From time to time, a record grabs your attention inadvertently,
and it’s like nothing had ever existed before. That’s
exactly the kind of record Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker,
aka Zero 7, have produced. The aptly titled Simple
Things is simply one of the most attaching records
you’ll hear this year.
Lets knock the rumour down first. Wrongly described
as the British answer to Air, Zero 7 actually sound
nothing like the French duo, and if their work results
in a similar-ish atmosphere, it is more by pure coincidence
than by deliberate choice. You only need to listen to
the first couple of minutes of I Have Seen
to realise that the Nottingham duo have more important
things to do than ripping other people off. Simple
Things is not an electronic album as such. Binns
and Hardaker rely as much on real guitars, drums and
strings as they do on their samplers and keyboards.
After releasing a handful of singles last year, and
producing remixes for artists as diverse as Terry Callier,
Radiohead, Lambchop or Dorris Day, the pair managed
to grab the attention of the press, to the point where
the aforementioned singles got their way into the end-of-the-year-lists
of many magazines, and DJs as prestigious as Gilles
Peterson have given the band much precious airplay.
Simple Things alternates between sweeping instrumentals
(the gorgeous Give It Away, Red Dust
or Out Of Town – which, incidentally, was their
first release) and luscious, emotional songs, with vocal
performances by Mozez (I Have Seen, the magnificent
Simple Things, This World), white
soulstress Sia Furler (Destiny, Distractions)
and Sophie Barker (In The Waiting Line). Soul
infiltrates every moment of Simple Things,
becoming increasingly palpable, and leaving the listener
with the impression that Paradise is, in essence, accessible
to all. The beautifully crafted string work, the occasional
trumpet or flute, the crystal clear pianos, everything
conjures to make this album the perfect summer night
soundtrack.
As it floats along, Simple Things reveals some
of the most beautiful compositions heard this year,
as Zero 7 introduce themselves as the new princes of
cool. Intense, moving, clever and glorious, Simple
Things will keep resounding in your head long after
it stopped playing.
5/5 |
