Sarah Cracknell, Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, Tuesday, June 16

ARTISTS like Kate Bush and Scott Walker famously liked to take it slow between LPs – but generally towards the latter ends of their careers.

But the 18 years between the release of Saint Etienne frontwoman Sarah Cracknell’s 1997 debut Lipslide and this month’s follow-up Red Kite must be some sort of record.

Perhaps unsurprisingly it was not planned.

“There was a gap in Saint Etienne’s schedule,” says Cracknell, ahead of performing a live soundtrack with the band at last month’s Brighton Festival.

“I had a couple of songs just floating around, some people I wanted to work with and a plan to do something that was no programming – just instrument-based. All the bits fell into place at the same time.”

For the recording sessions Cracknell teamed up with engineer Seb Lewsley – who has previously worked with Edwyn Collins - to record in an Oxfordshire barn, only ten minutes from her family home.

When it came to the sound of her second record she was looking for a cinematic feel.

“I wanted it to have a little bit of a Ennio Morricone feel to it,” she says. “I wanted this big production, where strange instruments pop in out of nowhere and take you by surprise.

“At the same time I wanted it to sound current, not a nostalgic record, but with a real pop song type vibe with strong melodies.”

Helping her out with the unusual instrumentation was Carwyn Ellis, who will also be playing in her live band alongside members of The Dreaming Spires and Colorama.

“He’s the genius behind the interesting keyboard sounds,” she says. “He collects funny little toy pianos from junk shops – he’s always looking for new sounds.”

Opening track On The Swings captures this feel perfectly, with Cracknell’s breathy chanteuse-style vocal being augmented by gorgeous bell-like keyboards, gentle guitar strums, smooth percussion and flute sounds. There are touches of 1960s French pop, Cat’s Eyes critically acclaimed Duke Of Burgundy soundtrack and inevitably a touch of Saint Etienne’s pop swooning.

The album also features a guest appearance by Manic Street Preacher Nicky Wire on second track Nothing Left To Talk About.

“I wanted a certain type of voice in that song,” says Cracknell. “I wanted a voice that had charm and a twinkle to it, with a slight familiarity.

“Nicky was the man for the job – we knew each other from way back when we were stable-mates on the Heavenly label in the early 1990s. We have a shared history of feather boas.”

The aim with the live show is to recapture the sound of the album perfectly on stage.

“Singing with Saint Etienne performing some of the more tricky programmed stuff was a very different discipline,” she says.

“It was all about timing. There’s more space to sing in these songs.”

That said there is likely to be another Saint Etienne record next year, following the band’s live soundtrack collaboration on archive film How We Used To Live.

For the live performances Cracknell enjoyed being at the back out of the spotlight.

“When we first did the soundtrack it was quite scary,” she says. “You feel a huge responsibility to the visuals – and you don’t want to distract from it by fluffing something or coming in the wrong space. You want the audience to almost forget you’re there. It’s definitely flying by the seat of your pants.”

For now she is looking forward to heading out on the road as a solo act.

“I’m going to be without Bob [Stanley] and Pete [Wiggs, her Saint Etienne bandmates],” she says. “Pete lives in Brighton so he’s going to bring all his mates.

“I feel better taken care of than I did with my first solo record – I’ve got a little gang around me which will be nice.”

Support from Sea Of Bees.

Doors 7.30pm, tickets £20. Call 0845 2938480.