Saint Etienne has released their new single ‘Take Me To The Pilot’.
The beloved British band has announced a forthcoming album, titled ‘International’, which is scheduled for release on September 5th via Heavenly Recordings.
This album appears to be their final project, marking a concluding chapter in their impressive journey within the pop music landscape.
‘International’ fulfills its promise, featuring an incredible lineup of guest contributors, including producers like Confidence Man, Erol Alkan, and Vince Clarke, among others.
The new single ‘Take Me To The Pilot’ is available now. This dance-pop track blends emotive indie songwriting with club beats, reminiscent of their earlier works, featuring Paul Hartnoll of Orbital in the studio.
Saint Etienne’s approach to pop music feels timeless; the production blends elements of 1991 rave culture with contemporary influences from 2025, and Sarah Cracknell's vocals have seldom sounded as exquisite.
Bob Stanley of the band notes: “‘Take Me To The Pilot’ is a dark enigma, a journey to somewhere fresh, a place that quickens your heartbeat. It embodies themes of escape, vanishing, and transformation. Who is the pilot? That remains a mystery, adding to the intrigue and enjoyment. Paul Hartnoll from Orbital and Tim Powell from Xenomania collaborated with us, and it might just showcase our best bassline yet.”
Pete Wiggs reminisces: “In 1990, after Bob wrote about Orbital, the Hartnoll brothers graciously showed us their stage setup. We hadn’t performed live yet, and we were quite intrigued. Years later, having gained more experience, I reconnected with Paul at a party in Hove, where I now reside. We kept running into each other by the seafront, struck up conversations, and although I was unsure he would be interested, I asked if he’d like to write a song with us. He agreed – and we’re thrilled with the result!”
With a dark and atmospheric tone, ‘Take Me To The Pilot’ is accompanied by a fantastic video directed by long-time collaborator and noted fashion photographer Alasdair McLellan.
Shot in the streets of Doncaster and Rome, the video transitions from suburban calmness to the grandeur of Rome.
Alasdair McLellan shares:
“We were capturing a guy named Jet, a breakdancer, for Arena Homme+ when Bob contacted me about a video for Saint Etienne. I filmed Jet breaking outside a bungalow in Tickhill, the village where I grew up. When Bob mentioned the album was titled International, I decided to broaden the concept and film a second segment in Rome. Coincidentally, this aligned with the Vatican selecting the next Pope, so I thought it would be great to have Jet dancing through the streets, with piazzas and the angel sculptures of Ponte Sant’Angelo in the backdrop. As we traversed the city, the video evolved into a sort of breakdancing pilgrimage towards St Peter’s in the Vatican.”
Tune in now.
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Saint Etienne has released a new single titled 'Take Me To The Pilot.' The beloved British band has announced plans for a new album, which will be called 'International.'