Customer Reviews

ozOne

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

STYLE
Clean, spacey electronic instrumentals. oz0ne is a bright collection of downtempo synthetics that combine layered melodic lines and phrases with programmed beats and a variety of effects and supporting sounds. Guitar chords, disembodied voices - spoken words or strongly effected songs, manipulated samples. The album conveys a sense of liquid simplicity - with uncluttered arrangements, each sound clear and rhythms unhurried. There are jazzy touches, notably track five Flashback, where a lolling bassline and wah wah chords underpin some distinctly un-spacey keyboard improvisations. Beats are lively and varied across this disc - with no attempt to imitate a live sound - peculiar blips and hits woven among more usual percussives - at times fragmenting or muted - constantly shifting.


MOOD
oz0ne maintains the polished techno downtempo tone set up on previous zer0 0ne albums - pure electronic warmth. There is a strongly computerised mood - programmed structures, electrified effects, digitised voices. The suggestion is one of space age exploration, molecular meandering, cyber travel - at times almost isolationist, the listener left alone with the glow of blinking LEDs and the flicker of screens. The strongly rhythmic content harks back to Berlin synth music - but the style is quite different, less European.

ARTWORK
Coming in a sharp digipack, oz0ne is fronted by a blend of techno-organic imagery and binary digits. The figures 0 and 1 run in a broad band across the left hand side of the cover, overlaying a hexagonal grid that works as a window revealing a cluster of three glowing spheres. On the reverse is a timed tracklist laid out on a similar honeycomb design. Opening out into three section we find an inner display that has a repetition of the tracklist on the left; the disc itself central; thanks, credits and label details on the right.

OVERALL
Zer0 0ne delivers a set of eleven digital wonders that show a clear progression of sound from his three previous releases. Having departed briefly for the release of pSy-fI via Spiralight, Kevin Dooley is back with Waveform once more making this his third album with Forest's US based centre of 'exotic electronica' . The approach is familiar - gentle ambient groove with a computerised, spacey aesthetic - previous fans will not be disappointed with this maturing evolution.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
This vibrant album will suit fans of rhythmic synth music - if you enjoy digital electronica with strident melodies and liquid clarity this might well appeal to you. Why not try the samples on the web site.

I stumbled upon this artist because of links to the Austrian dub jazz group Tosca. The music is somewhat remniscent of Tosca, with very creative use of a wide variety of sound dubs. Also reminded me of Pink Floyd. It is almost entirely instrumental with very few vocals. Although it might be too electronic for some, I enjoyed it very much. I liked it better than Zero7, Air, Bonobo, and Blue Six and the style is somewhat similar to these groups.

Best Zero One yet. I am a huge fan of Zero One, and this is their best album yet. Of course every body has different tastes so let me explain. This is their most grooveable, danceable album yet. Tunes are more upbeat, and the tracks are even more technical, without being overdone. This keeps this album from being repetitious as so much electronica can be. If you are in to downtempo electronica you will love this one.

Not going to write a long review, but I'm a huge music fanatic (of all sorts), and after seeing its rating, listening to the album, and reading the reviews, I would agree that this is an outstanding addition to my collection. Great beats, not tiresome, and head-bobbing without being over-the-top techno. I don't give many 5 stars, but for the electronic music category, this one certainly achieves it. I hope to see a new release...

I was browsing through zero one's works, decided to buy ozone, zero one, and psy-fi. All I can say, Ozone seems to be the culmination of his works. It is number one on my favorites. Impressive art. Thanks Amazon for having it.

I listened to some of Zero One's earlier music online a couple of years ago, and remember really liking it. Based on that, I figured I was OK in downloading the mp3s for ozOne.

After 3-4 listens this one just isn't growing on me. In fact, there are some parts of this CD that are downright annoying to me, mostly in the songs NaNO and AffirmativE. I may be overly harsh in saying this, but some of it sounds like a lot of amateur mid-90s ambient/dance I used to listen to. Production-wise it's fine, but it just comes off as uninspired. It doesn't really take me anywhere.

I still give it 3, because I think a lot of the songs will work nicely mixed in with other songs rather than played through as an album.

Edit - 3/3/2011 : After numerous spins, I'm bumping this up to a 4 star. I've found this CD opened up to me a lot more over time and I frequently add songs to my playlist from here.

This cd is along the likes of Andy Pickford. If you like Tangerine Dream, then this id right up your alley! A must-buy for all ambient collectors.

WaveForm ZeroOne and all involved thanx again for another fantastic CD, one that should be treasured by anyone who has great musical taste. An addition to the Waveform catalog for sure. Love it! A special thanx to Forest for making it happen. May the "Forest Be With You"!