Customer Reviews

Simple Things

5 star:		(159)
4 star:		(57)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Simple Things is quite simply one of the best debuts I've ever heard. The vocals are soft yet purposeful, and the lyrics are often quite inspired. Sia's beautiful voice is ethereal on the simply beautiful "Distractions" & "Destiny". It brought her fantastic Healing Is Difficult out of the doldrums of my CD collection.

It's easy to see where Zero 7 has taken much of their inspiration. There are definite similarities to Air (although it remains easy to tell the two apart) as well as Groove Armada and Fatboy Slim. Don't let the Fatboy Slim confuse you - this is by no means a dance album. This is almost an anti-dance album - the kind of thing you put on when you're very tired / drunk / stressed / angry (delete as appropriate).

It would be impossible to pick out any personal favorites (I love every track), but the real stand out tracks are "In The Waiting Line", "Destiny", "Distractions" and the largely underrated "End Theme".

If you're in a party mood, by all means, don't put this CD on. It will definitely not help build the atmosphere, but makes a perfect comedown disc. It's difficult, however, not to try and vigorously enforce this great new band on all your friends. I can't wait for the next chapter of the story.

Easily addictive, this is my first must-have of 2002. Can't say fairer than that, really...

Simple Things is exactly that. You won't find instrumental virtuousity here. As a musician friend of mine commented after hearing it, there is a lot of very simple "noodling" going on. So, if you're looking for complex jazz or performances for the ages, don't look here. What you will find, however, are interesting aural subtleties, well-crafted pop songs, and some nice vocals. It's better than background music, but not quite the kind of album that holds up terribly well beyond the very simple pleasures it provides. Sometimes, you need just that. Plus, there is an honesty to the lyrics that is refreshing. I find myself going back to this album time and time again, and that may be the biggest reason for the four star rating.

This is a great album to put on when you just need to unwind and relax. That being said, it is not just a chill out album. Listen closely to the lyrics, and the excellent vocals, the way everything molds together, it's definately one of the more unique albums I have heard lately. 14 tracks in total, 2 of which are bonus tracks, it runs just over 70 minutes, of pure musical bliss. Of course comparisons will be drawn to Air, but don't let that stop you from giving Zero 7's debut SIMPLE THINGS a try, comparisons can be drawn between this and Air's MOON SAFARI, but this has its own unique flair and flavor, they have found their own style. Sia provides seductive and passionate vocals on "Destiny" and "Distractions", two of the best tracks on the set. I also quite enjoy "Red Dust", "End Theme", "Polaris" and "In The Waiting Line". Every track is enjoyable, definately an underrated album. Everyone should take a listen to this.

An immediate entry into my Top 10 of 2001. It didn't seem that way at first -- the opener, "I Have Seen," sounds like an outtake from Cousteau. But the songs build upon each other in perfect logical order, leading up to a powerful climax.

What would happen if your favorite electronica station collided with a smooth-jazz station and careened into a sultry piano lounge on the corner? "Simple Things" might well be the result, but that's hardly doing it justice.

By the time track 11 arrives, the stage has been set. "Likufanele," a remix of South African gospel music, moves the soul in a truly captivating manner. For whatever reason, the song just reached out and grabbed me, even while driving at 60mph, almost to the point of bringing tears to my eyes. Back home with the headphones on, it was even more powerful. An absolute masterpiece.

The proper closer (not counting the two "bonus tracks"), "End Theme," is an appropriate denouement to the climax of "Likufanele," bringing me back to earth after a truly astral journey.

Advice: Don't try to listen to individual songs. Play the whole thing in sequence, and let it take you wherever it wants to take you. A magical record.

I heard "Simple Things" on a listening station at my local music store. I was immediately reminded of "Moon Safari" by Air. As I consider that a classic 90s album, I was pretty much hooked into getting this particular release by Zero 7.

"Simple Things" is really good chill-out music. I've listened to it several times since its purchase a few days ago, and it continues to stay fresh and enjoyable. The tracks are all pretty much low-key, trip-beat relaxing songs, some with vocals, some without. My favorite songs are "Polaris", "Red Dust", and "This World", though I think all of the songs, with the possible exception of track 11, are quite good.

In comparing this album to Air's "Moon Safari", I found a distinct difference. While the basic sound of the two albums is similar, "Moon Safari" was a landscape of actual songs. "Simple Things" derives its pleasure from tracks that are elongated chill-out sessions. There isn't a superior album in my comparison, just different artistic approaches and production styles.

So, Zero 7 has succeeded in creating its own sound, and what a pleasing sound it is.

Zero 7 have been called the British Air, and for once the comparison isn't unhelpfully lazy. Like the French geniuses, 7 create cloud-spacious keyboard soundscapes, full of epic, melancholy melodies, reclaiming the despised, functional music of the 70s - muzak, piped/elevator music, BBC Stereophonic workshop etc. - and asserting its emotional value. While this was surprising and revelatory in the mid- to late-90s, it's familiar enough now; thankfully, 7 have enough of their own moody, bittersweet personality to keep you interested.

Other major echoes include the more experimental Burt Bacherach of 'Reach Out', especially in the use of such creamy instruments as the trumpet, the xylophone and God's own, the theremin; Portishead, in the late-night, trip-hop despair of songs like 'Destiny' or 'In the Waiting line'. The overall air of blissed pastoral stretches as far as English folk music on occasion.

