(2022) Zero 7 - Yeah Ghost (Bonus Edition)  


Review:
…This Bonus Edition contains 2 unreleased tracks – ‘sYMBOL (Kling edition)’ – the precursor to ‘Ghost sYMbOL’ & demo instrumental track ‘E Sgwers’, plus ‘Methods’ that was only available on the digital release previously. Studio mainstays for well over a decade, Zero 7‘s Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker can wring an expert production from nearly any song, whether it’s synth-based or band-based, instrumental or vocal, unadulterated pop or colored with some other genre shade thereof. Their fourth album as Zero 7 includes all of those approaches, so file it as another in a career of ever-evolving records that have moved them from chilled downbeat into dynamic alternative pop. A dedicated rhythm section appears on half the record, accentuating the feel that this is a band record — albeit impeccably produced — with an array of guests taking vocal turns. As before, the songs are written well and the guest vocalists are selected with care, but they’re usually overwhelmed by the numerous production touches. Each song is a variation on the pop form, whether it’s straight commercial pop on “Mr McGee,” neo-soul on “Medicine Man,” folkie introspection on “Swing,” or starburst electronica on “Pop Art Blue.” The best and most natural blend occurs on “Everything Up (Zizou),” which has a bit of indie guitar over its sheen of electronic pop, with vocals from Binns himself and the most impressive of the guests, Eska (who sings over five tracks total). Though Zero 7 are still not in the same class as Air (or even Phoenix), Yeah Ghost is an enjoyable record that shows them apparently on the way to something more unique. — AMG


         


Track List:
01-Count Me Out
02-Mr McGee
03-Swing
04-Everything Up (Zizou)
05-Pop Art Blue
06-Medicine Man
07-Ghost sYMbOL
08-Sleeper
09-Solastalgia
10-The Road
11-All of Us
12-E Sqwers (Demo)
13-Methods
14-Ghost sYMbOL (Kling Version)


Media Report:
Genre: electronic, pop
Country: London, UK
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits


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