Simple Things

Zero 7由Henry Binns及Sam Hardaker兩位在倫敦當地錄音室工作的夥伴一起組合而成，九零年代初期他們潛伏於錄音室中，鍛煉各種音樂製作上的技巧，並逐步發表他們改造別人歌曲的混音作品。支撐Zero 7成為“英國Air”的，是他們在電子時代抒情曲中不可救藥的溫情與浪漫。零敲碎打的吉他貝司鼓都融化在鍵盤和弦樂引導的曲調中，輕靈的音符就像是虛構的曼妙曲線。后Trip-Hop節奏與Soul化人聲的結合又是另一種風情。

simple things是zero 7的第一章大碟。混融爵士、靈魂、放克等元素在柔緩的chill-out電音情調中，不刻意地加入歌劇中受靈魂樂影響的女伶歌聲，古典音樂的編曲風格以及帶有迷幻氣息的電子音牆，實在令人不得不讚歎。

Amazon Review:

Zero 7's ability to conjure beautiful lullabies with all the romance of 1960s French pop (as found on their debut LP, Simple Things) would have made them the toast of soundtrack composers and chill-out connoisseurs the world over. Unfortunately, two Frenchmen beat Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker to the title of "masters of comedown cool," leaving the London duo to be forever called "the British Air." And this is fair; the similarities between Zero 7's lush cinematic soundscapes and those of Air's Moon Safari and the Virgin Suicides score are so strong as to sound almost intentional. Nonetheless, their debut is a truly gorgeous album. It has all the tried and tested atmospheric tricks--bleeps and whooshes layered over plodding Fender Rhodes chords, swathes of strings and tender trumpet parps--but it's Binns and Hardaker's languid grooves and the soft melancholy of their melodies that make dream-state instrumentals "Give It Away" and "Polaris" utterly enchanting. The real power of Simple Things, however, is in its songs. As beautiful as the ambient strains are, when laid beneath the seductive vocals of Australian diva Sia on the ethereal "Destiny" or the heart-breaking "Distractions," their potency becomes apparent. --Dan Gennoe

From URB Magazine:

While Zero 7 may have garnered accolades with the UK audience and music press by touching their magic musical wands to Radiohead, Terry Callier and Lenny Kravitz tracks - all variables factoring into a coveted Mercury Prize nomination and other awards for Simple Things - they've been patiently waiting for Americans to chill out to debut their album stateside. And in a time of rattled nerves, this might be the right moment.

Zero 7 (comprised of longtime North Londoner friends Sam Hardaker and... read more

Album Description:

2001 debut full length for dance act described as, 'the British Air', the follow-up to two limited, critically acclaimed EPs. Highlights include the awesome African influenced instrumental passage 'Likufanele', the velvety 'I Have Seen' feat. Mozez & the quiet storm of 'Destiny' feat. Sia. Quango.

1.I Have Seen

2.Polaris

3.Destiny

4.Give It Away

5.Simple Things

6.Red Dust

7.Distractions

8.In The Waiting Line

9.Out Of Town

10.This World

11.Likufanele

12.End Theme

13.Salt Water Sound

14.Spinning