Faithless
A chance to remind anyone under the age of thirty just what the 90's dance scene was all about.
On a beautifully warm August evening in Newmarket, and following a race card that had failed to deliver me with a single winner, legendary electronic dance band Faithless managed to turn the clocks back thirty years at the famous Rowley Mile racecourse, transporting me back to the heady Ibizan nights when we would dress in neon, dance all night, and spend each day just chilling by the pool.
Following a night here with Ministry of Sound Classical in June, and with the legend that is Sir Tom Jones performing from the stands here earlier in the month, Friday was a chance to remind anyone under the age of thirty just what the 90's dance scene was all about.
Still led by keyboardist, songwriter, DJ and producer Sister Bliss, Faithless are about to release their eighth studio album, Champion Sound, on September 5th. This, for us then, was the first chance to hear new tracks from the album but, perhaps more importantly, the first chance for some of us to experience Faithless performing live since before the band played the UEA in Norwich way back in 2007.
Even though fellow founding band member Rollo no longer tours with the band, his role as keyboard player and producer cans still to be heard on the latest album, and in the tracks played at Newmarket tonight. As can the voice of Maxi Jazz, the enigmatic third co-founder, and former lead vocalist, of the band, who passed away in 2022 after a long illness. During the Newmarket show we can hear again Maxi Jazz's unmistakable vocals, and see his face projected onto the screen, as some of the band's greatest hits – songs like God Is A DJ, Insomnia, and We Come 1, all bring the memories flooding back. It is a moving moment, and when thanking the Newmarket audience for the band's welcome and reception at the Rowley Mile, Sister Bliss makes a point of telling the racegoers, a real mix of youngsters and fans old enough to have shared the Faithless magic in Ibiza in the late 90's, how Maxi Jazz would have got a real buzz out of seeing everyone dressed up in their suits and floaty summer dresses, and enjoying the beats and the music of his iconic band.
The encore closes with a drum and bass cover of the Dido song Thank You, a lovely sentiment on which to end the evening, but also an acknowledgement to a singer-songwriter who, as well as being Rollo's younger sister, also provided backing vocals on several classic Faithless tracks.
What else can I say? As is usual with the Newmarket Nights events, the bars stay open for an extra hour after the end of the performance to help smoothe our departure from the racecourse. In the past it has taken me up to two hours to exit the site following a gig here, but I have to report that the organisers have massively improved the exit procedures onto the surrounding roads, and I was through Newmarket and back on the A11 within twenty minutes of reaching my car. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the day provided a classic afternoon of racing, and an absolute fabulous performance from Faithless.
The Newmarket Nights continue next Friday (August 15th) with a performance from Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, and on Saturday August 23rd with Sugababes and Natasha Bedingfield.
