Zero 7
In the Waiting Line

I’d like to confess this is the first CD I’ve reviewed where I’ve had to battle with cling film to get to the record. That done, I was looking forward to review the much-hyped Mercury Music Prize favourites, Zero 7.

‘In the Waiting Line’, the long awaited single, begins with an ambient-icy feel, with the soothing, yet chilling vocals of Sophie Barker. The Morcheeba-like, gospel-tinged feel warms to you more and more on each listen. Although the piece isn’t exactly musical pyrotechnics, the addition of a Spanish dance mix as track two, with funky underdubs works surprisingly well as a great chillout track. Track three, the live favourite, the wintery ‘Simple Things’, has a Lynden David Hall-style vocal, Spanish guitar and gospel choir. Very cool indeed, inviting you to lie back and relax with your favourite iced drink, on a waterbed, under a palm tree rimmed swimming pool…the end of the track means the end of a short, but sweet daydream…