Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, two Brits making up the band Zero 7 have made the follow-up to Moon Safari that fans of Air had been hoping for. The record has all the elements I'd come to expect from Air—moog keyboards, Muzak-inspired strings, soulful vocals, and lots of cheese—but the record is simply too pretty to disqualify as mere plagiary. In fact, their debut Simple Things has been in my disk player for nearly a week and at this rate I will still be hitting autoplay next week. It is quite an impressive first effort and I look forward to seeing what this band will do in the future.

To their credit, Zero 7 distinguish themselves slightly by displaying a stronger 70's soul influence than Air. The title track sounds like an Earth Wind and Fire outtake. They have chosen the very capable vocal talent of Mozez, Sia Furler, and Sophie Barker who consistently bring passion and energy to their respective pieces. Zero 7 have a knack for great songwriting and fluctuate seamlessly between the vocal and instrumental tracks throughout the album. The production is warm and full and you'll forgive the band immediately for any lack of originality.

This is great music that makes cheese fun. Hopefully the follow-up won't suck.

--Robert Lanham

   
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mail@freewilliamsburg.com | January 2002 | Issue 22
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