Welcome back Zero 7 who, true to form, return with another belter of an album in the form of The Garden. With a diverse range of tunes and tracks, the albums is their best offering yet.
The album opens with the mellow Futures, and is followed promptly by the excellent Throw It All Away, an upeat tune about being free of the materialism of money, or at least that’s impression I got. It could just be about gambling; whatever it’s about, it’s a brilliant track.
Seeing Things is another enjoyable track with new age beats as well as a throw back to sounds of the past, offering itself as an instrumental interlude.
The Pageant of the Bizarre is another favourite track of mine, and I’ve no doubt it will become a favourite for many others too, with it’s soulful lyrics and beautiful music.
You’re My Flame is definitely one of the hippest tracks on the album, and another good one at that. It’s a mix of old and new sounds once more, with catchy lyrics and an even catchier tune.
Things slow down quite a bit with Left Behind, a track that wouldn’t be out of place on a gorgeous summer’s day out in the garden, or on a beach. It’s simply too short for my liking, however, offering gentle lyrics and music, but providing itself only 1.15 minutes.
The pace continues on a slow, though it speeds up a tad, with Today, yet another track with a throwback to the past with a modern twist. It’s perhaps the most average track, but has some cool lyrics. It’s average only by the quality of the other tracks, and therefore shouldn’t be considered as rubbish. It’s better than most tracks on most other average albums. If that makes sense, I hope it does.
This Fine Social Scene is a little depressive and a bit downbeat for a Zero 7 track offering lyrics of despair than hope. It’s a rare track in that sense, but it’s no less excellent for it. It’s probably their darkest track, and that’s something I never thought I’d hear I’d say myself say about a Zero 7 track.
Your Place offers another slow track, a gentle, breezy track that glides over the sense. It’s very much a chillout track throughout, though it does have a jazzy pick up a few miniutes into the track. With a few opening lyrics, the rest of the track is very much another musical interlude.
If I Can’t Have You contains many dark tones to it, and the track does echo some eerie guitar playing throughout. Lyrically it’s not quite upbeat as it is, sort of, well, vengeful and crestfallen. The vocals are excellent throughout, however, and can really make you shiver in delight.
The penultimate track, Crosses, is an upbeat, up tempo track with a positive outlook. It makes a refreshing change, from the darker tones of the previous track, although the lyrics are repetitive, they’re definitely memorable and the music is sublime.
The irony of Waiting to Die, the final track on the album, is not missed. The lyrics are morbid, but the way they’re sung and the music accompaniment is nothing short of buoyant and rosy. Highly bizarre, but enjoyable nevertheless.
All in all Zero 7 are back with a vengeance, offering an album that is easily their best surpassing their previous efforts with ease. I’ve listened to the album at least fifteen times now and I can’t seem to give up listening to it. If you have any sense, you’ll buy the album too.
Verdict: A brilliant album and a return to form for Zero 7.
Track Listing
1. Futures – Zero 7 & Jose Gonzales
2. Throw It All Away – Zero 7 & Sia
3. Seeing Things – Zero 7
4. Pageant Of The Bizarre – Zero 7 & Sia
5. You’re My Flame – Zero 7 & Sia
6. Left Behind – Zero 7 & Jose Gonzales
7. Today – Zero 7 & Jose Gonzales
8. This Fine Social Scene – Zero 7 & Sia
9. Your Place – Zero 7
10. If I Can’t Have You – Zero 7 & Sia
11. Crosses – Zero 7 & Jose Gonzales
12. Waiting To Die – Zero 7