To be out via Heavenly Recordings.
Photo credit: Rob Baker Ashton
Saint Etienne have announced details of their 13th and final studio album, ‘International’. The record will be released on Friday, September 5th, 2025, via Heavenly Recordings.
Alongside the announcement, the band shared ‘Glad’, the first single from the new LP. Co-written and produced with Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers, the track features Jez Williams of Doves on guitar.
“We asked Tom if he had any songs in progress that might suit Saint Etienne, and he sent a backing track that he’d been working on with Jez from Doves. We fell in love with it straight away and the top line melody and words for ‘Glad’ came easy,” said Sarah Cracknell. Pete Wiggs added: “The song is about taking pleasure in everyday things like nature and the outdoors when life is otherwise getting you down.”
Co-produced with Tim Powell of Xenomania, ‘International’ brings a close to the group’s 35-year career. Though they are not formally splitting up, Saint Etienne describe the release as their final album, choosing to conclude their recording journey on their own terms.
Following ‘The Night’, their ambient album from last year, ‘International’ shifts direction. For their final record, the trio collaborated with several artists: Confidence Man on the energetic ‘Brand New Me’, Erol Alkan on ‘Sweet Melodies’, Vince Clarke on ‘Two Lovers’, Nick Heyward on ‘The Go Betweens’, and Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll on ‘Take Me To The Pilot’. Tim Powell co-produced two tracks, with the album concluding on the reflective ‘Last Time’.
Listen to ‘Glad’ below and pre-order ‘International’ here.
