When It Falls

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

Barnes & Noble

You may not know the names Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns, but chances are you've heard the seductive grooves of their musical imprint, Zero 7, emanating from a cool café, club, or boutique. Their debut album, 2001's Simple Things, gave down-tempo dance music a wider appeal, instilling the duo's sinewy rhythms and Air-y synths with a smooth soul, courtesy of vocal contributions from Sia Furler, Mozez, and Sophie Barker (the voice on the trippy single "Destiny"). For their follow-up, Hardaker and Binns don't fix what ain't broke: All three singers return, as does the London pair's seamless blend of synths, slithery beats, and jazz-tinged live instrumentation -- fans of Norah Jones will dig the organ solos on retro-daubed tunes such as "Somersault" and the meditative "The Space Between," a showcase for the knowing vocals of newcomer Tina Dico. While the disc boasts a consistent and compelling vibe, Hardaker and Binns -- onetime remixers for Radiohead and Lenny Kravitz -- work with some variety within their chosen mood, from the synth-drenched, mostly instrumental "Look Up," which casts them as the heir to producers such as David Axelrod, to the spare "In Time," where a delicate web of sound, chiefly acoustic guitars, forms a backdrop for Barker's dreamy singing. "Take some time, just hang around a while," she beckons, and the easygoing songs, enchanting singers, and graceful production on When It Falls make it hard to disobey. Lydia Vanderloo

All Music Guide

Downbeat acts proceed down the middle of the road at their own peril. While such a path may guarantee them a lucrative career in Starbucks outlets and on crossover compilations, the onset of advanced musicianship and mature songwriting often comes at the expense of artistic ability (see the steady downward fall of Groove Armada for an example). Zero 7, one of the few acts following in the wake of Air that had the talent to match, debuted with a record (Simple Things) that featured some of the warmest, most mellifluous tracks heard in electronic music since Moon Safari. When It Falls, their second record, finds the duo largely sticking to the same formula, with all the sinewy basslines and languorous vocals that follow along. As before, Zero 7 is more of a band than most downbeat acts, with credits for bass, guitar, and drums plus keyboards, brass, flute, and strings. Much of the record is nearly perfect downbeat, and the productions of Zero 7 main men Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns mesh perfectly with the instrumentation -- so well, in fact, that the record threatens to sink into a nether region of pop music that's both flawless and harmless, more adult alternative than electronic pop. There's nothing wrong with that prospect, but when a downbeat act begins to emulate a pop act, the situation practically demands developed songs and tighter hooks. Unfortunately, only a few tracks here meet those criteria. Fortunately, though, they are beautiful indeed. On "Home," new addition Tina Dico summons the downy, pastoral yearning that's become de rigueur for downbeat female vocalists, and the returning Sia Furler shines on a track ("Somersault") that's simultaneously spacy and down-home. Sophie Barker, the star of Simple Things' "Destiny," returns for "In Time," one of the sweetest tracks Zero 7 has ever produced. The rest of the record, however, possesses very few of the unburnished edges needed by albums with character or personality. When It Falls reaches a nadir of sorts on "The Space Between," a pleasant song that unfortunately descends into self-parody over the course of its six minutes -- two minutes of which are taken up by an overripe harmonica solo. John Bush