Customer Reviews

When It Falls

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've recently concluded that music is ruining my life. I'm addicted to it, it owns me in the car, wakes me and pushes me into the shower in the morning, even influences what I wear. I have a hard time concentrating on anything of significance when I'm listening to music. And I need to think sometimes!

That's where ambient music could be saving me.

The jury is still out on Ambient, but I have made a deliberate attempt to move away from RnB, Rap, Rock, and most Alternative when I need to really use my brain. Ambient music is now canvassing the background in my home, my office (not ready to let into the car yet), and I'm loving it. It sounds like what you'd hear at a W Hotel in the bar, or at the Redwood Room in San Francisco. Just plain cool. You want to grab a Martini, sink into a deep red velvet couch, and just chill.

Of the dozen or so Ambient bands I researched and listened to, Zero 7 is my favorite by far. This new release is better than their first (Simple Things) in my objective "newbie" opinion. The track titled "Home" with vocals by Tina Dico is one of my favorite new songs, also, Sia Furler delivers one of the juiciest vocals on the album in "Somersault".

I've heard allot of comparisons with the group Air, allot of "who knocked who off" type stuff. I haven't checked them out yet, but after listening to this album, who cares? Zero 7 has crafted a work of art that will have you loving each song at first listen...

...and that's quite a feat. It usually takes at least a few listens to prime my interest.

Hope this helped...

It is distrubing to read fellow reviews of "When It Falls" and continue to find that most reviewers who rated the album sub-standard or poor only did so because Zero 7 used their creative license. This album is not "Simple Things", the artwork and title of this project clearly illustrate this fact. The great writers, artists, and actors/actresses would not have left their impact on society if they always wrote about the same plot, painted the same painting, and always portrayed the same character. I find "When It Falls" to be a superb album filled with the same ear candy and beauty the made "Simple Thimgs" and Zero 7 true geniuses. "Warm Sounds", "Passing By", "Morning Song", and "Home" are among my favorite tracks. For those of you who will continue to measure Zero 7 by "Simple Things" perhaps "When It Falls" is not for you. You may find a class in creativity more beneficial.

It's Christmas time, in Denver. I'm 16 and love the rush of the city. My parents don't. My parents like the country. My parents, I don't even see them anymore. Why? Because I'm Christmas shopping, baby. I've got two sisters, one mom, two friends, and one very cute girl to buy presents for and the mall is an ocean. No, not an ocean, a swarm. Like the merciless locusts that plague third-world countries in their rolling storm cloud, devastating the hard planted crops. Me? I'm taking three steps every second. Move it or lose it, buddy. I'm spinning, turning, sliding and suddenly a rush of calm hits me and for the first time I can feel my heart beat. A thumping throb in my chest and temples, in the pure adrenaline of the seasonal crowds I didn't notice, I was too focused on three steps per second. Why am I changed? Why am I suddenly transformed from Teenage Mutant Holiday Shopper to Zen Master of the Mall? Simple... I just hit the escalator and this baby is so tightly packed that not even I can maneuver it.

That is the feeling you get when you listen to this CD. You've had a busy day, your feet ache, your eyes are strained, Dennis in accounting won't stop asking you out and you've got a zit on your nose. It's been a long week, the dry cleaners messed up again and you are out of suits, the Johnson case just won't close, your kids called you during a meeting because the dog got loose again, and the regular babysitter cancelled because her boyfriend will break up with her if she misses another of his games.

Get in the car. Shut the door. Put Zero7 in the CD player. Close your eyes and let the lush vocals and ethereal melodies clear your mind and just drift for a couple of minutes. Feel no pain with the 'Warm Sound'. 'Somersault' in sand and then eat some ice cream. Find yourself somewhere you can call a 'Home'.

Zero7 - 'When it falls' - Sonic vacation, essential chill, soul escalator.

