After I reviewed 2018’s ‘It’s Only Natural’ earlier in the year, I was then asked if maybe I would like to listen to their 2013 release ‘Shorts’ as well? I am always a glutton for punishment and added it to my highly stressed and straining review list, and I am glad I did. The concept behind this album according to songwriter and singer Zan Burnham, was to bring together 13 songs which he felt were more like musical screenplays than “just” songs, and then to put them all in one place as film festival. He also did not pull back from getting a few people involved either, and the end result features some 19 musicians which allowed him to utilise many different instruments on different songs to create different moods and styles.

It is quite an eclectic album, moving in many different areas, and while I likened him to Todd Rundgren on the newer release, I do not think that is really the case here. In many ways this reminds me more of David Byrne at his most magpie-like, bringing in contrasting styles and fashions as we move from folk to almost classical and then through to reggae! “Days of Our Lives” in some ways feels totally out of keeping with the rest of the album, yet in others it is right in sync. This is an interesting and intriguing release, but I don’t think it has the quite impact and finesse of ‘It’s Only Natural’, which is still the one I would recommend to those who have yet to come across Zan Zone. But if you enjoy that and then want something more fractured and eclectic then this is worth seeking out.

Rating: 7/10

Links:
https://www.zanzone.com/