Saint Etienne Remix CD Follows Reissues

So Tough and Sound of Water already available; Fox Base Beta due soon.

By Blurt Staff

About a week and a half ago Saint Etienne fans began receiving their expanded/remastered "Deluxe Editions" of the band's So Tough and Sound of Water (see full details, below) - they came on the heels of the two-disc versions, issued a few months ago, of Fox Base Alpha and Continental, all part of a year-long overhaul of the group's back catalog.

Then this morning, SE acolytes opened their email to receive even more good news: a limited/numbered and remixed version of FBA, titled Fox Base Beta, is en route, with pre-orders available through the fan club starting September 21. Here's the complete communiqué from the band:

Journey through the past, part 5.

Rumours have been flying left right and centre, but we can finally confirm that disco dynamo Richard X has taken Foxbase Alpha and re-arranged it into a brand new beast called FOXBASE BETA. Using the original masters, adding cellos, electrix, choirs, and the spirit of Brian Cant he has created something really special - spruced-up yet reverential, it is essentially a 2009 up-date of Foxbase Alpha, given a shot of vodka and a loving caress. We're chuffed. It feels unnervingly like jumping into a Tardis.

FOXBASE BETA will be issued, via the fan club, as a limited, numbered 2CD set of 3,000 copies, which will also include FOXBASE EXTRA, three unreleased recordings from the original album sessions: a just discovered coda to Girl VII (we'd forgotten it existed), a summery instrumental called Richard III, and the first, very different, take of Kiss And Make Up, which was the very first Saint Etienne recording. We cut it one afternoon in January 1990, and then Only Love Can Break Your Heart in the evening! It was all so simple then. These tracks won't be available anywhere else.

There will also be a 'directors' commentary' on the bonus disc. Informative, yes. Pithy, quite possibly.

An un-numbered, single disc edition will be available at gigs and through Rough Trade. It will also be available for digital download (with the commentary but without the bonus tracks).

For club promo, a 4-track 12" is currently at the pressing plant, including extended Foxbase Beta version of Only Love Can Break Your Heart (plus instrumental mix), the FBB version of Girl VII (grrrreat), and Gothenburg's Balearic princes Air France's mix of Spring. We'll have 200 copies of this available through the fan club. As soon as we have them we'll let you know.

Foxbase Beta will be available to pre-order on Monday 21st of September. More details next week.

England in the World Cup finals, 3 Of A Kind's Babycakes playing on my hi-fi, Foxbase Beta finally put to bed. Late summer, early autumn, and all is good.

love

Bob xx

Meanwhile, about the two albums mentioned above...

So Tough, SE's 2^nd album, originally arrived in 1993. For the Deluxe Edition, the album has been completely remastered and expanded to a second disc of 17 bonus tracks of rarities, b-sides and unreleased tracks, including aover version of Teenage Fanclub's Everything Flows. packaging includes a 24 page booklet featuring extensive sleevenotes.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1 - Side 1

1. Mario's Cafe
2. Railway Jam
3. Date With Spelman
4. Calico
5. Avenue
6. You're In A Bad Way
7. Memo To Pricey
8. Hobart Paving
9. Leafhound
10. Clock Milk
11. Conchita Martinez
12. No Rainbows For Me
13. Here Comes Clown Feet
14. Junk The Morgue
15. Chicken Soup

Disc 2 - Side 1

1. Everything Flows
2. Railway Jam Vocal Version
3. Who Do You Think You Are
4. Some Place Else
5. Duke Duvet
6. Paper
7. Johnny In The Echo Cafe
8. Archway People
9. California Snow Story
10. Join Our Club
11. Everlasting
12. Snowplough Instrumental
13. Rainy Day Women
14. Peterloo Instrumental
15. I'm Too Sexy
16. Stranger In Paradise
17. Hobart Paving Van Dyke Parks Version

Then 2000's Sound of Water, their fifth, featured production by High Llamas' Sean O'Hagan and To Rocco Rot. The remastered edition adds a second disc of 17 bonus tracks of rarities, b-sides and unreleased tracks plus a 24 page booklet featuring extensive sleevenotes.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1 - Side 1

1. Late Morning
2. Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi)
3. Sycamore
4. Don't Back Down
5. Just A Little Overcome
6. Boy Is Crying
7. Aspects Of Lambert
8. Downey CA.
9. How We Used To Live
10. The Place At Dawn

Disc 2 - Side 1

1. Roseneck
2. Northwestern
3. Red Setter
4. Blofeld Buildings
5. Bar Conscience
6. Shoot Out The Lights
7. Thank You
8. Chaos At The Gym
9. Tony Jacket
10. Garage For Gunther
11. Ivyhouse
12. 52 Pilot
13. We're In The City
14. Artieripp
15. Sadie's Anniversary
16. Half Timbered
17. Empty Shop