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artist : zero 7
title : simple things
year : 2001
genre : lo-fi
label : ultimate dilemma (udrcd016)
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ripper : phoojun
rls-date : 04/24/2001
encoder : fhg radium mp3 codec v1.263
quality : 192kbps/44,100hz
source : compact disc
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01 i have seen 5:07
02 polaris 4:48
03 destiny 5:37
04 give it away 5:17
05 simple things 4:24
06 red dust 5:40
07 distractions 5:16
08 in the waiting line 4:32
09 out of town 4:47
10 this world 5:35
11 likufanele 6:25
12 end theme 3:38
12 tracks (01h 01m 06s)
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Let's get one thing straight from the start. This isn't chill out
music. It may be mellow music for relaxing, for pondering both the
melodies and life itself, but it1s also steeped in so much soul and
funk, earmarking it "chill out" barely begins to make sense.
A lot of people have claimed Zero 7 are the British Air. Don't be
fooled, this is more the result of years spent listening to and
absorbing the lessons of masters like Quincy Jones, Ray Charles,
Charles Stepney, while still feeling the impact of hip hop and
house music. Of painstakingly learning their craft by day while
still going out to hear the latest sounds from New York by night.
The scant 1000 copies of their debut EP sold out in days, leaving
only a few tastemakers to enjoy the soundtrack to the films running
in their minds. The Gilles Peterson-championed 'This World' showed
the duo know their way around a song, while the dizzying brass n1
strings of 'Out of Town' saw Sam and Henry staking out their
territory as the erstwhile sons of John Barry and George Martin
respectively. 'Likufanele' married their orchestral vision to
heartbreaking African gospel choir.
Two years on, and a few select remixes and another long since-sold
out limited EP are all we've heard from the pair. Now, with the
release of their debut album 'Simple Things' there's finally the
chance to play catch up, and for conformed fans to wallow in some
pure class. Still downbeat and downtempo, but never downhearted,
'Simple Things' is both a statement of intent and a hallmark of
quality. An album that will send most chill-out pretenders
scurrying back to their keyboard settings and ironic samples.
The classics still lingering in the mind from the EPs are all here,
along with some new torch songs for space cadets. Vocal tracks like
'I Have Seen', 'Waiting Line', 'Destiny' and 'Distractions' -
featuring the devastatingly emotional voices of singers Mozez, Sia
Furler and Sophie Barker - take us out to the supper club at the
end of the universe. Comforting music to aid both hot dates and
cold shoulders: in a country where Dido and Dane Bowers are seen as
blue eyed soul this should blow more than a few heads.
Instrumentals like the lush 'Give It Away' and 'Polaris' keep the
reflective, retrospective mood, still soundtracking some long-lost
thriller starring Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw, until squelches of
industrial strength acid synth bring us careering back into the
present. This is music at its best, sounds living in the hinterland
between easy listening and hip hop, between 60s soul and ambient.
It's music for relaxing to but that can still change your life.
Grandiose claims perhaps but just lie back and listen. It's true.
--www.zero7.co.uk
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greetings to sweetbeats, quadrophenia, sour, mindscape, deephouse
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