Foxbase Alpha

Foxbase Alpha

Saint Etienne’s 1992 debut carefully balances the previous decade’s indie-pop conventions—jangling guitars, sweetly sung melodies, breezy moods—with the shuffling breakbeats and electronic accents of acid house. “She’s the One” summons the ’60s with sparkling tambourines and samples of The Four Tops and The Crystals, and “Carnt Sleep” balances airy vocals with a skeletal dub-reggae rhythm section. The highlight is “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”, which unexpectedly reimagines Neil Young’s song as lilting, breakbeat-driven piano house, at once carefree and wistful.

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