Saint Etienne

Saint Etienne formed in Croydon, South London in 1990, with Pete Wiggs, Bob Stanley, and Sarah Cracknell making up the trio. Their first album, "Foxbase Alpha," came out the following year and included songs like "Nothing Can Stop Us." The record mixed electronic production with indie pop sensibilities, setting a template they'd work with for years.

They kept putting out albums through the 1990s, including "So Tough," "Tiger Bay," and "Good Humor." Tracks such as "Been So Long" and "Love Me Sweet" showed their knack for wrapping melancholy or observational lyrics in bright, accessible arrangements. Cracknell's voice gave the music an immediate, human touch over the programmed beats and sampled textures.

Their sound never settled into one thing, pulling from dance music, film scores, and classic pop without making a fuss about it. They worked quietly, avoiding grand statements in favor of specific, grounded songs. You can hear it in the straightforward charm of "DJ" or the slightly worn optimism of "It's All Gone Horribly Wrong."