Though only a brief six-track EP, Saint Etienne's PLACES TO VISIT is a fully-realized and extremely satisfying record. 1998's magnificent GOOD HUMOR had been a departure for the Northeast London trio of Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, and Pete Wiggs. Saint Etienne abandoned the club-oriented dance sound of the group's first three albums, FOXBASE ALPHA, SO TOUGH and TIGER BAY, for a mature, lush, orchestral pop sound somewhere between classic Dionne Warwick and The Cardigans. PLACES TO VISIT combines the two sides of the band's sound into a coherent whole, melding slow, trip-hop-styled dance beats to rich, catchy pop songs to create an atmospheric and stimulating whole. Cracknell's classic pop voice recalls Petula Clark, and the layered arrangements of Stanley and Wiggs support her beautifully.

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Though only a brief six-track EP, Saint Etienne's PLACES TO VISIT is a fully-realized and extremely satisfying record. 1998's magnificent GOOD HUMOR had been a departure for the Northeast London trio of Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, and Pete Wiggs. Saint Etienne abandoned the club-oriented dance sound of the group's first three albums, FOXBASE ALPHA, SO TOUGH and TIGER BAY, for a mature, lush, orchestral pop sound somewhere between classic Dionne Warwick and The Cardigans. PLACES TO VISIT combines the two sides of the band's sound into a coherent whole, melding slow, trip-hop-styled dance beats to rich, catchy pop songs to create an atmospheric and stimulating whole. Cracknell's classic pop voice recalls Petula Clark, and the layered arrangements of Stanley and Wiggs support her beautifully.