Simple Things

Simple Things is a timelessly classic album and the essential soundtrack to any laidback summer chilling. Zero 7's ability to conjure beautiful lullabies with all the romance of 1960s French pop, as found on their debut long-player Simple Things, made them the toast of soundtrack composers and chillout connoisseurs the world over.

Their debut is a truly gorgeous album. All the tried and tested atmospheric tricks are in play - bleeps and whooshes layered over plodding Fender Rhodes chords, swathes of strings and tender trumpet parps - but it's Binns and Hardaker's languid grooves and the soft melancholy of their melodies that make dream-state instrumentals "Give It Away" and "Polaris" utterly enchanting.

The real power of Simple Things, however, is in its songs. As beautiful as their ambient strains are, it's when laid beneath the seductive vocals of Australian diva Sia on the ethereal "Destiny" or the heart breaking "Distractions" that their potency becomes apparent.

2LP - Double vinyl re-issue mirrors the original release, cut over 4 sides and using the original artwork but pressed on heavyweight 180 gram double vinyl. Cutting is by engineer Kevin Metcalfe using his original cutting notes.

2CD - Double CD Version with 11 extra Tracks. Some of the second tracks have never been made available before - including 3 live sessions from the band's 2002 USA tour from San Francisco radio station KFOG ("Simple Things", "Destiny" and "Waiting Line"), 2 tracks that were only on the Japanese version of the album ("Spinning" and "Monday Night"). The album also contains the band's favorite remixes of the Simple Things singles. Remixers include Photek, Richard Dorfmeister, Idjut Boys and an unreleased remix by Matthew Herbert.