Derek Forbes and Anni Hogan bring a great big service of talent to the plate

I think I was neck deep in my second ever 30 Albums/30 Days thread when I caught wind of Zanti; the new project by Derek Forbes and Anni Hogan. Forbes will be known by his “god of bass” reputation from his Simple Minds days to anyone who frequents PPM, and Anni Hogan has a cherished place in my Record Cell with her keyboard contributions to the imperial EMI period of Marc Almond’s solo career which I can never quite get past, even though I should. It’s past time to discuss this here, so let’s get to it.

Right up front, I’m of the opinion that Forbes has frittered away his vast talent in a series of dead-end jobs after getting ejected from the Simple Minds airlock in 1985. X-S-M the “Ex-Simple Minds” band with Brian McGee and Mick MacNeil. Playing bass I could not hear on the dull, second Propaganda album. Re-recording a solo album made of Simple Minds tunes. Hosting a talk radio show in Los Angeles. Getting roped back into Simple Minds for a time, yet not being allowed to write material.  Playing bass in Big Country! All of these were beneath him. But this… this sounds promising.

Downwards | UK | CD | 2018 | ZANTI01

ZANTi: Broken Hearted City UK CD [2018]

1. Scream Machine
2. Lonesome
3. Will You Be Mine
4. Head Sounds
5. Planet Sweet
6. Broken Hearted City
7. Paris Vortex
8. Universe Of Love

So Hogan and Forbes met at a sci-fi film festival in 2015 and that sparked the notion of collaboration. FOrbes cribbed the name from the legendary “Outer Limits” episode and that was that. The two played everything, and they both sang. In some ways, this is exactly what an album made by the groove architect of Simple Minds imperial period and the player who allowed Marc Almond to indulge in his Scott Walker aspirations would have made but I never would have predicted exactly how this gelled to achieve that effect. Hogan and Forbes shared vocal duties here and come close to achieving some sort of Post-Punk Lee Hazelwood/Nancy Sinatra vibe that just rocks for days on end! Proof below.

This is a track that unites not only the gorgeous siren vocals of Ms. Hogan [she sounds ready for Bond theme duties…] and a honey-drenched melodic sensibility, but also the metronomic krautrock power of the almighty Forbes for an unbeatable musical synthesis.

But Mr. Forbes also takes lead vocals on these songs. His turn at the mic delivers material that veers towards the same sort of manly, yet vulnerable crooning that made Stefan Emmer’s “International Blue” album project such a hit with me a few years back. His nuanced vocals were a surprising delight here.

Sterling music, and I need to get it into the Record Cell in all due haste. More, please, from ZANTi, who have their album out now on Downward Records.

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