Zero 7’s third disc follows suit with the first single’s title and “throws it all away,” rebooting their electronic sound in such a way that most fans will still find what they love and newbies can drop by and find something they like in the new up-tempo mix. The vocalists have mostly all been thrown away too, with veteran Sia Furler joined now by Jose Gonzalez and Henry Binns, one of the two artists that make up Zero 7 proper.
The album begins with Jose Gonzalez’s “Futures,” a distinctly different track for Zero 7 with enough ambient elements inside the retro groove to make it recognizable, yet with a faster tempo than most Zero 7 past. The disc continues with “Throw It All Away,” the duet featuring Sia Furler, the only returning vocalist from their previous two discs. The sped up tempo continues, and with Sia’s gorgeous voice this track is sure to join the other Zero 7 classics such as “Destiny” and “Speed Dial No. 2.” The absence of Sophie Barker and Tina Dico is noticeable in the vocals and definitely detracts from the disc as a whole, as the contributions of Gonzalez and Binns up the male presence and lose the gorgeous melodies Barker, Dico, and Furler could contribute to a chill out groove.
The album continues with the standard Zero 7 instrumental, only with a funkier than ever before groove this time that displays the new pep in Zero 7’s step. Sia picks up with the classically fun “The Pageant of the Bizarre” and the phenomenal love song “You’re My Flame,” which proves that even picking up the pace, Zero 7 is still a standout electronic act.
A short vocal interlude later, “Today” starts up the end portion of the disc. While the track is enjoyable, the drowned out, retro-cool vocals are a bit too cliché for the moment and detract more than they contribute. Without the instrumental power on a few of these tracks they are rather forgettable, making the disc the least perfect of the three albums so far, which is still saying a lot, and still far beyond most of what is out there.
The album wraps up with “The Fine Social Scene,” another Sia carried track, the instrumental “Your Place,” Sia’s yearn on “If I Can’t Have You,” and the danciest Zero 7 track to date with Jose Gonzalez’s newly interpreted “Crosses” (a track of his own). The disc wraps with the oddly dark, yet upbeat “Waiting to Die,” Sia and the disc’s final track.
The disc is a must for Zero 7 fans with a new direction that is truly intriguing. Sia’s contributions are the highlights, with her voice juxtaposing the new Zero 7 electronica up-tempo chords magically. The absence of the vocalists who helped establish the band is definitely noticeable, but with the growing pains inherent in a third album release (particularly in this genre), this disc is sure to offer a few classic tracks to the band’s repertoire and make fans’ mouths water for more. |