Search - Zero One :: ozOne

Zer0 0ne - oz0ne

J. Jury | London | 01/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

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STYLE

Clean, spacey electronic instrumentals. oz0ne is a bright collection of downtempo synthetics that combine layered melodic lines and phrases with programmed beats and a variety of effects and supporting sounds. Guitar chords, disembodied voices - spoken words or strongly effected songs, manipulated samples. The album conveys a sense of liquid simplicity - with uncluttered arrangements, each sound clear and rhythms unhurried. There are jazzy touches, notably track five Flashback, where a lolling bassline and wah wah chords underpin some distinctly un-spacey keyboard improvisations. Beats are lively and varied across this disc - with no attempt to imitate a live sound - peculiar blips and hits woven among more usual percussives - at times fragmenting or muted - constantly shifting.





MOOD

oz0ne maintains the polished techno downtempo tone set up on previous zer0 0ne albums - pure electronic warmth. There is a strongly computerised mood - programmed structures, electrified effects, digitised voices. The suggestion is one of space age exploration, molecular meandering, cyber travel - at times almost isolationist, the listener left alone with the glow of blinking LEDs and the flicker of screens. The strongly rhythmic content harks back to Berlin synth music - but the style is quite different, less European.



ARTWORK

Coming in a sharp digipack, oz0ne is fronted by a blend of techno-organic imagery and binary digits. The figures 0 and 1 run in a broad band across the left hand side of the cover, overlaying a hexagonal grid that works as a window revealing a cluster of three glowing spheres. On the reverse is a timed tracklist laid out on a similar honeycomb design. Opening out into three section we find an inner display that has a repetition of the tracklist on the left; the disc itself central; thanks, credits and label details on the right.



OVERALL

Zer0 0ne delivers a set of eleven digital wonders that show a clear progression of sound from his three previous releases. Having departed briefly for the release of pSy-fI via Spiralight, Kevin Dooley is back with Waveform once more making this his third album with Forest's US based centre of 'exotic electronica' . The approach is familiar - gentle ambient groove with a computerised, spacey aesthetic - previous fans will not be disappointed with this maturing evolution.



WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM

This vibrant album will suit fans of rhythmic synth music - if you enjoy digital electronica with strident melodies and liquid clarity this might well appeal to you. Why not try the samples on the web site.

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Outstanding Electronic Music

Terrence | ventura, US, Canada | 09/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I stumbled upon this artist because of links to the Austrian dub jazz group Tosca. The music is somewhat remniscent of Tosca, with very creative use of a wide variety of sound dubs. Also reminded me of Pink Floyd. It is almost entirely instrumental with very few vocals. Although it might be too electronic for some, I enjoyed it very much. I liked it better than Zero7, Air, Bonobo, and Blue Six and the style is somewhat similar to these groups."

Best Zero One

Ian Mitchell | Santa Cruz, CA United States | 01/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Best Zero One yet. I am a huge fan of Zero One, and this is their best album yet. Of course every body has different tastes so let me explain. This is their most grooveable, danceable album yet. Tunes are more upbeat, and the tracks are even more technical, without being overdone. This keeps this album from being repetitious as so much electronica can be. If you are in to downtempo electronica you will love this one."