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 LISTEN + BUY |
ZERO SEVEN - THE GARDEN (ATLANTIC) |
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I am such a long time fan of Zero Seven's, that I had to admonish myself before listened to their third and newest album, The Garden. "Do not expect to like it as much as Simple Things or When It Falls," albums which I've played and replayed so many times at certain times in my past, they've become soundtracks to some pretty poignant memories. So it was almost holding my breath that I gave The Garden its first listen, lowering the lights and laying back on the couch to let the lush instrumentation and vocals wash over me. Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns (aka Zero Seven) do not disappoint, though at first I was a bit confused, and had to give it several other listens across the span of a week (interspersing plays with their past albums for real-time comparison) before I felt I could give this album its proper due. The lyrics are true poetry. Sounds stretch from synths to strings to big band horns. Standout tracks include the single "Throw It All Away" and pretty much any of the ones with Sia's vocals - she's on six of the twelve! "Seeing Things" is the only instrumental. For the first time Henry himself sings on a few too. Jose Gonzales does his best, which is pretty amazing, but for my ears can't makes up for missing signature voices of Mozes and Sophie Barker. Refreshingly different, but not too much of a departure to alienate fans like myself who don't mind a step away from Chillout towards, dare I say, Pop, Zero Seven along with their selection of vocalists have created what may not become an all-time classic in my book, but an intelligent album that explores new ground and entertains smoothly from start to finish.-- review by Claire Maxwell
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