Listening to Saint Etienne's Tales from Turnpike House is like reading a novel which tells the story of new characters in each chapter. It is the follow-up to the British group's 2002 release, Finisterre.
Saint Etienne's music is a combination of 1960s retro dance beats, acid synth and modern twists laced together by the angelic vocals of lead singer Sarah Cracknell.
The songs in Tales from Turnpike describe a day in the lives of residents living in a London high-rise.
It opens with Sun in My Morning, a relaxing, flute-driven track that is followed by Milk Bottle Symphony, which describes the busy residents beginning their day with breakfast.
In Relocate, a duet by Cracknell and guest singer David Essex, a couple debate whether to move to the country. Closing the album is Goodnight, a soothing, lullaby-like song comforting the residents' tired souls after a day of hard work.
The concept CD spotlights modern lives with poetic beauty, offbeat humour and beautiful harmonies.
