(Music) Zero 7: "The Garden"

Zero 7, of Garden State fame, has once again proven that they are a versatile and talented duo whose guest vocalists almost always blend perfectly with their beautifully composed pop music. On their latest release, "The Garden," Sia Furler and Jose Gonzalez take over the majority of the vocal work, and they do so with the talent and grace that we have come to expect from them as artists.

It should go without saying that Sia's solo album "Colour the Small One" is one of the best albums of recent memory, yet with such presence, she still manages to maintain her mellowness and compliment the music of Zero 7 in a flawless manner. This can be seen perfectly on "The Pageant of the Bizarre," where her soulful vocals flutter throughout the track, only to crescendo to her climactic declaration, "Take a chance on me!" It's as beautiful as it is passionate, and a definite standout track on "The Garden." Jose Gonzalez's vocals have a very similar effect to the listener. His trademark sedentary voice flows effortlessly throughout the songs that feature him, especially on "Today," probably the album's strongest song in composition, melody, and attractiveness.

What Zero 7 has accomplished on "The Garden" is truly phenominal. They have crafted an album that is so mellow that you don't even realize that it's had an effect on you until it slowly starts to seep its way into random moments throughout the day. At the same time the album is truly dynamic, encorporating the best of soul, jazz, folk, pop, and indie rock into a tight, cohesive collection that is over before you want it to be. Though seemingly negative, this actually warrants the inevitable repeat listens that will undoubtably follow. I have been struck by this album, and it would not have received the following rating if it had not. This is a very awesome experience!

Recommended for fans of music (If you don't like Zero 7, you don't like music. Plain and simple.)

Key Tracks:
1. "Futures"
2. "Throw It All Away"
3. "The Pageant of the Bizarre"
4. "Today"
5. "Your Place"

5 out of 5 Stars

Buy It!