Finisterre is St Etienne's sixth album and their first since 2000's Sound of Water. The internationally acclaimed outfit once again retain their emphasis on writing catchy pop tunes, as heard on the CD's lead-off track, "Action." Delving into hip-hop, folkish melodies, and house, the team are as diverse as ever and have enlisted some intriguing collaborators to marginal effect for this latest outing. There's an appearance from Doves guitarist Jez Williams, and one track features female MC Wildflower, which doesn't fare so well since the feisty young rapper sounds too raw for the flowery backing track. Similarly, it might have looked good on paper to use the voice of actor Michael Jayston--and it has probably served them well for live shows--but his vocals on the album (used as links between tracks) don't add anything of substance. Punk "guru" Mark Perry was enlisted for the sleeve notes. Maybe these will offer a little more heart and soul to the proceedings, because musically, Finisterre falls flat, yet another example of St Etienne's seemingly eternal addiction to tepid sounds. --Paul Sullivan