Customer Reviews

Continental (Deluxe Edition) (Incl. Bonus Disc)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a diehard Saint Etienne fan I bought this Japanese import CD thinking it would be, as Mr Simon Brayley claims, merely an `odds-and-sods' collection which I needed to purchase primarily for the tracks (seven out of thirteen) that I did not already possess in various other guises (EPs and compilations). What surprised me about the collection is how seamless it is. Indeed, alongside their first _Foxbase Alpha_ it is their most beautifully constructed album. (Compare this to both the UK and US versions of _Tiger Bay_ which, for all its good tracks, is structurally random and diffuse. I suspected, at the time, that it was the result of a rift between the boys and Sarah. The subsequent - and, thankfully, brief - split up of the band seemed to validate this impression.) The brilliant sequencing of tracks on _Continental_ breathes new life into previously released material. For example, the instrumental "Winter Melody" (which is titled "Sometimes in Winter" on _Casino Classics_) is preceded here by the ballad "Sometimes in Winter" and the combination of songs brings added depth to each track. In particular, the mood of - how to put it? - defiant melancholy that was already latent in the instrumental is here brought to the fore by the way it comes to extend the fierce sadness on display in the track that precedes it. In other words, the latter (and its refrain "Sometimes in winter/Love can go astray") comes to reverberate in the former. We retain the memory of Sarah's plaintive vocal as "Winter Melody" loses itself in the snowstorm. One more example: "The Process," which was originally contained on one of the "He's on the Phone" eps surrounded by (even swamped under) two other overly wistful tracks is given new life by being sandwiched between the giddy "Public Information Film" and the euro-fun of "He's on the Phone." The poignancy of the track is more affecting for being so exposed. Finally, let me add that their cover of Gary Numan's "Stormtrooper in Drag" is even better than their cover of Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy." This CD is right up there with the very best of Saint Etienne, which is to say _Foxbase Alpha_ (esp. "London Belongs to Me"), _Good Humor_ (Japanese Import Version for including "Afraid to Go Home," "Zipcode" and "Hill Street Connection" from the "Sylvie" ep), _Casino Classics_ , and the ep for "You're In A Bad Way" (esp. "Archway People" and "Duke Duvet"). I might add that this CD also contains a lyric sheet, although - truth be told - most of the songs work better for retaining a certain elusiveness (the lyrics to "Burnt Out Car" are obviously meant to be heard as fragments of emotion, of inarticulable longing; very little or nothing is added to them by seeing the words printed on a piece of paper).

This is a fine CD from Saint Etienne, one of the most underrated, artistic and expressive pop groups out there. This album, which came out only in Japan in 1997, shows the impressive versatilty of this band. Sarah's voice doesn't get much better than this. Even when she hums on "Shad Thames," it's sexy. The two-part "Down by the Sea" and "The Sea" is a hypnotic merger of simple lyrics and ethereal musical arrangements...a masterpiece in its own way. "Lonesome" is the kind of song that when you hear it, you simply cannot understand why it wasn't a hit. It has a kind of pop emotion. And they cover a lesser known Gary Numan song, "Stormtrooper in Drag." Get out your dancing shoes for that one. Even the one minute long "Public Information Film" has a certain pleasantry about it. This includes "He's On the Phone," which is a fairly well-known song among the band's fans. I know the price may be a little steep for a CD but if you need to eat macaroni and cheese for a week to buy it...you should. This is HIGHLY recommended listening.

I was excited to find this import, and I purchased it basically for one track: "Stormtrooper in Drag." This ear-opener was the only worthwhile cover on the misguided Gary Numan tribute, "Random" (Numan deserved much better than the lackluster by-the-numbers imitations assembled there); but I didn't think it existed on a Saint Etienne album. So when I saw "Stormtrooper in Drag" on the tracklist of "Continental" I got it right away. This song is addictive, a high-octane energy blast. Saint Etienne takes Numan's Most Psychotic Song Ever (was he watching Visconti's "The Damned" on a bad trip?) to the club floor and dances all over it in stiletto heels. How pleased I was to also discover that the rest of "Continental" (a Japanese anthology of Saint Etienne's non-album tracks) is pretty great, ranking with "Good Humor" and "Sound of Water" as one of their best. What's appealing about "Continental" is its eclectic tour of electronica styles. "Shad Thames" is an Enofied near-instrumental, "Down By the Sea" ventures into Roni Size drum'n-bass territory, and "Angel" tries on Portishead's atmospherics, replete with simulated scratchy vinyl-lp noises. But through it all, Saint Etienne remains true to its own carefully crafted, slightly ethereal sound on the catchy tracks "Burnt Out Car," "Sometimes in Winter," "Lonesome," and the lump-in-the-throat-inducing "He's On the Phone." That last number has a big, driving chorus that may surprise listeners who wanted to write off Sarah Cracknell as queen of the la-la-la's. But I've always appreciated her earthy, as well as her airy, side. She's like the neighborhood librarian who gets sexy and wild when she goes out to a club. She's so innately tasteful that she can allow her musicians to deflate her own breathy romantic "pose" with all kinds of weird electronic gadget-sounds, and that's always been a big part of her charm, for me. There is a refreshing lack of vanity to Saint Etienne that undercuts the plastic excesses of pop music and club life, even as the band makes itself at home in both areas. Sometimes blonde anthologies do have more fun!

