As one of my most oft played disks on my CD is 2001’s Outrospective by Faithless, their latest release No Roots (2004) was another must buy.
On first play, I was almost faithless, as I thought the album was rather more commercial and lightweight than its predecessors. Over the past couple of weeks however, the charms of the album have been growing on me, and I have to conclude that innovative British dance act Faithless have another winner on their hands. Electronic, dance, rap, hip-hop and dub all have a place in the music of Faithless.
The band has a great balance of talent. The deep voiced cool of Maxi Jazz covers the hard-hitting songs and contrasts so well with new band member LSK who has a much gentler voice. The band can also call upon the talents of Dido for any female vocals; her brother, Rollo is also in the band. Sister Bliss has many years experience in the London dance music scene, and is the mistress of the sampling and electronics. Maxi Jazz, Rollo and Sister Bliss together are the main songwriters. Rollo and Sister Bliss completed the music score before bringing in the other band members to start writing the lyrics.
The most immediate song on the album has to be Mass Destruction. No Roots sports two versions of Mass Destruction as its first proper track and the last. These are the original version and the UK hit single mixed by band member Sister Bliss together with P*Nut.
Mass Destruction is a killer single, with its catchy bouncy beat and the thought provoking socially conscious lyrics of Buddhist Maxi Jazz.
Whether long range weapon or suicide bomb
a wicked mind is a weapon of mass destruction…
You could be a Caucasian or poor Asian,
racism is a weapon of mass destruction”
While the remixed version concentrates on the chorus, the original version focuses more on the spoken verses in the song, a stirring song about a boy torn apart when his father leaves home. Maxi Jazz has to have one of sexiest male voices in music, which he uses to great effect in Mass Destruction; it is perhaps a good job for the rest of the male population that he is not the best looking of men.
Title song No Roots is another winner with vocals again from Maxi Jazz and a guest contribution from Dido. No Roots has a far more electronic dance beat, with a long instrumental interlude, and is an intense song about love. While I am not normally a great fan of Dido’s whining, the contrast between Maxi Jazz and Dido is almost perfect.
Another highlight is the two parts of I Want More. Band member LSK takes on the vocal honours on part one. LSK has a far gentler and smooth voice than Maxi Jazz. The song begins as a weary plea against never being satisfied with life until the beat builds up to turn the song into a classic dance anthem for part two. Maxi Jazz and a sampled Nina Simone take vocals for the second part, overall a great six minutes.
Mid album sees Faithless lose their way a little with the inconsequential Love Lies On My Street, and the soul funk of Bluegrass. However, even when they are less than vital, at least Faithless are sharp and to the point. They don’t seem to make the mistake of many dance acts and produce endless monotonous rhythms while losing the listener.
That said, the next track Sweep is a four minute meander into instrumental electronic dance music which kinds of reminds me of a Royksopp left over. This is followed by Miss U Less, See U More, which flows effortless from Sweep. Fortunately, this has Maxi Jazz’s almost Barry White sweeping vocals to bring the album back on track, with a lively electronic dance thing ongoing behind.
Swingers is another great dance track, which I can imagine being excellent played live. Nemo Jones offers a great cutting guitar solo to give the song an edge, and the voice by Maxi Jazz and LSK feels a real part of the music, rather than being a main vocal. I have no doubt that Swingers will be the backing music to an advert before too long.
The band take the pace down a notch with the completely instrumental Pastoral, with its kind of trance/ chill feel. This is one to play loud in the garden.
LSK produces his vocal performance of the album, on Everything Will Be Alright Tomorrow, a gentle but slightly disconcerting song, that builds up the listener for another classic What About Love
I know you so intimately
anger and misery
The reason for my hearts fragility
Maxi Jazz is back again to sing the hard-hitting lyrics, and Sister Bliss excels herself with producing the music.
I suppose with the theme of loving, hating and making up recurring through the lyrics in the album, it was inevitable that In The End should be a musically lush finale with Maxi and LSK providing contrasting tales of children born into luxury and poverty. This is another excellent track.
All in all Faithless have produced a very special beast indeed. The songs are ground breaking in their sheer diversity of influence, but at the same time mainstream enough for a wide range of listeners to enjoy. No Roots must stand as the band's most political statement so far. Although Faithless have sold 6 million albums and 4 million singles to date, they seem strangely sidelined in todays music world. Perhaps it will be No Roots that will finally propel Faithless to the top of the league after a decade around.
Faithless – No Roots -2004-
Intro
Mass Destruction
I Want More (Parts 1 and 2)
Love Lives On My Street
Bluegrass
Sweep
Miss U Less, See U More
No Roots
Swingers
Pastoral
Everything Will Be Alright Tomorrow
What About Love
In The End
Mass Destruction (P*Nut and Sister Bliss mix)
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cr01 asserts his right to be associated as the author of this review -2004-
This review is an entry into spiderkid's Great British Write Off. British music has always been an area of great strength and influence, and it's great to see the tradition continue. To grasp the concept of the W/O toddle along to see spiderkid
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