Zero 7: The Garden

Herald rating: * *

Those who couldn't get enough of Argentinian-Swedish folkie Jose Gonzalez on his fetching debut Veneer might be tempted by this, the third by the British chill-out duo of Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns. Gonzalez' voice guests on four of the 12 tracks, including an electrosoul fortified version of Veneer highlight Crosses.

If anything, Zero 7's version is unable to increase the sizeable groove of Gonzalez' acoustic original, despite swathing it in synths and backing singers, and on Today, Gonzalez risks comparisons to 70s MOR star Gilbert O'Sullivan.

Much of the rest of the album drifts past in a similar airy waft, never achieving the atmosphere or drive of Zero 7's superior predecessor Simple Things, except on the brass-laden Your Place.

The album's other main voice, Sia Fuller, generates some personality in tracks like the Womack & Womack-ish Throw It All Away, and the baroque pop of Pageant of the Bizarre and This Fine Social Scene.

But the songs don't leave much impression. Blip-happy instrumentals like Seeing Things suggest generic TV soundtracks behind montages of slow-moving sports.

Its chief virtue is delivering a tasteful neutrality that matches the furniture just so.

Label: Atlantic