Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Electric Light Orchestra
Label: Epic Records
Released: 2001
Running time: 43:36
Rating: 4.5/5
»Zoom« is the story of a short-lived but still joyful resurrection of art rock legends Electric Light Orchestra (ELO for short). Their twelfth and final studio album is one of the strangest comebacks in rock history, since »Zoom« was originally conceived as the second solo album from ELO mastermind, cult vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jeff Lynne. After »Balance of Power« (1986), and not counting projects by former members like Electric Light Orchestra Part II, ELO under Lynne’s leadership had stopped being an active band, and their charismatic boss, after his adventure with the supergroup Traveling Wilburys, turned to a solo songwriting and production career. His solid solo debut »Armchair Theatre« (1990), on which he teamed up with two old buddies, original ELO keyboardist Richard Tandy and the legendary Beatle George Harrison, Lynne’s comrade-in-arms from the Traveling Wilburys days, failed to deliver the commercial breakthrough he wanted. So for the next album he took a good ten years, and along the way changed his original plans quite a bit.
The end result was »Zoom«, which only turned into the first ELO album in fifteen years after Bev Bevan (former drummer of ELO, ELO Part II and Black Sabbath), having retired, sold Lynne his 50% share of the rights to use the name ‘Electric Light Orchestra’. On »Zoom« the maestro briefly joined forces with Tandy again as a guest musician, which gave longtime fans hope that the two would successfully carry on the legendary ELO sound, that winning blend of energetic rock from the good old ‘Beatles’ school and tasteful string arrangements. The only ‘real’ band member on »Zoom«, though, was Lynne alone. Everyone else was a guest musician, and besides Tandy the two who stood out most were the legendary Beatles George Harrison on slide guitar and Ringo Starr on drums. Among the guests it’s also worth mentioning the curly-haired American singer and model Rosie Vela, Lynne’s girlfriend at the time, who shone with backing vocals on a few tracks.
The string section, once the big trump card of classic ELO, shows up on only some of the songs, and it’s worth noting that multi-instrumentalist Lynne even tried his hand at playing cello here and there. In an odd way »Zoom« sounds like classic ELO, yet the frequent absence of strings sets it clearly apart from their earlier sonic standards. Some of the arrangements are a bit less pompous and ceremonial than what was typical of this art rock powerhouse in the past, while Lynne’s wonderful knack for weaving magical melodies and unbelievably tasteful choruses remained intact, so »Zoom« contains some of the most hypnotic moments in the career of the legendary musician and producer. Not just because of Ringo and George (for the latter, »Zoom« was one of his last musical outings before his death), but mostly thanks to Lynne’s songwriting and singing manner, the album has a strong ‘Beatles’ flavor and offers a fun hypothesis of how the legendary Beatles might have sounded at the start of the 21st century.
Anyway, no matter how much some fans insist it’s an ELO album in name only, »Zoom« is an excellent achievement in every respect, brimming with Lynne’s perfection as arranger, songwriter, singer and guitarist alike. Not all the songs on the album are equal in quality and appeal, but when Mr. Lynne manages to strike the right balance between a hypnotic melody, subtle, often multi-part vocal lines and ethereal arrangements, the results stand among the best of his entire career. The upbeat »Alright«, the first single from »Zoom« and the only track on the album featuring Richard Tandy on keyboards, with its ‘Beatles-style’ vocal harmonies and energetic guitar work, convinces longtime fans right away that they’re about to get just the right dose of ELO sonic continuity, paired with modern yet excellent production.
The romantic »A Moment in Paradise«, the second single from »Zoom«, with good old Ringo on drums, can safely be filed among the ELO evergreens thanks to its hypnotic melody and shamelessly catchy chorus, so it’s hard to believe that »Zoom« didn’t spawn a single radio hit on release. »State of Mind« had the same, if not bigger, hit potential. Besides rich keyboard arrangements and seductive vocal harmonies it had a boogie rhythmic tinge, which means it recalled certain ELO moments from the late seventies quite a bit. »Just For Love« is a thoroughly traditional ELO ballad, made in Lynne’s trademark songwriting manner, meaning a playful rhythm, a very pretty guitar arrangement and mighty vocal harmonies, all led by an in-fine-form Jeff. The only thing slightly missing here is the string arrangements, which all the sworn ELO traditionalists will often miss on »Zoom«.
