St Etienne - Places to Visit (6 tracks) +Album Reviews

Darkly Gorgeous

Kara Welch | USA | 05/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After reading the reviews listed here, I truthfully wasn't expecting much from this EP. I was very pleasantly surpised! This album is somewhat darker sounding than much of their other work, but all six songs fit together perfectly to create an atmoshphere of calm; the perfect album to play while soaking in the tub after a long day.

Ivyhouse, the first track, sets up a listening experience filled with La, la, la's and Doo, doo, da's that keep popping up over the course of these six songs. A haunting tune that musically reminds me of something Claudio Simonetti might have written for a Dario Argento film (Suspiria comes to mind). 52 Pilot is a catchy little tune that I first heard on the Smash the System compilation. Being the last track on that album, I tended to overlook it. Hearing it nestled among five other like-minded tracks helped me discover what a truly well-crafted song it is. Artieripp is a funky trip-hop instrumental that keeps you moving after We're in the City fades out. Sadie's Anniversary breaks the pattern by being a tragic, slow pop song, focusing more on Sarah's voice and the vow she's making to "never say those words again, now that you're gone". Half Timbered ends the album with a few moments of lovely la, la, la's. And now I must agree with all the others who have left reviews here: We're in the City is definitely the best song on the album! The track begins with the sound of driving rain which is then matched by a driving beat that sounds perfect with Sarah's do, do, do's and da, da, da's over the top.

This EP is my soundtrack for a rainy afternoon (albeit a short afternoon!). Saint Etienne proves they have the skills for making heavenly mood music!

"

Took a few listens to find the groove, but find it I did....

George Gollery | Washington, DC | 06/11/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Have been a longtime fan so after the very first listen, I must say, by brow was deeply furrowed..."Hmmm, what's going on here?" I thought. Hit play on the CD player again, and then again...and all of a sudden it hit me; don't try to compare or understand, just listen. SO listen I did. The album is NOTHING like Good Humor, or really anything else they have done as far as the way it SOUNDS. But I must say, it is unmistakably Saint Etienne with the melodies and such. This effort is mostly an electronic effort with the engineering chores falling to various contributors. I found it interesting that Bob Stanley of the band engineers two of the tracks. As usual there are the instrumentals and short musical vignettes we saw on So Tough and Foxbase Alpha. Ivyhouse has Sarah singing:"Doo doo doo doo dah dah dah dah" over a bed of electronics. We're in the City's beat just WILL get to you eventually. The title track I find beautiful and haunting. Half Timbered hit me in much the way that Dilworth's Theme did; beautiful and WAY too short. All in all, this album shows growth in an odd (but good!) sort of way. I know that this is a Place to Visit for me!!!"

An interesting little album.

Coyote Red | the edge of the cliff howling at the moon | 11/21/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't think much of this CD when I first heard it, to be quite honest. But I listened to it a few more times and it really grew on me. 'We're In The City' is my favorite track - the song may not sound all that impressive at first, but Sarah's "doo doo doo, dah dah dah" WILL take up residence in your head sooner or later! The only complaint I have about this album is that some of the songs are way too short. 'Ivyhouse' is an interesting track, and 'Half Timbered' is beautiful, but they end almost before they really get started - it really left me wanting more. Overall, though, Places To Visit is a good release by Saint Etienne, and I eagerly await their next full album."

There's no 2nd St. Etienne in the whole world. Believe me

George Gollery | 06/01/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my opinion that St. Etienne must be No. 1 pop band of the world. Though they've been there for over 9 or 10 years.I've never got the chance to heard any of their music before. For there's no any official release or distributor of their records in Taiwan. Only God knows why? Due to so called "some delicate predestine fate" lead me to them just before 2 months. "Too young to die" is the first album (of them) I purchased. Far more great, dreamy, fancy than I can ever imagine. Then I tried to collect most of their albums within few days. I fall head over heels for their great melody, none noisy, easy listening and loveable tunes, unearthly, heavenly voice. I put them into my CD players. Play it everynight, can't live one day without St. Etienne's music since that magical moment I knew them. Sarah's vocal can just rang in my head from time to time.They put a strong spell over me. I've tried to searched some more of their singles, B-side songs and earlier versions simply failed. So I envy you U.K. fans so luckily to get closer to my idol, join the concert and may cherish them. For some reasons I don't have their personal files (I'm a fresh PC user for only 1 week.) I always worry and doubt if St. Etienne will split someday (Since Sarah got a lot of her personal activities.) So I was desperately trying to seek any other replacement of St. Etienne in the past 2 months. Now I can very positively tell you there's no one can imitate St. Etienne's various styles 100 percent or in any single trace sounds like them.I've got more than 800 CDs so I might say so. The price of their album cost double as average, but it worth anyway. Great music is invaluable, not everybody can make it. Besides St. Etienne's songs are very rare in Taiwan. Anyway, "Places to Visit" is an announcement that "St.Etienne is really back with their old feelings" so glad to hear it. I love all of their songs of course. But I prefer the 1st and 2nd albums for they've demonstrate their great taste and energy to create many different styles of music forms even contains some experimental materials. It doesn't have to be a normal 3 mins song, or have to meaning something. Humming tunes could be lovely. I also love their instrumental music, found them so inventive and creative to prove that St. Etienne is a "real band". If you don't fall in love with such particular music at once, Just play it twice, it won't disappointed you,really. Since St. Etienne never print any lyrics on CD booklet. And my English is really bad enough. Sometimes I don't have any slightest idea what Sarah is singing all about. But does it matter? Music should go beyond boundaries without any limit. Let the imagination free your mind. Their last album "Good Humor" is totally American style sounds no more than another Cardigans or like anyone else. So US fans love it. But I just love the way that St. Etienne used to be. For they're so unique and outstanding there's no one like them. I'd like to say something to my idol. Since you guys are all so great, Never mind the charts, sales, or what people say, just hang on, stick around, Just being yourselves, don't go astray, show your really personalities. Let the music guide you. You'll know when the feeling is right. "Places to Visit" with no doubt very St. Etienne style, but not only for fans. As long as keep an open mind, Then you'll find it really enjoyable. Thank God for having such an heavenly voice on earth. Great Saint Etienne. Your music spoiled my ears. No one can compare with you."

A suprise EP from St. Et....

George Gollery | 12/07/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"By far and away the best song on this disc is "In the City"...a sort of euro-techno-ey thing that features some of Sarah's best vocals to date IMHO...one of those songs like Junk the Morgue off of So Tough that sounds really cool late at night with the lights turned off...Unfortunately, IMHO the of the remaining four songs on the disc, maybe only one deserves to be called anything more than mediocre. None the less, for very little money I consider this to be sort of an import single of "In the City" with four b-sides, and its quite well worth it. Anyways, I think its a good return to form after Good Humor, which a lot of folks liked but IMHO really lost the classic Etienne sound."

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