It's time again for another limited edition Saint Etienne fan club-only release, and this time it comes in the form of their very first album, Foxbase Alpha, completely re-imagined, remixed and re-everythinged by Richard X (who swizzed up their recent single, "Method Of Modern Love").This new version is called Foxbase Beta. Says SE's Bob Stanley:
"Using the original masters, adding cellos, electrix, choirs, and the spirit of Brian Cant he has created something really special—spruced-up yet reverential, it is essentially a 2009 up-date of Foxbase Alpha, given a shot of vodka and a loving caress. We're chuffed. It feels unnervingly like jumping into a Tardis.It's been a fun year for Saint Etienne fans, what with the two-CD deluxe editions of Foxbase Alpha, So Tough, Continental and Sound Of Water being released. (I just finally picked up the latter two on Saturday at Amoeba Records).
"FOXBASE BETA will be issued, via the fan club, as a limited, numbered 2CD set of 3,000 copies, which will also include FOXBASE EXTRA, three unreleased recordings from the original album sessions: a just discovered coda to 'Girl VII' (we'd forgotten it existed), a summery instrumental called 'Richard III,' and the first, very different, take of 'Kiss And Make Up,' which was the very first Saint Etienne recording. We cut it one afternoon in January 1990, and then 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' in the evening! It was all so simple then. These tracks won't be available anywhere else."
Foxbase Beta will be made available for pre-order on the band's website September 21. But you've gotta be a fan club member first to get Thanks to Daft Monk for pointing out the following: An un-numbered, single disc edition will be available at gigs and through Rough Trade. It will also be available for digital download via itunes (with the commentary but without the bonus tracks).