Faithless – Champion Sound

      Innovative, expansive, and celebratory – Faithless returns with their four-part auditory journey, ‘Champion Sound’.

      This new release from the dance music trailblazers Faithless is segmented into four unique sections, guiding listeners through an immersive, mind-altering experience that celebrates both poetry and production.

      ‘Champion Sound’ begins with a blend of distorted synths, ethereal chords, and a captivating spoken word excerpt from Maxi Jazz’s final recording session, where he encourages listeners to embrace their true selves. This track is the sole feature of Maxi, capturing both transcendent and grounded emotions simultaneously.

      Their eagerly awaited eighth album confidently ventures into unknown territory, challenging boundaries while respecting Faithless's monumental legacy and reinforcing their timeless impact on music.

      In reality, Faithless have consistently been pioneers in the dance music domain, known for their distinctive sound, profound lyrics, and ability to produce instantly recognizable and electrifying club anthems that merge house, trip-hop, and dub beats.

      With ‘Champion Sound’, Faithless welcomes a new ensemble of guest artists including Antony Szmierek, Bebe Rexha, Emmanuel Jal, L.S.K, and Suli Breaks to join in their expansive auditory celebration, delivering pop-infused tracks such as ‘Dollars and Dimes’ featuring Bebe Rexha and the uplifting, trance-influenced ‘In Your Own Groove’ featuring L.S.K, which honors music as a liberating force.

      Following Jazz’s unfortunate passing in 2022, Faithless has prioritized collaborations with poets and spoken-word artists who resonate with the band’s lyrical vision and ideals, aiding in the preservation of their artistic legacy. ‘Peace and Noise’ (the final track of part one) showcases spoken word artist Suli Breaks, whose powerful performance strongly conveys the essence of the track. With its driving basslines and a message to be ‘forever free,’ it beautifully amplifies the main theme of part one.

      In ‘Phone Number’ (part two), Faithless displays a more playful aspect, weaving a narrative across three interconnected tracks, ‘Meeting,’ ‘Driving,’ and ‘Thinking,’ which combine bright synths and warm textures while recounting a serendipitous meeting.

      As we transition to part three, we are drawn into the entrancing and surreal ‘Book of Hours,’ a heartfelt tribute to Sister Bliss’s passion for orchestral music. It resembles a film score and captivates listeners for over twenty-four minutes, whisking them away to the serene, dreamy Balearic sunsets of Café del Mar.

      Engaging, contemplative, and expansive, this segment is truly enchanting and left me entirely mesmerized. The concluding segment, ‘Champion Sound,’ features the album’s first single of the same name, with Suli Breaks delivering poignant lines like, “Our days will never be complete without your honest smiles / We can find a way,” showcasing Faithless’s exceptional ability to fuse raw emotion with irresistible piano loops and trance-like beats, effectively balancing the lyrics and the music. Bebe Rexha contributes polished yet soulful vocals on the lively ‘Dollars and Dimes,’ reminiscent of classic Faithless with its anthemic sound.

      The brilliance of this album resides in its adaptability – each segment possesses its own character, yet can be experienced as a cohesive journey or enjoyed separately. It offers a sonic experience that defies norms; Faithless has created a record that not only pays homage to their past but also pushes their sound into uncharted realms, making ‘Champion Sound’ a daring, boundary-breaking advancement that reaffirms their prominence in the dance music scene.

      8/10

      Words: Emma Harrison / @emmahwriter