Saint Etienne
International
Heavenly Recordings
Release Date: 09/05/25
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 two official singles in the form of “Glad,” an uptempo stunner co-written by Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers that features guitar work by Jez Williams of Doves, and “Take Me To The Pilot,” co-rpdocued by Paul Hartnoll of Orbital fame.
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.
“We all have different reasons for why it’s time to say goodbye,” vocalist Sarah Cracknell explains in an official statement. “But for me I always wanted to finish on a high, I didn’t want to dribble off. We wanted this to be a peak. There’s going to be a lot of tears. There are no egos, which is the fundamental thing. There’s no bickering or arguing, we’ve never fallen out or had a row—ever.”
“I like career arcs,” Bob Stanley confides. “It feels like a natural conclusion—with this album there’s a sense of getting the school year back together. It’s one closing act that ties the loose ends up.”
Preview: