Music

When they emerged seven years ago, Zero 7 found themselves filed in the ‘trip hop’ or ‘downtempo electronica’ racks, where they were usually pilloried as the idiot cousins of Air, Stereolab or Portishead. But, beneath the trendy analogue synths and comatose drum loops, Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker always had more in common with those studioholic ’70s rock acts who hankered for ‘authenticity’. Think 10cc for the iPod generation; think Supertramp with ProTools.

Album three sees them come out of the closet and wear their ’70s obsession loud and proud, reversing into a bright new future that sounds, to the untrained ear, not unlike 1973. Take away the squelchy synths from the opening track ‘Futures’ and you have Crosby Stills And Nash; remove the bleeps from ‘You’re My Flame’ and you have ‘Get It Right Next Time’ by Gerry Rafferty. And crooner du jour José González – who guests on four tracks – sounds eerily like Gilbert O’Sullivan. That’s not a bad thing, by the way, and this folksy backdrop quite suits them.
Other highlights include a Philly disco version of González’s own song ‘Crosses’ (which is ironic, as most of his tracks seem to be covers of synth pop songs) and Sia Furler’s delicious jazz waltz ‘Waiting To Die’. Think ELO for gentrified ravers and you’re nearly there.