Saint Etienne unveil ‘Take Me To The Pilot’ — Second single from farewell album

After 35 years of crafting timeless pop, Saint Etienne are taking one final bow — and they’re doing it in style. The beloved London trio share Take Me To The Pilot, the second single from their upcoming thirteenth (and final) studio album, ‘International,’ out September 5 via Heavenly Recordings.

The track comes co-written and produced with none other than Paul Hartnoll of Orbital, delivering a dark, pulsing escape fantasy with one of the most addictive basslines Saint Etienne have ever laid down. It follows lead single Glad and leans deep into mystery, reinvention, and the thrill of the unknown.

“It’s about escape, disappearance, reinvention,” says Bob Stanley. “Who’s the pilot? You don’t get to find out — that’s the mystery, and the fun.”

Pete Wiggs adds a lovely bit of full-circle lore: back in 1990, Stanley wrote about Orbital, which led to a backstage peek at their live setup — “slightly mystified” at the time, he reconnected years later with Paul in Hove. A few chats by the seafront later, and here we are with a collaboration that feels both inevitable and magical.

The single arrives with a striking new video directed by long-time collaborator and acclaimed photographer Alasdair McLellan. Shot between Doncaster and Rome, it stars dancer Jet — first photographed by McLellan for Arena Homme+— breaking in front of suburban bungalows before spinning across Roman piazzas and even into the Vatican.

“It turned into a kind of breakin’ pilgrimage to St Peter’s,” McLellan says.

International is shaping up to be a bittersweet celebration of Saint Etienne’s history, pulling in friends, heroes, and long-time admirers for a final round of collaborations. Expect appearances from Confidence Man, Vince Clarke, Erol Alkan, Nick Heyward, and Tim Powell (Xenomania), among others. The record closes with The Last Time, a reflective farewell to their fans — and to their own remarkable journey.

‘International’ track list

1. Glad
2. Dancing Heart
3. The Go Betweens
4. Sweet Melodies
5. Save It For A Rainy Day
6. Fade
7. Brand New Me
8. Take Me To The Pilot
9. Two Lovers
10. Why Are You Calling
11. He’s Gone
12. The Last Time

Saint Etienne aren’t splitting up as friends, just stepping away from the studio. Their legacy — from that iconic Only Love Can Break Your Heart cover to ‘Foxbase Alpha’ and beyond — is secure. And if Take Me To The Pilot is anything to go by, they’re going out on a high.