Album's groove-laden tracks feed off emotional vocals.

Grade B

Two guys behind turntables and boards can mean one of many things - DJs and their futile attempt to make crappy dance music.

But the men behind England's Zero 7, producers Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, have produced a rare gem in their soulful and funk-infused debut album, "Simple Things."

Making headway in the music industry, Binns and Hardaker launched their careers as producers, working alongside the likes of the Pet Shop Boys and Robert Plant. In the '90s, the two established themselves as Zero 7, honed their production skills and became known for their remix of Radiohead's "Climbing up the Walls."

From there, they remixed other tracks by Lenny Kravitz and Sneaker Pimps. So, with enough buzz from the British press going into its debut LP, Zero 7 utilized the talents of vocalists Mozez, Sia Furler and Sophie Barker.

"Simple Things" is a very eccentric and eclectic mix of influences, ranging from the groove-laden bass lines, acid jazz-style keyboards and drums and sometimes, horn riffs reminiscent of John Coltrane's "Blue Train" choruses.

Overall, its down-tempo chillout style dominates this album. In the instrumentals, "Polaris" and "Give it Away," melodic keyboards and mid-tempo drum loops will lift the listener onto another train of thought, while the African-themed "Likufanele" dazzles with a gospel-like chorus and its ringing xylophone. And in "End Theme," Binns and Hardaker bring in a string ensemble and flutes to create a climatic montage that would be appropriate in a hip spy movie.

But while the music lays the foundations of the album, the vocals certainly lend "Simple Things" a sense of meaning and purpose - making the album matter.

The tracks, "Destiny" and "In the Waiting Line," stand out like a sound for sore ears, for lack of a better annotation. Furler's soulful voice, reminiscent of a younger and less intense Ella Fitzgerald, shines on "Destiny" as she sings of longing for her missing half in her hotel room.

"In the Waiting Line" showcases Barker's heartbreakingly soothing voice and is just easy to listen to with the combination of acoustic guitar and keyboards. Male vocalist Mozez's painstaking Luther Vandross impression is most prevalent on the title track.

Zero 7 is a band with a lot of work under its sleeve - with "Simple Things," the band is not afraid of using its arsenal of influences to appeal to the ear.


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