Faithless - Outrospective CDs • Vinyl Records • LPs • Music Albums

are slick, coldly produced, beat-driven grooves filled with synth effects, throbbing bass and insipid rapping, while the other half are "chill room" soundtracks - meditative loveliness that's a little too familiar to be wholly satisfying. Tellingly, even the best tracks on the new disc - "Crazy English Summer" and Dido cameo "One Step Too Far," with their sparse production and haunting vocals - are dead ringers for Everything but the Girl's recent fare. Only the funky "Muhammad Ali" (marred by Maxi Jazz's rapping) pushes beyond formula, hinting at what Faithless' new configuration could be if they'd push beyond their influences and find their own voice.

ERNEST HARDY
(RS 875 - August 16, 2001)

 The thinking clubber's electronic group, this third effort doesn't only possess the classic Faithless sound (thick dance beats overlaid with Maxi Jazz's intimate vocals) in tracks like "We Come 1," but also introduces new styles like the Stax soul of "Muhammad Ali." An appearance from Rollo's sister Dido on "One Step Too Far" only adds to the riches on this quality disc.