Futures signals the welcome return of the lush sounds of Zero 7 and the first offering from their forthcoming third album The Garden, which is set to hit the shelves in May. Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns have coaxed Jose Gonzalez, still riding the crest of the wave created by the gorgeous Heartbeats, into lending his vocal talents to the single, and he is a perfect fit for their laid-back style.
The song blends folk, pop and electronica in a chilled-out mix that, despite being less than four minutes in length, takes in some interesting changes in direction. There are synthesiser solos, a minimalist dance section towards the end and then an extended final note reminiscent of the old BBC Darts music.
Zero 7 look set to edge further ahead of French chill-out rivals Air with their latest album which, if this single is a standard-setter, will continue their rise from the excellent When It Falls of two years ago. The band hit the road in May for a tour of Britain and could well turn out to be one of the sounds of the summer.
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