Finisterre

Released in 2002, Finisterre represents a pivotal moment for Saint Etienne, marking a return to the collage-heavy, narrative style of their early masterpiece So Tough after the more traditional song structures of Good Humor. The album was conceived alongside a documentary film of the same name directed by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans, and the two works are inextricably linked. The use of Michael Jayston's narration provides a thematic spine, exploring the identity of London at the turn of the millennium. Sonically, the album is diverse, ranging from the dance-floor-ready 'Action' and 'Shower Scene' to the ambient, folk-tinged 'Summerisle' and the classic 60s-inflected pop of 'Stop and Think It Over'. Critics noted the album's 'angular' electronic sound, which integrated contemporary IDM and glitch elements into their established indie-pop framework. It stands as one of the band's most conceptually ambitious works, successfully synthesizing their obsessions with film, architecture, and pop history into a cohesive, evocative whole.