If you have a Spotify or any other music streaming service that lets you listen to entire albums in one go, I've got some homework for you.
If you've never heard of Zero 7 before, they are, IMHO, the best example of quality downtempo electronica slash acid jazz in the world. Comprised of the duo Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, Zero 7 started out as studio engineers and remixers.
The duo usually enlist the help of guest vocalists on their albums, using unique artists like Sia, Sophie Barker and Jose Gonzalez, to name a few. Their debut full album, Simple Things, released in 2001, was an instant hit, garnering the "Best Newcomer" Muzik Award.
The album opens with I have seen, with the lush male vocals of Mozez riding a Rhodes piano soul groove that sounds as fresh today as it did in 2001. The string arrangements are sublime.
Next we have Polaris. I think they made a mistake putting this spaced-out instrumental as the second song. I would have picked one of the other slam dunks from the collection for a strong one-two punch.
Such as the third track, Destiny, featuring Sia. Yes, that Sia. She already had a presence on the Australian music scene in acid-jazz band Crisp, but was still relatively unknown elsewhere in the world. That changed immediately with her appearance on this album. She would go on to be a regular contributor on Zero 7 albums, featuring almost exclusively on their third album The garden in 2006. Sophie Barker provides backing vocals here and sounds like Sia's twin.
Give it away is another instrumental, which I like much better than track 2. It's like a perfect R&B number begging for a vocalist to jump in and croon improvisation style.
Simple things, the title track, doesn't really connect for me, but it's still a quality track, again with Mozez doing the lead.
Red dust is another one of those magical instrumentals that feels like a jazz project pulled out of the dusty archives and given a little modern polish. It has the same kind of vibe as the Bob James theme song from the sitcom Taxi. And who doesn't love a jazzy tune with a little flute and trumpet?
Track 7, Distractions quickly became a favourite of mine, again featuring the smooth (double tracked) vocals of Sia. In fact, the chorus is what does it for me. "I only make jokes to distract myself from the truth." Powerful line. She sings it with such conviction. I love how the instrumental line goes on a different melodic line while that's being sung too. Gorgeous. Even the coda is insane. Just listen to that acoustic guitar anchoring it all together.
Then comes the best song on the album, In a waiting line. Check out the video for this gem too. This is Sophie Barker's debut as main vocalist and she is just as good or perhaps better than Sia. She also co-wrote this song as she also co-wrote Destiny. You hear a lot more synth touches on this track, but the electric piano is still the main event. The synth runs up and down the scale are great.
Out of town, another instrumental, would not be out of place on a travel video.
This world brings Mozez back doing his best James Bond soundtrack love theme.
Likufanele is another fave of mine. It has a lovely South African flavour, hinting at the possibilities for this duo going forward in the decade before last. The lyrics say "Igama obizwa ngalo likufanele". Translation: "The name that they call you by suits you".
Make sure you check out the special edition version, which includes the bonus tracks Salt Water Sound, another fave instrumental of mine, and Spinning, again featuring Sophie Barker.
The special edition version also has some live versions and remixes of some of the tracks.
This is an hour of acid jazz with a little something for your brain too.
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