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Aug 12, 2010 Web Exclusive By Lily Moayeri

There isn’t more than a maximum of three standout tracks on every Zero 7 album. For the British duo’s retrospective compilation of electronic soul, the unimaginatively titled Record, this provides just the right amount of material to create an excellent greatest hits collection to mark the duo’s 10-year anniversary. Examining Record shows an inordinate number of selections taken from Zero 7’s debut, 2001’s Simple Things, followed by its third album, 2006’s The Garden. But there are conspicuously few choices from the sophomore effort, 2004’s When It Falls and its latest, 2009’s Yeah Ghost. Unbalanced across the duo’s career though Record is, it doesn’t waste the listener’s time by making them trudge through Zero 7’s questionable musical moments. Record sticks with the obvious smashes.

Showcasing almost all the band’s handpicked vocalists, it is apparent on Record that with Sia Furler is where Zero 7 has its greatest successes. The spine-chilling “In The Waiting Line” and unforgettable “Destiny” are excellent examples of this winning collaboration. Not to be discounted are album openers “Futures,” vocalized by inimitable Jose Gonzalez, and “I Have Seen,” vocals courtesy of the criminally underrated Mozez. The digital deluxe edition of Record features a proliferation of remixes, particularly of “Everything Up (Zizou),” “Futures,” and “Destiny” by the likes of Carl Craig and Photek. Record is all the Zero 7 anyone could ask for—all killer, no filler. (www.zero7.co.uk)

Author rating: 7/10