Saint Etienne feature in a number of installations at Somerset House’s latest exhibition. 

‘Beano: The Art Of Breaking The Rules’ is curated by artist Andy Holden, who “gathers today’s greatest creative rule-breakers, including writers, musicians, painters, sculptors and photographers”.

Among those are two contributions from the group, who lend their talents to the ‘Welcome To Beanotown’ movie and Beano’s Records store. 

Singer Sarah Cracknell reads the text over music by Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley and collaborator Gus Bousfield for the flick, while a recreation of the legendary Croydon shop comes complete with a jukebox selection put together by Bob.

Other contributors include Sarah Lucas, Hardeep Pandhal, Phyllida Barlow, pop star Chris Sievey (otherwise known by his alter-ego Frank Sidebottom), Martin Creed, Alex Chinneck, Heather Phillipson,  Ryan Gander, Jann Haworth, Emma Hart, editorial cartoonist Martin Rowson, Rene Matić, Bedwyr Williams and many more. 

New works include a recording featuring young fiction writer Alex Wheatle, a comic strip from artist Nicola Lane and a neon sculpture from Simeon Barclay.

The exhibition runs until March 6, 2022.

Saint Etienne released their 10th album ‘I’ve Been Trying to Tell You’ earlier this year and, speaking to Retro Pop, Pete Wiggs revealed the trio plans to hit the studio again soon with a new set of tracks. 

“I think we’ll carry on and resume when we can,” he added. “It’s a totally different sound, so we need to regroup, as it were, and hopefully there’ll be another album out next year.” 

He teased: “And we’ve also got a new Christmas song coming out this year as well – if we can clear the samples.”

In a review of the album, Retro Pop called ‘I’ve Been Trying To Tell You’ “an album to be played in full, front to back, with each experience unique, individual and deeply personal.”

‘I’ve Been Trying To Tell You’ is available on CD, vinyl and cassette. 

Interview: Pete Wiggs: ‘What makes a Saint Etienne song? I don’t know!’