Faithless - No Roots

If you're like me, you think of Faithless in terms of their amazing techno/dance songs. “Insomnia” and what I consider the best techno song ever, “God Is a DJ,” are absolutely flawless. But the meat of what Faithless does, after listening to No Roots, I am convinced is flowing ambient, easy to get lost in music. And they do it to perfection as always. No Roots is a celebration of the ten years that the collective has been working together, with some guest members contributing vocals. The most recognizable constant member, of course, is Rollo Armstrong (Dido's brother in case you were wondering...and if you know what he looks like...you still are). The man has a smoky voice that just oozes sexy, laid back vibes. It's hard to take a record like this one that blends so completely and break it down song by song, so I'm not really going to attempt to. There are a few moments that stand out for me though. “Miss U Less, See U More” is a cool bouncy tune whose theme is given away by the title. “Mass Destruction: P*nut & Sister Bliss Mix” is this album's attempt at a disco anthem, and honestly, it falls a tad short to me. But when you're trying to live up to the best dance track of all time, even falling short is better than most of the competition. Despite the breezy and effortless rhythms that Faithless achieve, there has always been social commentary on their records. Even the hit, “Mass Destruction” is a protest song: “Whether invasion or globalization/Fear is a weapon of mass destruction.” The accompanying video is as current as the evening news with snatches of the war in Iraq and other questionable military ventures around the world flashing in the back and foreground. To sum it up, while I don't necessarily think this Faithless album is up to par with Sunday 8pm, there is no denying the talent and the power behind their music. I applaud the band for taking what can be vapid genre and making it as meaty as any work of art that can still be enjoyed with your brain in the on or off position. [www.faithless.co.uk]