The Night by Saint Etienne
Ever felt like you’re stuck in a half-asleep haze, wandering the quiet streets of your own mind? Saint Etienne’s The Night is the soundtrack to that feeling—beautiful at times, but occasionally just as disorienting as it sounds. Saint Etienne takes another deep dive into ambient, dreamy soundscapes. Following the reflective tone of their 2021 album, I’ve Been Trying to Tell You, this release feels like a continuation of their late-night musings. It’s moody, atmospheric, and unhurried—sometimes to a fault.
The production is lush, built on soft synths, airy vocals, and effects that sound like they were pulled from a nature meditation app. While this sets a consistent mood, it also risks putting the listener into a trance—a little more variety wouldn’t have hurt. Lyrically, the album plays with fragmented imagery, offering glimpses of time and memory that feel intentionally vague. It’s evocative, sure, but also leans a bit heavily on tired lines like “time flies.” It’s the kind of lyricism that sounds profound until you really think about it.
A few tracks manage to stand out despite the overall haziness. “Nightingale” is lovely, with Sarah Cracknell’s voice floating effortlessly over a folksy backdrop. “Preflyte,” meanwhile, closes the album on a bittersweet note, though the impact is dulled by how similar it feels to everything that came before it. The album flows smoothly, almost too smoothly, like a stream that never hits a single rapid. While that cohesion works if you’re in the right mood—maybe lying in bed with the lights dimmed—it can feel repetitive if you’re not fully immersed.
This feels like an album for longtime fans of Saint Etienne’s more experimental side. If you’re here for their poppier, hook-driven moments, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for something to put on while you stare wistfully out a window, The Night might just do the trick.
Ultimately, it’s an album that creates a mood and sticks to it, even when it starts to feel stuck. It’s worth a listen—just make sure you’re awake enough to appreciate it.
