Faithless Album: “Sunday 8pm”

Faithless are one of those groups that really don't get the recognition they deserve - here in England, they have released numerous songs, but haven't found the big time. I mean like, for a group with enormous talent, it is surprising. Sunday 8pm really shows what Faithless can do. The album has everything - big beats, clever lyrics, haunting sounds, the lot. There is no song on this album that does not make you smile, think, or tap your feet. We start with "The Garden", a beautiful mix of piano and computer-generated sounds. The album progresses onto songs like "Hour Of Need" and the gospel choir that accompanies it, and "Postcard" with witty words that take you on a three-month journey. The standout song is "God Is A DJ". There can only be one word to describe this song - exhilariting. It is truly that. You have to listen to believe it. To end, we have "Killer's Lullaby", which has to be one of the most haunting songs I have ever heard, following the thoughts of a killer and his search for his prey. If you have heard about Faithless before, whether it be through reviews or previous songs, it would be worth buying Sunday 8pm, if only to savour a taste of brilliance...

It is evident from Sunday 8PM that Faithless are an enormously talented band. Fusing trip-hop, house, hip-hop, trance, pop and world music, they create a truly innovative sound that sparkles out of the speakers in crystal. Rollo, a key member of the group, is Dido's older brother, and she herself features on two tracks, 'Postcards' and 'Hem of his Garment' the former of which's chorus is a very early version of her own song 'My Lover's Gone'.

Elsewhere we get instrumental chillout music ('The Garden'), straightahead clubbers' trance music ('God Is A DJ'), pop ('Hour of Need') and the dark, brooding, rap of standout 'Bring My Family Back' which is an amazing song with moving, painful lyrics, a dark beat and Maxi Jazz's chilling monologue rap with soulful backing vocals. This really is one of the greatest tracks of all time.

It is on the tracks where Maxi Jazz's raps take hold (like Bring My Family Back, and also the chilling closer 'Killer's Lullaby') that Faithless really shine, but they prove on Sunday 8PM that they can tackle a wide range of styles, fusing, inspiring and making great music for all moods.

I used to think of Faithless as an average artist with some good songs. That totally changed when I got this album, this is beyond my dreams. It takes you up and never lets you go. The Garden is a beautiful mix of sounds, an exellent opening track. Bring My Family Back is one of the most touching, beautiful and emotinal songs I know, Maxi Jazz overdone himself on this one. I shiver and nearly cry when I hear this track, it's the best Faithless has to offer. Killer's Lullaby is pretty much the same, it's also a magnificent track. The dancetracks on this album aren't disappointing either, God Is A Dj and Take The Long Way Home are both the best dance-music has to offer. Dido did a good job on Postcards and not a bad one on Hem Of His Garment. Why Go? is also emotinal and a great track. This is an album you have to own, either you like dance or not. I also recommend this for trip-hop-fanatics; Bring My Family Back and Killer's Lullaby are both outstanding trip-hop-tracks. You won't waste your money if you buy this.

Faithless second album "Sunday 8PM" is another great effort, it has a bit of everything. Trip Hop, World Music, Dance and Hip Hop. Just as their first album it's very diverse, but at the same time they stick with their dance influents on most tracks. The beautiful instrumental "The Garden" is am good kick off track to a great album, the title song "Sunday 8 PM" is simular to it. It continues with the dark, depressive trip hop song "Bring My Family Back" with Maxi Jazz. "Postcards" sound the same almost. "Hours of Need" is a great soulish song with background choirs and good hook. "Take the long way home" is a dance track, just like "Why Go" with Boy George. "God is a Dj" is defenitely the highlight of this album, it was a massive hit the same year and still works on the dancefloor. It reminds me a bit of "Insomnia" with Maxi Jazz lyrics and then the catchy dance sound hook. In the video he made "signs" when singing to send out his message to everyone. Dido also appaears on a few songs like "Hem of his garmant" but she's not in the spotlight on this album. "Sunday 8 PM" has alot of variation and it's a classic album from the great Faithless. Go and get it, if you haven't.

Please do not judge this album on what you know of their first album (Reverence) or the single 'God is a DJ'. Both are good - but Sunday 8pm is stunning (altho it does take longer to get used to). Listen to it over headphones while walking through a big city. It will totally blow you away.

Any movie directors out there? - use Killer's Lullaby in a sequence where a guy has just had his heart broken. Awesome - the best angry / broken / sad love song I've heard.

'nothing ever moves but the dust ...'