I have read many critiques of this album in which people complain and dissect the record; they compare it to previous efforts and those of other artists. If you want to be a nasty critic, get in line. If you want a beautiful, bittersweet, downbeat trip-hop album that you will play over and over, get the CD.
Zero 7's "When It Falls" is a masterpiece. The first time I heard it I wasn't thrilled, with only "Warm Sound" and "Passing By" catching my ear. The next time I heard it, it was better... every song complemented the one before and I noticed the album had a mood, a personality all it's own. Vocalists Mozez, Sia Furler, and Sophie Barker all manage to channel the same vibe, which is a laid-back, haunting warm sound. The songs take interesting and original turns, and by the third listen the album had gotten under my skin. I listen to it over and over, and I am impressed and moved every time.
So that's my story... if you're looking to compare Zero 7 to Air (very different) or trying to sub-categorize their musical style in an effort to show off your intellect, you are missing the point. Worse yet you're missing the music. If you own ears, you need this album.
Peace and love...

The helmsmen of Zero 7, Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, got their start engineering and mixing music for groups like Pet Shop Boys, Radiohead, and Sneaker Pimps. Their ear for sweet soul sounds and eye for under-produced trip-hop enticed a host of collaborators to join them for their debut album, Simple Things, an almost unreal work of chillout genius that has since gone platinum.

Their sophomore work, "When It Falls," features some of the same voices found on the first record, as well as all of that record's gentle genius. Bittersweet and beautiful, "When It Falls" shows us that even the softest blow can pack a whallop.

This record's delicate notes blow from winds of change, moving music that is mostly about the beautifully dear delerium to be found both in change and in remaining watchfully still. Tina Dico's delicate vocals color gold and red the autumnal ballads of "Home" and "The Space Between." Sia Furler croons gold summer spirit into the over-green forests of "Somersault" and "Speed Dial No. 2." Mozez's yearning voice gives sweet sap to the springtime blooms of "Warm Sound" and "Morning Song." And the incomparable Sophie Barker chills the soul with her wintery whispers in the dark and delightful "Passing By" and "In Time." It's a pastiche of passions, a rainbow arc of moods, the colorful shattering point between stormy rains and nourishing sun.

An album that strikes the heart without resorting to cheese, that celebrates the sensuality of sorrow and the tug of joy, "When It Falls" proves that maybe the man was right when he sang "everything is beautiful in its own way." At any rate, if anything's beautiful, it's this album.

For fans of new age and soothing, interesting and innovative music Zero 7 fits the bill perfectly. This British band and its style are classified as Downtempo, Trip hop, Ambient music and as Acid jazz, to me they are simply a big mish mash of goodness.

The first time that I listened to this album was while soaking in a hot tub with herbal bath salts. I don't know what melted the stress off my bones better, the hot water or the music, reaching deep within. I was mesmerized, especially the first time I heard the song "Somersault", the music, part ambient, with soft female vocals and melancholic undertones stood out to me in a sea of songs in a long time. The music is cool and relaxing, soothing and warm, sensual and dreamy and still a bit funky. I can always rely on Zero 7 and the magic their sounds produce whether I'm tired or lazy or in the mood for good reading or writing music.

Some songs are sang by men and some by women, a nice combination as they make for a more interesting cd versus those that sound like a constant sting of melody barely changed by any dynamics. Since they use different artists in collaboration on each cd, blending their style with the artists own uniqueness creates a whole new level of higher expectation that always comes through when you buy their CD's.

Related artists for those unfamiliar wth Zero 7 or those who want more of this style would be Air, Thievery Corportaion, Massie Attack, Morcheeba, Tosca, Royksopp, Radiohead, Moby, Underworld, Goldfrapp and Apex Twin just to name a few.

This album is great for taking a bath, getting a massage or simply sitting down with a nice hot beverage and melting stress and winter chills away. Totally beautiful and dearly loved by me, it's one of those albums I would buy for every person I know if I needed a good present in a pinch.

- Kasia S.

