Dvar's Zii is a peculiar pop set built from clipped 8-bit tones, dancehall and ragga-style rhythms, and a small pile of hand-played percussion. General Bee handles vocals, drums, tabla and percussion, while Bee Warrior brings keyboards, organs, vibraphone, Commodore 64 sounds and an Atari ST controller. Bee Girl adds guitars, loops and more vocals. The result sounds deliberately synthetic but not weightless, with toy-like electronics rubbing against drums and voices that keep the tracks moving.
Dvar had been active since 1998 when this was released in 2008, though the sessions date back to 2006 at Giant Bee Studio. Bee Svizzl mixed the album and added production, giving the arrangements a focused, compact feel. The tracklist includes two closing remixes, one credited to Dvar and Dizzee Rascal, the other to Dvar, Dizzee Rascal and Capleton. Zii should appeal to anyone who likes pop with odd machinery underneath it, especially chiptune, minimalism and dancehall in unusual proportions. The paid edition is available in FLAC 16/44, ALAC, WAV, AIFF and 320 kbps MP3.
