Faithless Album: “Outrospective”

In my opinion, this is perhaps their best work to date. If you enjoyed their previous works, you'll really get a jolt out of this new offering. "Outrospective" combines Fatithless' eclectic and funk laced beats with Maxi Jazz's vocals and deep lyrics yet again. But this time, the band has a couple of twists thrown in to keep you hitting the repeat button (listen to the vocals, there's a theme.) This album will fit any mood you're in, because it serves whatever need you have, mood-wise. From high-energy dance to music to just chill by, Outrospective is it!

In addition to their Maxi Jazz's voice, this new album offers a new female voice to the Faithless faithful: Zoe Johnston (whose voice is gorgeous) is on tracks 4 "Crazy English Summer" and 10 "Evergreen". Of course, Rollo's sister Dido, appears on track 7 "One Step too Far" along with Maxi. Like Dido's other Faithless works this song is just phenomenal, (it's a nice treat to hear her voice in a new song!)

Despite all of my accolades, the album will of course draw some to say the band has changed, and perhaps not everyone will be attracted to every song. But, alas, these 12 tracks that will keep even the most ardent Faithless fans glued to the CD.

Bottom line, "Outrospective" is a must have for any Faithless fan. I haven't heard music that can morph so well in a long time.

All I can do as I write this "review" is skip back over and over to track 4, "Crazy English Summer." The simplicity of the song lays bare the field for vocals so beautiful I can't think of an appropriate metaphor. And this is just one gem on an album full of them!

All the elements of previous Faithless CDs are here: the heartfelt coolness of Maxi Jazz, the keyboard prowess of Sister Bliss and Rollo's legendary programming skills. But "Outrospective" has a new element: Zoë Johnston. She has a voice so sweet and an obvious musical talent that she almost steels the CD. Her original voice, style and sound are so rare in today's music world.

Just wish there'd been more of Zoë's stunning voice...

Faithless has returned in top form with their third release, Outrospective. Fans will not be disappointed; the group sounds better than ever, though they remain true to their eclectic mix of intense techno, soulful vocals, lyrical rap and smooth production values.

The similarities don't stop there. As she did on Faithless debut, Reverence, Dido lends her distintinctive voice to a track on Outrospective: One Step Too Far (the best track on the CD, in my opinion). In another subtle tie-in to their first album, Maxi Jazz reprises a few lines from the first track on Reverence in the first track of Outrospective.

However, not all is the same. The group has grown up musically and lyrically. Maxi Jazz sounds much more confident rapping through his usual mix of unexpected yet powerful rhymes: Trantula and Liontamer are simply amazing to listen to and reflect upon. Sister Bliss's instrumentals are sometimes blisteringly upbeat (as on the track We Come 1) and sometimes mellow and introspective (as on Evergreen), but always masterful. Zoe Johnston's vocals add yet another beautiful sound to the mix; Crazy English Summer and Evergreen are great showcases for her work.

Though the gospel influence that was evident on their second release, Sunday 8pm, is missing from their latest, the album still offers a positive message in tracks like Muhammad Ali.

Overall, this album offers a wealth of brilliant music that will please long-time fans as well as entice new listeners to their varied, electronicly-influenced sound. In short: buy this album.

I have had this CD for over 2 years now and I listen to it quite a bit, I am surprised that I haven't had to replace it yet!! I have everything they have ever put out and this is by far the best one that they have ever produced. Your collection will not be complete without it.

This CD is a hidden treasure...A Surprise in a world of commercial beats and CDs that focus on record sales instead of true music that sounds good! I am a traditional R&B, Hip/Hop, Jazz, Neo/Soul lover with a penchant for euro/Fusion and other funky world flavas. This CD will appeal to anyone that loves good music no matter what the Genre. Don't miss this piece, it's poetic, deep, funky, captivatingly fresh...it's unbelievably TIGHT!!!