Saint Etienne have announced that their final studio album International will arrive in stores September 5th courtesy of Heavenly Recordings. The follow-up to 2024’s acclaimed, ambient LP The Night, the new album is preceded by lead single “Glad,” an uptempo stunner co-written by Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers. The song also features guitar work by Jez Williams of Doves.
“We asked Tom if he had any songs in progress that might suit Saint Etienne and he sent a backing track that he’d been working on with Jez from Doves,” Sarah Cracknell explains in an official statement. “We fell in love with it straight away and the top line melody and words for ‘Glad' came easy.”
“The song is about taking pleasure in everyday things like nature and the outdoors when life is otherwise getting you down,” Pete Wiggs adds.
International represents the bittersweet culmination of the group’s prolific 35-year recording journey together, dating back to their debut single and Neil Young cover “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” released in the spring of 1990 as the lead single from their critically lauded, breakthrough debut album Foxbase Alpha (1991). The new project features additional guest contributions from Erol Alkan, Vince Clarke, Nick Heyward and Tom Powell (formerly of Xenomania), who co-produced the record.
Watch the official video for “Glad” below.
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