No.60 - ‘Simple Things’ by Zero 7 (2001)
“When I'm weak I draw strength from you; And when you're lost I know how to change your mood; And when I'm down you breathe life over me; Even though we're miles apart we are each other's destiny…”
I’d never heard of Zero 7 before 2011 but was introduced by a television advert, promoting the 10 year anniversary re-release of Simple Things. The song Destiny was playing and thought “Mrs Temple would love this album”. Since then, it has been treated to the scratched up, battered car CD player treatment.
To those who know me or Zero 7, you may be very surprised to see them featured on my list of all time favourite albums. But relaxing music is sometimes needed and Simple Things is my go to chill out album. Easy listening, not in a repetitive ambient way, but with structure and food to keep the mind at work.
A mix of laid back electronica, piano, synth, strings, wonderfully played acoustic guitars and incredible guest vocalists. Each song is soulful and brilliantly crafted with excellent and emotional chord sequences. The album is mix of instrumentals and vocalised songs; the latter I find more enjoyable. I’m an amateur in chilling and chill-out music so don’t have much to say, but Simple Things just hits the right spot. An incredible album.
Zero 7 formed in 1997 and are made up of studio engineers Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. After spending time on the Honduran island Utila, which contained a bar named Cero Siete, they were asked by Radiohead to remix their song “Climbing Up The Walls”. They called it the Zero 7 mix and the name stuck. Simple Things peaked at no.28 in the UK chart and was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. The album has been released on vinyl, which is in my collection.
Favourite songs - Destiny, This World, I Have Seen, In The Waiting Line
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