Once again, US fans are deprived of some fine music with this Japan-only release. This title is rather difficult to find retail (but Amazon's got it!!) but it is well worth the price.

With this title, Saint Etienne further confirms its status as the finest pop band in the world. "Continental" opens with the wonderful instrumental "Shad Thames". I find it amazing that this band, along with only a handful of others (such as the B-52s) never shy away from including instrumentals on their releases. "Shad Thames" simply flows directly to that part of one's brain that says, "gee, I could listen to this over and over"

As on "Tiger Bay" Saint Etienne leaves the mixing for most of the songs on this album to other folks not perhaps directly involved with the band and the results are sweet, sweet, sweet. Some fans may notice that a few tracks (Burnt Out Car, Down by the Sea, Winter Melody) have been culled from the prior compilation "Casino Classics". But "Continental" is well worth one's time and money to purchase (heck, the liner notes are worth it!!). In fact, this CD would be a great way to introduce someone to this band. With the slower paced tracks such as "Sometimes in Winter" and my personal favorite "The Process", Saint Etienne shows pop can be sophisticated. The euro-fave, "He's on the Phone" is also included. I simply can't see anyone NOT being hooked after one listen to this tune.

The Gary Numan-penned, "Stormtrooper in Drag" from the Numan tribute "Random" is also included. With extra lyrics and a driving beat, one can just see any dance floor filling up with this one. As usual, there is the Saint Etienne short "vignette" tune here. At around one minute, "Public Information Film" sounds as if it could have been written for a Public Service Announcement with Sarah simply singing "Learn.......to swim....da da da da da da" in front of a jungle-ish beat. It leaves me wanting to hear more!! I mean, how do these guys get away with it over and over -- 60s/70s melodies and hooks in front of a 90s sound? Well, I don't really care....I just hope they continue on and on....

"Continental" Deluxe Edition is a beautifully packaged in a slipcase with a 4 fold digipak with in depth liner notes and two cd's. Continental the first cd contains some of the most interesting and sophisticated pop that still sounds like it was released last week. The second cd does not disappoint with b-sides and not to be missed remixes of some of the "Continental" tracks. This a very wonderful treat for the fans being that the original relase was only in Japan.

Of course, here in Switzerland hole, there's absolutely no-one who knows this gifted group, and at some level I'm more happy, since it's more personal. But not even on magazines, they're hardly ever mentioned. How do you know what they're up to? This compilation, is not a real album, and that's why I don't think there's a sense of continuity in it. Anyway, this cd is incredibly filled with pop gems that I never imagined, because by telling from their titles, Saint Etienne's tracks always make me think negative. Always. But then I listen to them and at least I'm never disappointed. Along with 'He's On the Phone' the pop anthem, my favorite has got to be 'Stormtrooper in Drag' and also a minor 'Burnt Out Car' bacause I just love that music. That doesn't mean the other tracks are less good. Personally their best albums are 'So Tough' and 'Fox Base Alpha'. No record seller ever, but they always keep on working and delivering Heavenly music. The rest has already been said. If someone tells he doesn't like the Saints, or hate them, he just doesn't get them and isn't in touch with his emotional side that the Saints' records always go for. So don't say they're not a great band. They are Heaven(ly).

Although CONTINENTAL, a Japan-only release, features tracks that appeared on Saint Etienne's remix album, CASINO CLASSICS, or on various singles, but most are exclusive to this album. It's a b-side dream, mixing the classy instrumental "Shad Thames" with songs led by Sarah Cracknell's increasingly controlled voice. "Sometimes in Winter," even with its underlying guitar growl, still manages to be cool and confident. The same goes for "Star," which pumps up the rock bombast. On the Gary Numan cover, "Stormtrooper in Drag," they deliver Europop that rivals the Pet Shop Boys in catchiness. In a sharp compare-and-contrast move, the dreamy "Down by the Sea" is followed by its equally dreamy (but more rhythmically frenetic) remix from PFM.

I find that after about the first 8 tracks or so I never want to listen to the rest of the cd. Don't get me wrong, I think the cd is a definite must have, but I find that it starts out extremely strong, maintains for awhile, and then inexplicably fades at the end.

Would recommend adding this to your collection only after you already have most of their other albums.

Simply one of the best record that ever been made, songs that Lonesome (with Sarahs smooth voice in perfect harmony). Star (THEIR BEST SONG EVER). Down by the sea (also one of the best) as well as Sometimes in winter. I wish that this was a record that anyone could get easy, and not only the people who lives in Japan, but I just say that it will be worth every cent you will spend on it. AND YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

This cd is worth the price alone for "Star," "Stormtrooper" and "He's On the Phone." (Also good is "Lonesome)." This group just seems to get better and better.