★★★★☆
What the album is: warm, bittersweet, and deeply satisfying as the band’s parting gift.
International is Saint Etienne’s thirteenth and final studio album, and it carries itself like a celebratory farewell. Rather than being a solemn swan song, it feels like a party where old friends gather to reflect, reminisce, and enjoy themselves one more time. It pulls together many of the sounds and collaborators that have shaped the band’s career, from buoyant dance-pop to wistful balladry.
The album opens with a burst of light. “Glad” sets the celebratory tone: shimmering synths, a crisp beat, and Sarah Cracknell’s airy vocal line that feels both playful and heartfelt. It’s an invitation to join in, like the opening speech at a farewell party. There’s a sweetness in its simplicity — not their most complex arrangement, but infectious in mood. I immediately felt transported to 1995’s “He’s On The Phone” while listening to it.
With its chorus: “Don’t it make you sad whеn you are lonely.“
“Don’t it make you sad when you’re alone. Don’t you make you glad when the sun shines in your eyes. Don’t it make you glad… to be alive.” Co-written and produced by Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers with Jez Williams of Doves on guitar, it is a banger which will rank amongst the band’s finest.
The album strikes a balance between forward-facing optimism and affectionate glances backward. Tracks like “Brand New Me”, a combo with Brisbane-born dance troupe, Confidence Man, radiate with joy and warmth, evoking both gratitude and renewal. There’s a sense that Saint Etienne are closing the circle with dignity and delight. This track leans into Saint Etienne’s knack for effervescent pop. Brightly produced with disco touches, the chorus is uplifting without tipping into saccharine: “It could’ve been a waste of time. You know I always change my mind. Baby, it’s a brand new me. Tellin’ everyone I know… I had another change of heart.” It’s a reminder that endings can also carry the promise of transformation.
It’s just fun. And my whatever, we need a bit of that now, for sure.
The album spans bright synth-pop, with “Two Lovers” as Vince Clarke from Yazoo/Depeche Mode/Erasure joins the party. Further synth-pop grooves, though a bit more restrained, come from Haircut 100’s Nick Heyward on “The Go-Betweens”.
Dancefloor-ready cuts sit comfortably alongside slower, more reflective songs such as “Fade,” offering contrast and emotional range. “Fade” is slower, more melancholic, with strings and restrained electronics. Cracknell’s vocal delivery is hushed and delicate, giving the song emotional gravity. It’s one of the most moving moments on the album — proof that restraint can cut deeper than euphoria.
The final track, “The Last Time,” is short, sweet, and charged with poignancy. With lyrics beginning, “For the very last time. One time, we went to the Apollo. And we saw The Frantic Five. Now I′m really glad we made the trip. Because only three survived…. for the very last time.” This mix of melancholy and resolution gives the album depth beyond its celebratory exterior. The restraint is intentional. Saint Etienne could easily have reached for grandeur, but instead they let the song breathe, giving space for silence, for reflection. It’s a subtle echo of their career-long balance between pop immediacy and thoughtful melancholy.
As Ian Wade of The Quietus said in his great review, “‘The Last Time’ is the sound of Saint Etienne grabbing their coats, fondly looking back at the studio and switching off the lights one final time.”
Many of the songs are catchy and accessible, each with the potential to stand alone as singles. The variety ensures the album avoids monotony, making it rewarding to listen to repeatedly.
Place in Their Career
As a farewell, International succeeds in tying together the threads of Saint Etienne’s long run. It touches on the nostalgia of their early days, the dance energy that made them beloved in the ’90s, and the reflective songwriting of their later period. It is not a reinvention, but it doesn’t try to be — it’s a celebration, a thank-you, and a gentle bowing out.
Importantly, it never feels bitter or exhausted; the band leaves while still sounding vital and engaged.
Final Thoughts
International is not Saint Etienne’s most cohesive or groundbreaking record, but it doesn’t need to be. Its purpose is different: to celebrate, to reflect, and to say goodbye with a smile.
It’s an album full of affection, joy, and the occasional tear, and in that respect, it’s a fitting finale.
Chris Garrod, September 16, 2025
Top Tier: Glad, Fade, Brand New Me, The Last Time
Lower Tier: Why Are You Calling
https://heavenlyrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/saint-etienne-international