I just heard Simple Things last week. It took me one listen to realise that it was spine-chillingly, mind-numbingly good. Though not a classic it is one hell of a listening experience and is gorgeously chilled while remaining fluid and interesting. One minor gripe: the singer on ‘I have seen’. Awful lyrics (‘over theeeeere, people staaaaaaare’), and his voice is an acquired taste to say the least. That aside the CD is a stunner.
Predictably, due to one or two soundalike moments, Simple Things has been compared to Air’s Moon Safari. Moon Safari is an excellent album, but I don’t think it is on the same plane as Zero 7’s debut. Maybe it’s just because they are French, but I think Air have a certain kitsch value, and their style is rooted very firmly in what would be classed as ‘electronic music,’ which means it lacks the subtly hip-hop influenced, attention-grabbing jazz vibe which Zero 7 have perfected on instrumentals like ‘Polaris’.
Air make great background music; Zero 7 make all round stunning stuff.
Am I wrong?
Zero 7 are ok but i’d hardly call their album a classic, classic albums have a real impact, they change peoples perception of music, the herald new eras of music, they inspire, they have real atmosphere and depth and “take you on a journey”. Simple Things simply doesn’t do this. it does it’s job as chill out album but it does advance much beyound AiR.
Erm, Macca. If you read my post more carefully you would have seen that I qualified my enthusiasm by saying “though not a classic…” rendering half your post eloquent but irrelevant.
I disagree with you in the way you class Simple Things as chill out music and nothing more - how can you fail to be moved by the instrumental perfection of ‘Polaris’? But at least you agree Zero 7 have more depth than Air. Good to see.
I haven’t yet heard all of Zero 7’s album so I’ll delay judgement but I am going to come to the defence of Air. Moon Safari is not too kitsch to be taken seriosuly at all and I hear too often the criticism of it that it’s just background music or just electronic music which sounds nice but shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Kitsch sometimes works admirably and intelligently as with Air or it doesn’t as with something like the film “The Avengers.” I think that there’s a lot to Moon Safari that is missed if you reduce it in such a way. They’re not just ‘nice songs’. The album tells a hell of a lot about human experience and life as it is, accurately recognised. And this may sound like a strange comment but it works so well because they’re French. Moon Safari is SUCH a French album I can’t stress that enough. It is so evocative and atmospheric, in short it is brilliant, classic in fact, and it will be remembered for a long time. I think that the comparison between Zero 7 and Air is a fair one and not the result of “one or two soundalike moments.” Both groups are influenced by French pop music and Zero 7 are undoubtedly influenced by Air. What I have heard of them is fucking good though.
Fair point Alex. And you are probably right to say that Zero 7 were influenced by Air, but I do not think that this influence extends beyond the superficial. In fact, I am pretty sure of this, because I think that Air are deeper than Zero 7 in terms of their lyricists and lyrics. As you say, the French are more into their philosophy than the British.
When I was discussing the kitsch value, I was talking in instrumental terms. Zero 7 take up the legacy of the jazz greats and bring them bang up to date. Air’s music veers towards electronica, which I do not like as much as I like jazz. It’s one of those subjective things, I suppose.
Anyway, whichever you prefer, you should check out Cinematic Orchestra’s ‘Every Day.’ It is a stunning example of nu-jazz and Ninja Tune’s supremacy at the forefront of cutting edge music - hence my Ninja avatar - quality!
Just discovered Air but I’ve been a huge fan of Zero 7 for many years. I hear such an obvious influence from Air that when I first heard them, I thought Zero 7 had changed their name. Both artists incorporating the 60’s trumpet vibe is nostalgic and refreshing at the same time. I prefer Zero 7’s use of vocals and their funk influences but notice a more classically trained stream coming from Air. Zero 7 also seems willing to take more risks musically, lyrically they are certainly more risque.
i stumbled upon this thread because air made me think of zero 7, making me re-listen to “simple things”.
i don’t know which is best, but zero 7 (which i’ve listened to often before) always made me think of pretty good background music.
i paid attention to air only recently and i find its sounds more poetic, referring to a more personal imaginary than zero 7.
yeah, and i agree with alex that air is so french and that’s what gives their sensitivity and charm.
zero 7 sounds like a musicians collective (i may be wrong, of course), air like an artist creating short personal electronic songs.