Saint Etienne

Saint Etienne formed in London in 1990, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs developing a sound that drew on 60s pop, house music, and a very specific vision of English life. Sarah Cracknell joined as vocalist and her warm, distinctive voice became the defining element of the band's sound. They signed to Heavenly Records and released their debut album 'Foxbase Alpha' (1991) — a record of extraordinary melodic invention.

'So Tough' (1993) and 'Tiger Bay' (1994) were both excellent — the latter in particular, with its more experimental and ambient approach, showed a band willing to take risks. 'Good Humor' (1998) was their most accessible album. Saint Etienne's love of pop history — their knowledge of and affection for British pop from the 1960s onwards — gives their music a depth and richness that most of their contemporaries lack.

Saint Etienne have continued to record and tour with remarkable consistency. 'Words and Music by Saint Etienne' (2012) was a strong late-career album. Stanley has also written extensively about pop music history. They remain one of the most intelligent and distinctive British pop acts of their generation.