I am an avid music buyer collecting (all types of music) at least 10 CDs every month and so far this year "When it Falls" has been one of the nicest surprises. I was blown away by the classy, soulful "Simple Things" as well, I couldn't wait to hear more from Zero 7. Most music in this genere fall into one of two catagories. The more pop-oriented bands like Morcheeba, Frau Frau, Hooverphonic, etc. or the more unusual ones like Stereolab, Spicehouse, Portishead, etc. Zero 7 are a band that has managed to deliver a good album, without pushig out the same old stuff. Their previous album, Simple Things, broke into the mainstream with its straight forward brilliance and unique melodies. Zero 7 is good music period. I wouldn't even call it "Trip Hop" or whatever. It is soothing, R&B-flavored, highly textured music that is most certainly not like Air, which is a common comparison. Very simply put, this is a very good CD.

I love these people that listen to artists because someone told them " it's blah blah" music< insert label. Zero 7 makes fine music. If you want to tag it as "Trip Hop" you're not only missing the point, your'e probably not hearing other good music because nobody was able to label it for you. Zero 7 has offered several very good recordings that blend a variety of musical genres to produce a warm enjoyable sound that is so very much needed in this time of underachievers. Yeah, it doesn't rise and fall with dramatic shifts...that's the point! It's meant to keep an even texture. That's what makes it so soothing. The fact that they're talented musicians making beautiful music puts them in a very small category. But I wont label it.

Comparing "When It Falls" with "Simple Things" appears to be inevitable, which is making this effort from London-based duo Binns and Hardaker sound like "Complicated Things". I gave it a try anyway.

Yes, I was blown away by the classy, soulful "Simple Things" as well, and no, I couldn't wait to hear more from Zero 7 either. So as far as that goes, I'm not any different from other reviewers. I got the new album about a month ago and find my self just not being able to stop listening ever since.

I have read various reviews on Amazon and other websites, and in general it seems people are somewhat dissapointed. I agree that Zero did not overclass their first effort. Can you blaim them? "Simple Things" as a whole was nearly perfect. "When It Falls" is only just great. But a previous reviewer who comes to the pessimistic conclusion that downtempo is dying, obviously didn't give this follow-up a clear listen. Zero 7 has definitely not fallen flat, they have grown and blessed us with yet another beautifully produced masterpiece.

What strikes me most at the start of this album is that songs such as "Warm Sound", "Home" and "Somersault" are built up in a very interesting way and brought to a climax that will make you reach for your rewind-button right away. Have patience though, because there is more...The instrumental tracks "When It Falls"(relaxing and dreamadelic) and "Look Up"(uptempo and uplifting) are certainly not inferior to the ones on the previous album. "In Time" is a country-like song I didn't like at first, but it has grown on me and has become yet another favorite. In fact I could describe every song here, but I think I already made clear that they are all worth listening to.

Last weekend I saw Zero 7 in concert in Paradiso in Amsterdam. From the first moment, when Mozez dropped in with his recognizable soulful voice on "Warm Sound", until the very end where sexy Sia Furler sang the very welcomed "Distractions", Zero 7 had everyone in the crowd jamming and asking for more. What I especially liked is the harmonious way they performed as a band. A magic combination of drums, rhodes, acoustic guitars and electric guitars combined with 4 lead singers and one powerful voice in the background proved Zero 7 is more than just a chill-out hype.

The follow up to Zero 7's "Simple Things" is absolutely fabulous.

The talents of Sam and Henry make a dynamic duo that is incomparable to any out there right now. "Home," "Somersault" and "Speed Dial No. 2" are the highlights of the record. This album is perfect to pop in while entertaining a small group of people, or just if you want to relax...and it's great in the car too. And the featured vocals are stellar across the board in this album. The vocal stylings of Sophie and Sia are so soothing and enrapturing. It's suprising that such a sophisticated combination of musical ideas and vocal talent can come together in an album and acutally gain substantial fame, because usually the famous records are reserved for highly marketable groups that appeal to the masses. I high recommend "Siren Songs" from Gretchen Lieberum - another great combination of seductive musical ideas and amazing vocal talent. And if you don't have "Simple Things" (Zero 7's first album,) it's also a must-have.