Sometimes, like a spoilt, ungrateful child, I have qualms - that this is too 'coffee-table' perfect; tht the singers sound like session musicians; that 'Likufanele' is a bit too WOMAD for my tastes; but the textured, instrumental beauty, even on the vocal tracks, smothers any doubts. Reminds me, for some reason, of a brighter summer day in the 1970s.

...Except for the fact it is Simply Amazing! Its difficult to even describe the style of music at hand here - chill-out, lounge, trance, with traces of jazz, classical, and pop music throughout. Zero 7 takes you from porno music to polished, sultry and sinful to sweet and smooth within tracks and within the album. No matter what kind of music you listen to, "Simple Things" will surely relax your mind and your soul as you just take in all of the delicate yet complex songs arranged.

There are a number of styles explored on the album, which can be categorized in two large subdivisons - with vocals and with out. The vocal songs mainly feature male singer Mozez who stars on the albums opening disco-lounge track "I Have Seen", the absolutely amazingingly mysterious title track, and the sultry ballad "This World".

The two female vocalists are quite similar sounding, as noted on the stunningly addictive "Destiny" where they share lead vocals. The sound of Sia Furler and Sophia Barker's voices is accented softly with both a British sound, and almost a southern twang, but no worries their voices are like liquid on all the songs they sing. Furler returns on one of my fave tracks on the album "Distractions" a sweet love-ish ballad, while Barker is given the slightly weaker "In The Waiting Line" which shows the difference in the two girls voices as they are back to back, although Barker recuperates on the closing track "Spinning".

Within the non-vocal tracks the guys that make up our beloved band in question experiment with 1970's synthesized porno beats and keyboard sounds, mixed with smooth bass, acoustic guitars, and elegant strings, and of course that "air" sound that has led them to be labelled as "british air". But if that doesn't sound appealing trust me it is - I'm not a fan of music with out vocals but this album wouldn't be complete without Zero 7's delves into the instrumental and vocal-track worlds. Of course there are a few exceptions to the general sounds they use, including the Semi-lyrical African masterpiece "likufanele" sung by the Philanai Mothers and mixed over a xylophone (i think) driven sound. Another exception is the track afterwards, "End Theme" which is rightfully titled as it sounds very much like a song you'd find in a movie score. A beautiful and energetic, almost regal arrangement of strings is what you'll find here, and is another one of my faves on the album for its uniqueness alone, I'm proud of the guys for taking a chance and putting this song on the album.

The best thing I can say to you at this point is to definitely buy this album, if just to give it a listen, because after hearing the opening strains of "I Have Seen", the vocals of Furler and Barker, or the smooth tones of any of the instrumental tracks you will be so hooked on this album! Its great to play as background music during a dinner with friends, or when you are stressed and enjoying a drink after work, or even just to play in the car - works well for rainy or sunny days. I suppose the most amazing part of it is how simple the songs appear at first glimpse - but when examining the layers and the beauty in each track, you'll begin to realize your feelings for this album are anything BUT simple.

I won't lie here: I origianlly came into contact with this music because i was looking through one of my friend's music collection on Itunes and thought the name Zero 7 sounded interesting. I know it's a bad way to choose, but the guy had good taste and too many artists to go through them all. So I listened to it and it took me less than 10 mins to get hooked on everything written by this group. I loaded it on my player and took on Spring Break to ski- and literally the entire time this is what was playing. I don't do that often. I listen to a lot of different music and rarely listen to the same thing non-stop for more than a day. I just don't know what to say. This music is addictive. The melodies/harmonies are so relaxing. They just make you want to sit there and contemplate life.

THE SOUND...
is sort of somewhere between lounge, jazz, electronica, etc. It's all around mellow, but never boring. It's soothing, but never "smooth." It's beautiful, and should not be dismissed as another silly chill-out album.

THE VOCALS...
are wonderfully uplifting and beautiful. The band has several singers... some females, a male, and some songs have no vocals. The diversity of the album makes it stand out from all the past albums of 2001. Sia's vocals alone make this entire album worth it. "Destiny" is a beautiful song ... i just can't get enough of.

THE INFLUENCES...
Of course it's been compared to Air's Moon Safari. I can't say that i prefer one over the other. There is a definite similarity (compare "All I Need" to "Destiny"... a STRANGE resemblance)... but they still each maintain a different feel. I would not dimiss Zero 7 as a rip-off of Air, but rather another successful attempt in the same genre.

I really love this CD... it's relaxing and uplifting both at the same time. Check it out...

What an incredible album! This is what happens when beauty, bliss, and zen collide. I purchased this CD the week it was released and still listen to it constantly. This album is downtempo electronica at its best, and yet it is so much more. The music is beautiful and lush, wrapping around you, not unlike slipping into a warm bath on a cold winter day. The most well known songs from this album, "Destiny", "Distractions", and "In the Waiting Line" are particularly beautiful.

While there are some gorgeous, sparer soundscapes here and the musicianship is flawless, the real standouts are the incredible vocalists that Zero 7 has chosen to translate their music. Mozez, Sophie Barker, and Sia Furler are revelations, particularly (for me) Sia Furler - check out her two solo albums under the her first name only.

Pick this one up, if you haven't already, along with their second album "When It Falls", which is essentially more of the same beautiful sound, using the same vocalists - with the addition of Tina Dico.

I am very anxiously awaiting their third album - anyone heard when that might occur?