← Back

Sound of Water

by Saint Etienne

Released: June 22, 2000

Alternative dance, indie pop, synthpop, dance-pop

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Experimental Album.

The Album

The shift in direction had begun with their previous U.S. release, Places to Visit, which was a precursor to Sound of Water. "Sound of Water" is an album by Saint Etienne, released in 2000. It represents the band's foray into ambient and trip-hop genres.

Inside the Recording

Instead, the album was co-produced by Gerard Johnson with arrangements by To Rococo Rot and Sean O'Hagan. It was recorded at To Rococo Rot's studio, Amber Sound, in Berlin, Germany. The band described the recording sessions as being done in an airless, windowless oven.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The album's lead single, How We Used to…

The album's lead single, How We Used to Live, was notable for not being edited down from its full 9-minute length for its single release.

The album Interlude, released a year later, consists…

The album Interlude, released a year later, consists mostly of b-sides from the Sound of Water singles and a few from the Good Humor era.

Sound of Water is unique in that the…

Sound of Water is unique in that the band did not collaborate with Ian Catt, who had been a frequent collaborator.

The Place at Dawn includes a sample of…

The Place at Dawn includes a sample of Magna Carta's Medley from the 1970 album Seasons.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Saint Etienne - Sound of Water

Open in Albums Gallery

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Sound of Water" is an album by Saint Etienne, released in 2000. It represents the band's foray into ambient and trip-hop genres.

The album's lead single, How We Used to Live, was notable for not being edited down from its full 9-minute length for its single release.

The shift in direction had begun with their previous U.S. release, Places to Visit, which was a precursor to Sound of Water. The album Interlude, released a year later, consists mostly of b-sides from the Sound of Water singles and a few from the Good Humor era.

Sound of Water is unique in that the band did not collaborate with Ian Catt, who had been a frequent collaborator. Instead, the album was co-produced by Gerard Johnson with arrangements by To Rococo Rot and Sean O'Hagan. It was recorded at To Rococo Rot's studio, Amber Sound, in Berlin, Germany. The band described the recording sessions as being done in an airless, windowless oven.

The Place at Dawn includes a sample of Magna Carta's Medley from the 1970 album Seasons.