Track Listing

1. Warm Sound
2. Home
3. Somersault
4. Over Our Heads
5. Passing By
6. When It Falls
7. The Space Between
8. Look Up
9. In Time
10. Speed Dial No. 2
11. Morning Songs

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4078 in Music
• Released on: 2004-03-02
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
2004 release for UK down-tempo/soul outfit features 11 tracks including the first single 'Home'. Elektra/WEA.

Amazon.com
Beautifully crafted and produced, When It Falls is a fitting follow-up to Zero 7's 2001 platinum hit Simple Things. Reintroducing several of their debut's guest vocalists, the band continue to meld subtle orchestration, elegant jazz and easy-going West Coast soul and folk, creating a sound so tasteful it makes Morcheeba sound like Napalm Death. The album opens with the appropriately titled "Warm Sound," where long-time collaborator Mozez delivers his spacey soul over a quivering flute and funky keys. Later he reappears for the string-swept lullaby "Over Our Heads." Next up is newcomer Tina Dico who lends the softest of vocals to "Home," where quietly chiming guitars rise to a careful collision of brass, and "The Space Between," a techno-update of 70s folk-jazz. Much the same service is provided by Sophie Barker on "Passing By" and "In Time," which recalls the sweet innocence of early James Taylor. It's left to Sia Furler to add extra color, her slight rasp lending character to both "Somersault" and "Speed Dial No 2." Throughout, the band introduce a welter of instruments and effects, sometimes approaching the psychedelic, though they're keen to avoid an over-technological coldness--the squeak of finger on guitar string is never far away. For fans of Simple Things, it's a real treat. --Dominic Wills

Customer Reviews

Lush, Musical, Emotionally Calming Beauty
One of my favorite CDs, for a long time now. I love to drift in a pool, enjoying small amounts of some calming substance, and let Zero 7 float me away on colorful clouds of beauty. Almost as good as meditation.

Ripping themselves off
2 1/2

Decidedly average follow-up to a warmly received debut, the easy-listening techno outfit decides to virtually mimic the original's success. I do not necessarily need bands to constantly evolve (although it can be nice) but WIF feels like a blatant retread of ST, minus any edge or soul. The vocal songs are worse (except the smartly sung last track) and some of the chord transitions prove songwriting skills to be severely limited, in that the structures parallel those from before to a tee. Only a few instrumental tracks get to even stretch a bit production-wise, breaking a sterile grip from bland electro-pop.

Plods along
Loved "Simple Things" and wanted to love this album, too. I've spun it at least 10 times. Execution is outstanding, vocals are incredible, musicianship is flawless, BUT the overall sound is slow, plodding, less than thrilling. Apologies to all those rating this a 5, but I think the vast majority would at least admit it doesn't measure up to "Simple Things"...so if that's what you're after, keep looking.