Faithless - Outrospective

Having more than established themselves through previous releases Insomnia and Sunday 8pm, and revealed more of their personality and influence through the recent Back To Mine compilation, Faithless (Rollo Armstrong, Sister Bliss and Maxi Jazz) now release their third album entitled Outrospective. Sister Bliss has referred to this new collection as being ‘a really different sound’ and ‘a lot less introspective’ to the previous releases, hence the album’s title. The album does possess a traditional Faithless sound, but along the way explores new territory for the trio, more than evident with the single ‘We Come 1’. A House driven pulse provided by Sister Bliss, an electro chord structure that patiently waits before appearing late in the piece and the indicative vocal sentiments from Maxi Jazz reveal a new vibrancy for the group. With previous releases wearing a melancholy tag, the euphoric feel of the single, along with the stunning Crazy English Summer and the Dido featured One Step Too Far, show how Faithless have evolved and how superbly they capture the dreamy synergy between sadness and mad delirium.

Layering Maxi’s vocals (reminiscent of an early Tricky) over a multitude of soundscapes is clear indication of the creative genius Faithless possess, with Not Enuff Love, One Step Too Far and Giving Myself Away all utilizing his soft, yet dark, tones and maximizing their impact. His duet with a distorted Dido on One Step Too Far results in a captivating melting pot of sentiment and his mellow organic rap of love lost, love spurned in Not Enuff Love is intricately juxtaposed by the tracks luscious grooves and enlightening melodies. Also featured is Maxi’s ode to his hero - the emotion-charged dedication Muhammad Ali, containing the overwhelming line “Love of self born simply out of love for you”.

I was transfixed and subsequently fell in love with gorgeous Zoe Johnston as soon as I heard her dazzling voice on the charming Crazy English Summer. New to the Faithless stable, she adds a delicate sweetness to a sultry, mellow tune as well as providing vocal accompaniment to Evergreen and Liontamer. The latter is dank and dark but full of soul with the heartfelt line “no-one can be the course of your content – it lies within” reaching out to inspire.

Elsewhere, the aptly tilted Tarantula beats to a tribal drum, with a heavy bassline, a rousing rap from Maxi, strong percussion and delving chords / frantic beats from Sister Bliss. The determined, cry to the masses, opener Donny X develops into obscure but intense headspace with an indicative Faithless sound and Machines R Us is a disjointed electro-chemical composition.

This is a stunning release that has not had a rest since I got my hands on it. I cannot recommend it enough.