A versatile music collection to fill the void from years of silence. 

Saint Etienne reinvents the ’12 electro-pop revolution with International, the band’s 13th album in 34 years. From songs that bounce from ear to ear, all but asking listeners to put on their wired headphones for the full experience, to heartbroken lyrics cloaked in major chords and synth, Saint Etienne’s newest release packs a hipster punch.

Deep themes of betrayal, abandonment and shame are woven into seemingly innocuous dance beats. Track nine, “Two Lovers,” opens with detailed, funk-riddled beats that are just interesting enough to shroud the lyrics in a layer of secrecy. Whether you call it luck or a stroke of genius, Saint Etienne very subtly embodies the themes that the lyrics are exploring, those of “Lovers forced into secrecy,” by paradoxically focusing more on the instrumentals paired with them. This intriguing and creatively deceptive tactic is indicative of the band’s originality and inventiveness, two of the biggest necessities in making a captivating album. 

Yet, “He’s Gone,” the closing track, emphasizes the lyrics with a falsetto that comes and goes as it pleases, keeping listeners’ attention on the lyrics and putting the production on the back burner. Thematically, the song is International’s ideal closer. After an entire album of heartbroken desire masked in fun, “He’s Gone” serves as a very necessary acceptance of change. With lyrics like “Move on, keep on climbing,” the song ends an unexpectedly painful album with a hopeful outlook, which only makes listeners want to hit repeat on the album. The band announcing that they went through a tumultuous journey and all collectively came out better for it adds some necessary light to a surprisingly dark album.

“Why Are You Calling” is an alluring standout, with jazzy instrumentals that draw you in and mocking vocals that keep you there. During the verses, the backing track seems to be percolating, building up to the climax of the chorus when a huge, booming bass introduces itself. A bridge that feebly asks “Why?” while bouncing back to a shortened chorus that flows straight into the sound of a phone ringing to close out the song shows how experience truly does pay off in the world of music production.

International feels like a masterclass lecture on earworm creation. It’s quite rare to find an album that you could hear playing at a club or in your bedroom after getting broken up with, yet International does both effortlessly. Saint Etienne has honed their craft and reflects it beautifully throughout every aspect of their newest release.