Sound of Water

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 more commercial song-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 experimental in nature. Sound of Water was developed as Saint Etienne's ambient and trip-hop 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.

1 Reissue
2 Credits
3 Singles
4 References

Reissue

The album was reissued as part of the ongoing Deluxe Editions of the band's recordings on August 31, 2009 (2009-08-31). The new release features b-sides, unreleased tracks and the entire "Places to Visit" EP, which was previously only released in the USA and Germany.

Track listing

2000 release

CD: Mantra / MNTCD1018

No.	Title	Length
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

2009 release

CD: Heavenly / HVNLP72CDDE

Disc One
No.	Title	Length
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

Disc Two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Roseneck"	3:29
2.	"Northwestern"	5:44
3.	"Red Setter"	3:30
4.	"Blofeld Buildings"	6:11
5.	"Bar Conscience"	5:14
6.	"Shoot Out The Lights"	4:08
7.	"Thank You"	4:30
8.	"Chaos At the Gym"	2:53
9.	"Tony Jacket"	3:54
10.	"Garage for Gunther"	3:51
11.	"Ivyhouse"	2:07
12.	"52 Pilot"	5:37
13.	"We're in the City"	4:41
14.	"Artieripp"	4:46
15.	"Sadie's Anniversary"	3:01
16.	"Half Timbered"	1:20
17.	"Empty Shop"	3:24

Credits

Saint Etienne is:

Augmented by:

Gerard Johnson
Robert Lippok
Ronald Lippok
Sean O'Hagan
Stefan Schneider

Singles

How We Used to Live March 2000

12"

How We Used to Live - 9:47
Roseneck - 3:29
Red Setter - 3:30

Note: An alternative version of the 12" exists with a 4:25 instrumental version of Red Setter^[3].

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

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

CD2/12"

Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) (Two Lone Swordsmen Mix)
Heart Failed (in the Back of a Taxi) (Futureshock Vocal Mix)
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

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

CD2

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

12"

Boy Is Crying (Hybrid Mix) - 6:27
How We Used to Live (Paul van Dyk Mix) - 9:38

References

Saint Etienne

Sarah Cracknell • Bob Stanley • Pete Wiggs Gerard Johnson • Ian Catt

Studio albums	Foxbase Alpha • So Tough • Tiger Bay • Good Humor • Sound of Water • Finisterre • Tales from Turnpike House • Foxbase Alpha Deluxe Edition

Compilations	You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone • Fairy Tales from Saint Etienne • Too Young to Die - The Singles • Casino Classics • Continental • Interlude • Smash the System: Singles and More • Travel Edition 1990-2005 • Smash the System: Singles 1990-99 • Boxette • London Conversations • Saint Etienne On 45: Part 1

Other releases	I Love to Paint • Reserection • Fairfax High • Places to Visit • The Misadventures of Saint Etienne • Built on Sand • Asleep at the Wheels of Steel • Up the Wooden Hills • Nice Price • What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? • A Glimpse of Stocking

Singles	"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" • "Kiss and Make Up" • "Nothing Can Stop Us" • "Join Our Club" • "Avenue" • "You're in a Bad Way" • "Hobart Paving" • "Xmas 93" • "Pale Movie" • "Like a Motorway" • "Hug My Soul" • "He's on the Phone" • "Sylvie" • "The Bad Photographer" • "Lose That Girl" • "Lover Plays the Bass" • "How We Used to Live" • "Heart Failed (In the Back of a Taxi)" • "Boy is Crying" • "Action" • "Shower Scene" • "Soft Like Me" • "Side Streets" • "A Good Thing" • "Stars Above Us" • "Burnt Out Car" • "Method of Modern Love"

Films	Finisterre • What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? • This is Tomorrow

Related articles	Discography • AS Saint-Étienne • Heavenly Records • Creation Records • Sub Pop • Mantra Records • Sanctuary Records