We've been holding back on this news for a while until we had all the info, but finally we can reveal the first bunch of Saint Etienne Deluxe editions:
FOXBASE ALPHA and, for the first time outside Japan, CONTINENTAL.
They will be in the shops on May 18th, but we're hoping to have copies to sell at the Foxbase shows the previous week. They are 2CD sets, in shiny plastic wallets, with plenty of unseen photos and memorabilia from the period. As well as the relevant b-sides, and various alternate takes, each will include a clutch of unreleased songs.
On FOXBASE ALPHA we have SALLY SPACE (pretty good, but oddly entirely forgotten by all three of us), CHASE HQ (as premiered on Resonance FM a couple of weeks back), and THE RECKONING (full spy mode instrumental).
CONTINENTAL premieres WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO (lost somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic according to this high-powered melancholic dancer), WE COULD HAVE IT ALL (celebrating the magic of teamwork) and the jagged electro love song UNDER HER SPELL.
FOXBASE ALPHA is also coming out in a gorgeous limited edition of 1,000 set - as seen in the Guardian! Thanks to the international piracy problem (we're not kidding) it will ship in July, but can be pre-ordered during May. We'll offer a link via the official Saint Etienne site first, and it will be available to international buyers.
So what do you get?
* a 6"tall model of a Subbuteo player in the classic green and white Saint Etienne strip
* a reprint of the original album poster
* 4 unique Foxbase badges or pins
* a cd of the remastered double disc album.
It all comes in a beautifully designed, vintage Saint Etienne-green presentation box. It's truly lovely - we've seen one! Something for your children, and your children's children, to go gooey-eyed over, before they tear the box to bits and pull the player's head off.
Beyond FOXBASE ALPHA and CONTINENTAL are similarly through reissues of SO TOUGH and SOUND OF WATER. More details as and when, but we've been rather shocked and surprised by how many forgotten relics are lurking in various cupboards and cellars.
And before all that, of course, is the FOXBASE ALPHA tour, with support from Lawrence (Felt/Denim) and his dynamite GO KART MOZART band. There are no tickets left for London, but still a few for the Glasgow and Sheffield shows. We hoped to get Bizarre Inc out of retirement, but instead the London DJs are RICHARD X and AIR FRANCE: the Bloomsbury Ballroom will stay open until 1am, so bring pills and dancing wear. Maybe leotards. DJs for Sheffield and Glasgow to be confirmed very soon. It should be mindblowing. Rehearsals are looking and sounding great.
We are most excited. See you there.
Bob Pete and Sarah xxx |
