes in the works for this song - and if it doesn't make the top 20 in the U.K. there's no hope for popular music! Well, this is the hope right here - even if it's only popular in an underground sort of way :) This is Saint Etienne's excellent new single 'Tonight'... Enjoy!
Bonus Track! 'Stars Above Us' was one of the singles released from their last studio album - 2005's 'Tales From Turnpike House' - a concept album based around a number of characters living in a block of flats in an area of London known as Turnpike House... Enjoy!
Classic! 'Like A Motorway' was the second single and video released from their 1994 album 'Tiger Bay'. This is the 'Alternative Version' - an extended dance remix that was included on the North American version of 'Tiger Bay'... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ New Music + Free Download! Flow Machines - 'I Was Born On Christmas Day'/ 'Any Other Day' Seasons Greetings Humans! Today we present the third post in our Christmas trilogy - and also our third free download Christmas gift! Obviously I didn't make these gifts myself - the artists have - but Christmas is about sharing, so I'm honoured to share their fine music with you!
Flow Machines are an indie electronic pop band from Manchester that have released a cover of one of my most favorite Christmas songs - Saint Etienne's 'I Was Born On Christmas Day'. 'I Was Born On Christmas Day' was first released in 1993 - a duet between Saint Etienne's wonderful vocalist Sarah Cracknell and The Charlatans Tim Burgess. Today is also Bob Stanley's birthday (one third of Saint Etienne's trio), so the songwriting is apt! :)
Flow Machine's cover features the guest vocals of Louise Turner who also sang on Elbow's album 'The Seldom Seen Kid'. If this charming cover is to your liking you can download a limited copy for free from the band's official website here: http://www.flowmachines.com/
Their cover sounds a bit the Human League covering Saint Etienne - which makes sense considering that their debut single in 2008 was a cover of the Human League classic b-side 'Hard Times'. This is the fun video for 'I Was Born On Christmas Day' which features an awesome - and well synchronized - collection of 'found footage' of old school toys (the shifty eyes on Action Man are highlarious!) and memories from Christmas's past... Enjoy!
Flow Machines are set to release their new album called 'Hi-Res' on January 14th - and they released the first single from it last month - this is the video for 'Any Other Day'... Enjoy!
SummersRadio™ Best Of 2010! The School - 'Is He Really Coming Home?' Unlike The Like The School goes for a more early 60's dreamy romantic pop sound on this one. The School is a new band from Wales - not to be confused with a band with the same name from Norway! I first posted this song in April (via the FB group) and they released their debut full length album entitled 'Loveless Unbeliever' in May the U.K. (it's available only digitally in Canada). The record is produced by Ian Catt, perhaps best known for producing Saint Etienne and being a touring member of the band. There are certainly some similarities between this and Saint Etienne circa their 'Good Humor' period. This is quite simply pop perfection - I ♥ it - enjoy!
SummersRadio™ Rare Remix! Saint Etienne - 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' (Richard X Extended Remix) Rare is it that a cover version of a classic song done in a completely different style becomes a classic in it's own right - but such was the case in 1991 when Saint Etienne remodeled Neil Young's 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart'. This remix from 2009 by Richard X is AMAZING - kudos to Blake B. Siik for bringing this one back to the surface! Richard X actually remixed the entire 'Foxbase Alpha' album (their debut) - and it was released as 'Foxbase Beta' last November - as a limited single disc available only through Rough Trade in the U.K., and as a limited 2cd version through their 'Lovers Unite' fanclub... Enjoy! ♥♥♥
