Three star

Sarah Cracknell has such a gorgeous voice you cannot help but fall for Saint Etienne.

Her dulcet tones lull you into a hypnotic state, helping you leave those daily troubles behind.

But now the south London trio seem to have left their Indie roots behind and gone all commercial on us.

Tales from Turnpike House is an eclectic mix of tuneful ballads and tracks more suited to chart success. Teenage Winter and Goodnight sit snugly into the former category and are probably the pick of the bunch, although Milk Bottle Symphony is the one certain to catch on and leave you humming merrily on the way to the pub.

But there are disappointments, particularly Relocate, which has Cracknell dueting with a mystery singer sounding uncannily like Bowie on The Laughing Gnome!

The 80s saw Saint Etienne at the forefront of the indie scene, revelling in a string of hits built around clever lyrics and a resounding club beat. But those roots seem to have been forgotten and this latest album is likely to distance them from a number of traditional followers.

But that could just see them become more accessible to a wider audience... all waiting to experience the charms of Cracknell's vocal talents.

DL