Zero 7, a group comprised primarily of two former studio producers,  British duo Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns eased onto the scene with a fresh, masterpiece of a first album entitled “Simple Things” in 2001.  If you don’t have that one you should consider changing this.  This was the heyday of the “Chill” movement and “Simple Things” may be the best example of how to chill and yet remain stimulated enough not become irritated by tedium, ever made.  But - we focus on their second release “When it Falls” 2004, because it is also good and it has wound up being played in our store perhaps more than it’s superior predecessor.

When one listens to the opening song “Warm Sound” — one cannot help but conjur the pink-orange glare of a setting sun.  There is a lifting and a lowering that is undeniable. It is anti-climactic yet you find yourself satisfied enough to let it play. As the album persists, the climax never delivers, but you realize that you are actually listening to a warm sound. The rest of the album is similar… gently hip.  It is first rate chill record without a doubt.

Why does ‘When it Falls” get more HighStreet airplay than “Simple Things” ?  It is lesser known, therefore more exotic to our audience and in terms of background music, meaning music that lets you read a book, entertain and invite discussion, dine, think and oh yes…shop,  “When it Falls” is simply perfect for that.  It will relax the very tense and gently uplift the down-trodden - interfering with nothing while doing it.

What the heck, just buy them both.

HighStreet