Saint Etienne haven't released an album of new material since 2005's Tales from Turnpike House, but the British dance pop trio are still giving their fans plenty of new reasons to get excited. In the past two years, the group has released three compilation albums (a best-of and two rarities collections), a series of reissues, and now on September 21, they will put out a remixed version of their 1991 classic Foxbase Alpha.
The remix album is fittingly titled Foxbase Beta, and was produced by Richard X, who also helmed the group's recent single "Method of Modern Love." The producer was handed the master tapes from the original album and given free reign to add whatever he felt like.
As for what the finished product sounds like, keyboardist Bob Stanley described it on the band's MySpace blog as "essentially a 2009 up-date of Foxbase Alpha, given a shot of vodka and a loving caress." You can judge for yourself over at Saint Etienne's MySpace, where two of the revamped tracks are posted.
A single disc version will be released, along with a two-CD set that will be limited to 3,000 copies and available through the band's fan club. That double-disc version will include Foxbase Extra, which features three unreleased recordings from the original album sessions: a recently discovered coda to "Girl VII," a summery instrumental called "Richard III" and the first take of "Kiss and Make Up," which the band ensures us is "very different" and in fact the very first Saint Etienne recording. Oh, and that deluxe edition will feature a "directors' commentary."
Along with all this, there will also be a new fan-club-exclusive twelve-inch single, which will be limited to 200 copies and feature a remix by Air France. The tracklisting of which is listed below.
1. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (Richard X extended vocal)
2. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (Richard X extended instrumental)
3. "Spring" (Air France remix)
4. "Girl VII" (Foxbase Beta album version)
The remix album is fittingly titled Foxbase Beta, and was produced by Richard X, who also helmed the group's recent single "Method of Modern Love." The producer was handed the master tapes from the original album and given free reign to add whatever he felt like.
As for what the finished product sounds like, keyboardist Bob Stanley described it on the band's MySpace blog as "essentially a 2009 up-date of Foxbase Alpha, given a shot of vodka and a loving caress." You can judge for yourself over at Saint Etienne's MySpace, where two of the revamped tracks are posted.
A single disc version will be released, along with a two-CD set that will be limited to 3,000 copies and available through the band's fan club. That double-disc version will include Foxbase Extra, which features three unreleased recordings from the original album sessions: a recently discovered coda to "Girl VII," a summery instrumental called "Richard III" and the first take of "Kiss and Make Up," which the band ensures us is "very different" and in fact the very first Saint Etienne recording. Oh, and that deluxe edition will feature a "directors' commentary."
Along with all this, there will also be a new fan-club-exclusive twelve-inch single, which will be limited to 200 copies and feature a remix by Air France. The tracklisting of which is listed below.
1. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (Richard X extended vocal)
2. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (Richard X extended instrumental)
3. "Spring" (Air France remix)
4. "Girl VII" (Foxbase Beta album version)
