Sound of Water

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Sound of Water
Sound of Water cover
Studio album by Saint Etienne
Released June 22, 2000
Recorded 2000
Genre Ambient
Trip-hop
Electronica
Length 42:45
Label Sub Pop (US) Mantra Records (UK)
Producer Saint Etienne, Gerard Johnson
Professional reviews
Saint Etienne chronology
Built on Sand
(1999)		 Sound of Water
(2000)		 Interlude
(2001)

Sound of Water (2000) is an album by Saint Etienne. At the time of release, this album split the band's fanbase between those who preferred the poppier tune-based sound of Good Humor and singles like "You're in a Bad Way" and "He's on the Phone" from those who appreciated the band's new direction, which was more electronic in nature. Sound of Water was developed as Saint Etienne's ambient and experimental statement.

The album's lead single was the sprawling, multi-movement "How We Used to Live," which was not edited down from its 9 minute running length for single release.

Their previous US release Places to Visit was clearly the beginning of this new direction. Many of the artists with whom they collaborated on that EP are present on Sound of Water.

During the group's tenure with Sub Pop (1998-2005), Saint Etienne released many albums. Places to Visit preceded Sound of Water. In turn, the label released Interlude a year afterwards. Interlude is an album of mostly b-sides from the Sound of Water singles, as well as a couple from the Good Humor era.

The album is one of the few releases on which the band did not collaborate with Ian Catt in some way. The album was co-produced by Gerard Johnson and had arrangements by To Rococo Rot and Sean O'Hagan. It was recorded at To Rococo Rot's studio, Amber Sound, in Berlin, Germany. The band have described the recording sessions as 'working in an airless, windowless oven'. The album and singles artwork were all designed by Julian Opie an artist famed for his portraits of the band Blur.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Late Morning" – 4:13
  2. "Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi)" – 3:41
  3. "Sycamore" – 3:46
  4. "Don't Back Down" – 4:49
  5. "Just a Little Overcome" – 3:41
  6. "Boy is Crying" – 3:52
  7. "Aspects of Lambert" – 3:30
  8. "Downey, CA" – 4:24
  9. "How We Used to Live" – 9:02
  10. "The Place at Dawn" – 1:47

[edit] Credits

Saint Etienne is:

Augmented by:

[edit] Singles

How We Used to Live March 2000

12"

  1. How We Used to Live - 8:56
  2. Roseneck - 3:29
  3. Red Setter - 3:30

CD

  1. How We Used to Live - 8:56
  2. Roseneck - 3:29
  3. Red Setter - 3:30
  4. How We Used to Live (Dot Allison Mix) - 5:58
  5. How We Used to Live (Aim Mix) - 4:32
  6. How We Used to Live (Video)

Note: Although it is not described as such, the 8:56 version on this single appears to have been remixed slightly.

Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) June 2000

CD1

  1. Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) - 3:41
  2. Thank You - 4:30
  3. Bar Conscience - 5:14

CD2/12"

  1. Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) (Two Lone Swordsmen Mix)
  2. Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) (Futureshock Vocal Mix)
  3. Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) (Bridge & Tunnel Mix)

Note: The 12" features the same songs in a slightly different order.

Boy Is Crying January 2001

CD1

  1. Boy Is Crying (Single Mix) - 3:40
  2. Northwestern - 5:44
  3. Shoot Out the Lights - 4:08

CD2

  1. Boy Is Crying (Hybrid Mix) - 5:15
  2. Northwestern (SI-Cut, DB Mix) - 5:41
  3. How We Used to Live (Paul van Dyk Mix) - 8:47

12"

  1. Boy Is Crying (Hybrid Mix) - 5:15
  2. How We Used to Live (Paul van Dyk Mix) - 8:47
v • d • e
Saint Etienne
Sarah Cracknell • Bob Stanley • Pete Wiggs
Former members
Albums
Foxbase Alpha • So Tough • Tiger Bay • Good Humor • Sound of Water • Finisterre • Tales from Turnpike House
Compilations
Other releases
Films
Finisterre • What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? • This is Tomorrow
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