Saint Etienne, have announced their 10th studio release, I’ve Been Trying To Tell You, an album about optimism, youth and the late nineties. The news is accompanied by a video for the title-track directed by acclaimed photographer Alasdair McLellan. The film premieres September 3rd alongside The Films Of Saint Etienne – a special weekend of screenings and Q & As at BFI Southbank.

I’ve Been Trying To Tell You, is due for release on September 10, 2021 via Heavenly Recordings. The band have also shared the first track “Pond House”, an evocative collision of undulating beats and samples alongside its visuals from the film.

The album was made largely from samples and sounds drawn from the years 1997-2001, a period that was topped and tailed by Labour’s election victory and the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. Was the optimism of that era a lost golden age, or was it a period of naïvety, delusion and folly? The collective folk memory of any period differs from the lived reality. I’ve Been Trying To Tell You is an album about memory, how it works, how it tricks you and creates a dream-like state. It also taps into the way we think of our youth, a sense of place, and where we come from.

For the first time, Saint Etienne didn’t record together in a studio. The album was completed remotely, in Hove (Pete Wiggs), Oxford (Sarah Cracknell) and Bradford (Bob Stanley), in collaboration with film and TV composer Gus Bousfield, who contributed to two songs on the album.

“To me it’s about optimism, and the late nineties” Bob explains “and how memory is an unreliable narrator. Pete and Gus have done a properly amazing production job. I think it sounds gorgeous.”

Sarah: “It’s the first sample driven album we’ve made since So Tough and it’s been a really refreshing experience, such fun! It’s both dreamy and atmospheric, late summer sounds.”

Pete: “We’ve really pulled apart and dived deep into the samples; the concept and each of our interpretations of it have made this a very special sounding album, we hope you think so too.”

Saint Etienne
I’ve Been Trying To Tell You
track listing
Heavenly Recordings

1.Music Again
2. Pond House
3. Fonteyn
4. Little K
5. Blue Kite
6. I Remember It Well
7. Penlop
8. Broad River

The Films Of Saint Etienne

presented by Sonic Cinema at BFI Southbank

9/3/2021- I’ve Been Trying to Tell You (Premiere) + Q & A with Alasdair McLellan & Bob Stanley, NFT1
9/3/2021- This Is Tomorrow + intro by Bob Stanley & Paul Kelly, NFT2
9/4/2021- Asunder + intro by Esther Johnson & Bob Stanley, NFT2
9/4/2021- Finisterre + Q & A with Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs, NFT 1
9/4/2021- How We Used to Live + Q & A with Pete Wiggs & Travis Elborough, NFT1
9/5/2021- Lawrence of Belgravia + Q & a with Paul Kelly & Lawrence, NFT1
9/5/2021 – What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? + Q & A with Pete Wiggs & Paul Kelly, NFT1
9/5/2021- Saint Etienne: Shorts Programme + intro by Paul Kelly & Pete Wiggs, NFT2

Tickets available HERE

Saint Etienne
Tour Dates:

11/18/2021 – Glasgow, St Lukes
11/19/2021 – Sunderland, to be announced
11/20/2021- London, Alexandra Palace Theatre
11/23/2021 – Bristol, Trinity
11/24/2021 – Birmingham, Institute
11/25/2021 – Saltaire, Victoria Hall
11/26/2021 – Liverpool, Grand Central Hall
11/27/2021- Hove, Old Market

Pre-order I’ve Been Trying To Tell You by Saint Etienne HERE