About this item

The Home Counties are an embarrassing place to come from. The name itself suggests that somehow the rest of Britain isn’t ‘home’, not even London. Saint Etienne grew up in the Home Counties. Here are sixteen new songs they have written about a day in the life of this doughnut of shires that ring the capital, punctuated by bursts of BBC radio to remind you what time it is and all connected by train journeys - main lines, branch lines, commutes, escapes.

The love / hate relationship people have with ‘home’ is particularly acute in the Home Counties. Yet Saint Etienne understand that if you squint, it could be almost utopian.

The album was produced by Shawn Lee of Young Gun Silver Fox, with support from Augustus (Kero Kero Bonito), Carwyn Ellis (Colorama, Edwyn Collins), Robin Bennett (The Dreaming Spires), Richard X (Girls On Top / Black Melody) and long-time collaborator Gerard Johnson (Denim, Yes). It was recorded in Central London. Sarah, Bob and Pete commuted to the studio every day for six weeks.

TRACK LISTING

The Reunion
Something New
Magpie Eyes
Whyteleafe
Dive
Church Pew Furniture Restorer
Take It All In
Popmaster
Underneath The Apple Tree
Out Of My Mind
After Hebden
Breakneck Hill
Heather
Sports Report
Train Drivers In Eyeliner
Unopened Fan Mail
What Kind Of World
Sweet Arcadia
Angel Of Woodhatch