»Stranger On a Quiet Street« is one of the best moments on »Zoom«, an insanely catchy, even magical song that earns a special place among the ELO classics thanks to a hypnotic chorus where mighty vocal harmonies mix with ethereal guitar and keyboard arrangements. »In My Own Time«, with its lavish orchestral arrangements and lyrical romance, topped by a verse containing the phrase »Blue Sky«, is a completely traditionalist ELO song. In the middle you can also hear a short spoken bit from Rosie Vela. A somewhat less inspired moment on the album is the blues/boogie crowd-pleaser »Easy Money«, where Mr. Ringo once again pops up on drums in his unmistakable way. Eternal ELO romantics get their fix again with the touching, deeply nostalgic ballad »It Really Doesn’t Matter«, where, mid-way through some bravura singing, maestro Lynne also proves himself an inventive yet unpretentious guitar soloist. »Ordinary Dream«, with its lavish orchestral arrangements and seductive ‘Beatles-style’ melody, with Lynne’s magical vocal once more in the starring role, even sounds a bit like some lost classic from »Out of the Blue« (1977).
The contemplative ballad »A Long Time Gone« features the master George on slide guitar, which means it bathes in ethereal waves of magical atmosphere. The hypnotic vocal melodies are once again masterfully woven, which is no surprise, since Lynne was one of the greatest musical masters in this ‘trade’. »Melting in the Sun«, seasoned with cheerful orchestral arrangements and a mischievous guitar melody, creates an interesting contrast, as it’s a distinctly playful and upbeat effort in which Jeff’s decades-long obsession with the Beatles and the orchestra shines again at full power. »All She Wanted«, steeped in barroom ambience, with George on slide guitar once more, is a less interesting ‘boogie-woogie’ effort, but in the hands of such top-notch musicians it’s still good enough not to spoil the generally delightful shape of »Zoom« as a whole. The melancholic »Lonesome Lullaby«, a hybrid of blues and pop rock, was the closer and, at a little over four minutes, also the longest track on »Zoom«. To be honest, it’s one of the few less inspired moments, which despite its tasteful melodies has a chorus that’s a bit too unhappy-in-love, or, in plain speech, ‘mopey’, compared to what we’re used to from maestro Lynne.
The reissue of »Zoom«, released in 2013, contains two bonus tracks. The solid »One Day«, which had never come out before, was recorded in 2004, while the live version of the classic »Turn to Stone« comes from the one and only live performance of the »Zoom« version of the band. It took place over two nights in the middle of Los Angeles and was filmed under the direction of CBS Television City. This version appears on the live DVD »Zoom Tour Live« (2001) and the live CD »Electric Light Orchestra Live« (2013).
Electric Light Light Orchestra’s return to the active music scene in 2001 sadly wasn’t a success after the tour was called off, but their final studio album, the splendid »Zoom«, was the kind of farewell Jeff Lynne could only have wished for in his sweetest dreams. After the cancelled tour and the unofficial end of ELO, the legendary musician and producer worked on Harrison’s last solo album »Brainwashed« (2002). Lately he’s been active again as a solo artist, as his second solo album »Long Wave« (2012) proves, while, however unbelievable it may sound, he’s reportedly still quietly making plans to revive ELO, as shown by the recent release of »Mr. Blue Sky« (2012), a collection of re-recorded best ELO songs, as well as the aforementioned live album, the only live document of the »Zoom« lineup. Maybe there’s still hope that younger generations will get to experience a close encounter with one of the best groups in British rock history live someday.
Lineup
Jeff Lynne – vocals, backing vocals, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, cello, drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Richard Tandy – keyboards (“Alright”) (original member)
George Harrison – slide guitar (“A Long Time Gone” and “All She Wanted”)
Ringo Starr – drums (“Moment in Paradise” and “Easy Money”)
Marc Mann – rhythm guitar (“Moment in Paradise”), orchestral arrangements (“In My Own Time” and “Melting in the Sun”)
Suzie Katayama – cello (“Just for Love”, “Stranger on a Quiet Street” and “All She Wanted”)
Roger Lebow – cello (“Lonesome Lullaby”)
Dave Boruff – saxophone (“A Long Time Gone”)
Laura Lynne – backing vocals (“All She Wanted”)
Rosie Vela – backing vocals (“Alright”, “All She Wanted”), spoken word (“In My Own Time”)
Kris Wilkinson – orchestral arrangements (“Ordinary Dream”)
Production
Jeff Lynne
Track list
1. Alright
2. Moment in Paradise
3. State of Mind
4. Just for Love
5. Stranger on a Quiet Street
6. In My Own Time
7. Easy Money
8. It Really Doesn’t Matter
9. Ordinary Dream
10. A Long Time Gone
11. Melting in the Sun
12. All She Wanted
13. Lonesome Lullaby
Bonus tracks from the 2013 reissue:
14. One Day (recorded in 2004, previously unreleased)
15. Turn to Stone (live version from 2001)
