10.20
1. Just A Friend Of Mine 2. Lonely By Your Side 3. More Than Ever 4. Saturation 5. Take You Higher 6. Witness 7. Lust Forever 8. Memory 9. We Won't Break 10. Thing Are What They Used To Be 11. Blue Sea 12. Live In My Head
Zoot Woman (London, UK)
(2009) LP – Things Are What They Used To Be (ZWR)
Electronica / Dance / Synthpop / Electroclash
Adam Blake (Drums, Keyboards)
Jonny Blake (Lead Vocals, Guitar)
Jasmin O’Meara (Bass, Vocals, Synth)
Stuart Price (Vocals, Programming)
(Zoot Woman showing off one of their new tracks)
Zoot Woman are an Electronica band from London, UK. Their two previous works, Zoot Woman (2003) and debut Living In A Magazine (2001), are among my favorite albums of all time. They have crisp and airy vocals, buttery smooth electro beats and really inspiring synth melodies. During Zoot Woman’s six year hiatus, the players have been remixing Madonna, Scissor Sisters, and Felix Da Housecat. Now they’re back with the new house infused Electro Pop album, Things Are What They Used To Be, like the Zoot Woman of old with even slicker production skills.
‘Just A Friend Of Mine’, ‘Lonely By Your Side’ and ‘More Than Ever’ have their classic sound with pumped up beats and beaming dance floor energy. They all sound like they were made to be huge chart slaying singles.
On ‘Saturation’, a six minute slow build to Electro House heaven, they stray from their pop sensibility and indulge in an all out body shaker. It starts with a lone bass hit and simple guitar line, which are manipulated into a soothing groove. The groove begins to gain momentum and finally snowballs into this ace house beat that gives and gives.
Track after track they just smash it! Zoot Woman are on a bigger scale than before and now they’re connnected. It will be interesting to see if they break into mainstream consciousness or continue to be one of the best of the underground.
Cool like: Cut Copy, Junior Boys, La Roux, Miike Snow, Simian Mobile Disco, Van She, The Whip, Fischerspooner, Justice, MSTRKRFT, Chromeo, Calvin Harris
