After much cafuffle (great word!), the world hears about Zero 7. And, being part of the world, I heard about it. And so did my MP3 downloading program. Yes, being the nasty and cheap person I am I downloaded the whole album off Audiogalaxy.com. It's the best spend of clicks, download time and a blank CD I have done for ages.
Since my slightly dodgy acquisition method, I have been enjoying this album a lot. They claim it isn't chillout, but really it is! But, unlike the hundreds of middle-of-the-road downtempo CD's released over the past few years (god, how many times have we heard 'chill-out') this is still good and fresh!
A fresh slice of British electronica without the tacky trance / ibiza overtones. Just simple, pure unadulterated pleasure! This is the album for getting home from a long, sh|tty day at work / school and thinking "I hate my boss / teacher" and just putting on to let it all fly. It is the musical equivalent of a long aroma-filled bubble bath, and perfect background music for just that.
From the long, hold out 'Destiny', to the African tribal inspired 'Likeufalene', it's all great, with oodles of calm, ear-pleasing pleasure in it.
01.
I have seen A great number, starting with drum bashings and smooth keyboarding and a great, totally in-place male vocal track. This track starts the summery feel to the album. Just imagine, lying down, summer, care-free, tasty orange ice-lolly in hand, and this on the background. Perfect for romancing, relaxing and driving. This is the musical equivalent of aromatherapy for the mind. Clears of all extraneous thoughts. Just a few yoga lessons and an interest in meditation and your 'spiritually one with yourself' or whatever these twisted loons go on about. But it is probably good...
02. Polaris If you weren't already soothed to a slow rate with I Have Seen, Polaris will put you in to low-gear, and make you stop typing opinions... drift away, sunny beach, calm ocean... and drift away... in to the thoughts of... doing nothing and enjoying it... Just like That! A bad influence on many people like me, but a good way of letting it all drain away. ... ... ... ... ... Really relaxing, mind cuddling electronica. Deeply enjoyable!
03. Destiny This is the track everybody associates with Zero 7 thanks to it's release in to that awful abyss of crapness known as the pop charts, home to the boyzones and steps of this world. A perfectly-placed female vocal bounces the track around, and with all the oodles of effects, guitars and other musical bubble bath liquid, this track pleases and relaxes. A favourite from the album.
04. Give It Away Pianoey, keyboard sounding introduction thang, which leaps (in slow-motion of course!) in to drums and soothing guitar. Can you see a pattern here? So can I, but it's certainly not a bad thing... The only unfortunate thing about Simple Things is that it can be quite repetitive. Can be quite repetitive. Repetitive. Repetitive. But not in an annoying way. It's quite soothing, and there's only so much that can be done with chill-out music!
05. Simple Things The title track certainly does go freely and willingly in to your deeper psyche. Pleasuring your mind slowly and very tastefully. The exact female voice jumps out at you, and still remains un-annoying. This track is certainly a good example of the downtempo formula, and making it damn great.
06. Red Dust Strummings, and hummings with piano and pleasure. All in the mix to create some red dusty substance. Electronic FX please the mind, and play with it slowly.
07. Distractions Can't think up a great deal to say about this track, but great none-the-less.
08. In the Waiting Line Very similar to 'Simple Things', but subtle lyrical changes, or you couldn't tell the difference. Which is no bad thing, there is no bad thing. They're both great!! Is it just my dodgy copy? If it is, please can someone comment on this!
09. Out of Town Righty ho! Guess the answers... Will this be slow and chilled? Will this contain subtle FX and guitars on it? If you answered Yes to the two questions, you'd be right. Plus some more great sounding tracks.
10. This World More fluid, fantastic, flowing, f**king brilliant chilled sounds. Blends perfectly with the rest of the album. It's great in a 'can't-describe-it-sort-of-way'.
11.Likeufalene Da wierd one! This contains a sample of some bizarre African choir music chant sorta-thang. Mixed in with the perfect E-Piano sounds and synths, this track is also greatly relaxing, and those African-chants are great!
12. End Theme The word theme sums this album up quite well. It's all very similar, and would go down quite well in a film. This track is the definitive of that. With it's pounding, film-style bassline and string section, this track flows beautifully in to a similar from the rest of the album, but significantly different to warrant it being great.
GOOD USES FOR THIS MUSIC Driving Relaxing Romancing Going to Sleep Dinnerparties
And any passive activity that requires subtle, toneful, pleasing music.
WHAT ELSE? Some bits of Daft Punk's Discovery (like track 9!) The infinite 'chillout' CD's Chicane (No Ordinary Morning is a favourite track of mine!) William Orbit LTJ Bukem - Anything from the Earth series or (quickly goes and checks shelf...) I can't remember... Journey Inwards. OK, then, Earth or Journey Inwards. and anything else that's vaguely chillout...
FINAL If you like chillout music, but want something different from The Chillout Zone, The Chillout Album, The Chillout and his Dog, The we-can't-think-up-a-new-title album, or any of the other downtempo compilations out there, then this is a proper album, and it's truly brilliant. Go, buy, or download!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Zero 7's ability to conjure beautiful lullabies with all the romance of 1960s French pop, ... more
as found on their debut long-playerSimple Things, would have made them the toast of soundtrack composers and chillout connoisseurs the world over. Unfortunately, ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Zero 7's ability to conjure beautiful lullabies with all the romance of 1960s French pop, ... more
as found on their debut long-playerSimple Things, would have made them the toast of soundtrack composers and chillout connoisseurs the world over. Unfortunately, ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Zero 7's ability to conjure beautiful lullabies with all the romance of 1960s French pop, ... more
as found on their debut long-player Simple Things, would have made them the toast of soundtrack composers and chillout connoisseurs the world over. Unfortunately,...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: THE chillout CD of them all! I dare you to feel stressed after listening to this! Disadvantages: No-one on the planet should dislike this CD, but if you're into Rammstein, maybe not!
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