Zero 7 - This Fine Social Scene

To say I've been anticipating a new release from UK's Zero 7 would do an injustice to my wonderment at how hit and miss I find their music. When The Garden sees stateside release May 22nd, the world of music will have turned 180 degrees from where it was when they released Simple Things, still one of the finest downtempo CD's ever recorded. In 2001, the album's evocative blend of neo-soul and folk revived the genre leaving a mark by which others, and seemingly Zero 7 themselves, could not follow. The inclusion of their music on the now-certified-staple of pasteurized youth culture, the soundtrack for the movie Garden State, brought them greater accolades and deserved attention. Unflapped by the riches and fame, the duo came with their follow-up release, When It Falls, an album that hummed along with a quiet beauty but lacked the alluring poptopic nuances of its predecessor. I was disappointed.

Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns inventive marriage of space rock, deep soul and mellow groove making bear particular notice on this collection because of what remains missing. Fans of Simple Things will, once again, find themselves at a loss when trying to connect with this new series. However, Zero 7 probably doesn't care one way or the other. In fact, they may yet adopt legions of new fans by re-orchestrating the pieces of what is, at its essence, their endless and diminuitive search for their lost inspiration. As Zero 7 discovers themselves cousin to the french duo Air, so they tend to borrow from them occasionally while never exactly copying them. I am fascinated by their struggle for focus, and I'm recommending you hear this record. The Garden is not anything like an earth-shattering release. But I'm going to listen to it and keep hoping for it to turn me inside out.