Zero 7 - The Garden

If we're talking methphorically here, as we so often do, I want these guys to come and give my garden a make over. If, in some parallel universe, Zero 7 are actually gardeners, you can expect to see their creations buzzing with warm pop plantations, lush instrumentational hanging baskets, unobtrusive electronica evening lights, and '60s-style water-feature harmonies.

The first album had me hooked. Simple Things brought with it an echoing beauty normally represented in Greek myth as a beautiful naked woman with the rough sultry vocals and acoustic stratchings in songs like Destiny and Out of this World. Add that to a bowlful of wahwah and synth piano-flvaoured grapes and we get Distractions. Ok, we're picking on the obvious bests but still, it's an overview; deal with it. Following sharply with the, if possible, even better When It Falls, the band begin to develop their musical intuition further, experimenting with more bassy beginnings, as in Home and, on my part, an almost exclusive love of the acoustic Somersault. The title track openining with a similar electronica rising creshendo to the Garden's own Throw It Away.

So yes, the similarities are there, between the first two albums and Zero 7's latest creation, but what about the differences? The Garden has a more balanced calm-to-upbeat ratio, to start with, with songs such as You're My Flame and Futures more likely to get your foot tapping than the beautiful remix of Jose Gonzales' Crosses (who, by the way, makes a number of special appearences - not to be missed). To be as unbaised as I can be (Zero 7 are one of my top 3 bands of all time), I have to admit that the band took a huge risk, changing themsleves as much as they have clearly tried to. Although thoroughly brilliant albums, the first two did have a little too much in common; put them back to back on media player, hit shuffle and watch as those infidels who know not of Zero 7 struggle to pick one album apart from the other. Try this with The Garden, however, and the fresh, edgy and more experimental new album pokes it head up above the rest.

So after the first and second great albums, the Garden is Zero 7's first really out and out amazing creation, moving their music career in a new direction. This direction is still beautifully plush and atmospheric, stimulating your sensual mood. But, what differs on the Garden is their formula; subtract some of Zero 7's more typical downtempo elements (becoming a bore over time as numerous groups copy and paste it over and over again) and add in interesting elements of classic soul and we get the 60's/70's feel to it, which is socially conscious. While I salute downtempo groups who are so damn cool (Air) and while it hurts me to see downtempo groups become stagnant and repetative (Theivery), the Garden yet again places Zero 7 as the most interesting.

9/10

Marten <3