The Dance (Faithless album)
Encyclopedia
The Dance is the sixth and last studio album by dance music
act Faithless
on their own record label, Nates Tunes, and first for PIAS Recordings. Dido
is featured on the songs "North Star" and "Feelin' Good". Actress and singer Mía Maestro
performs the vocals on "Love Is My Condition".
elaborating that the album was a return to the old, with an eye on the future; "This is probably the danciest album we’ve ever created; it’s like a return to what we did before but more so." Sister Bliss
added that the club culture was something the band members, especially her, were stuck with; "Late-night DJing will be the death of me but I’m good at it, goddammit. I’ve always found house music deeply absorbing; it forces you to be in the moment and it’s locked into my DNA. I get riled when dance music gets undervalued as mindless nonsense because there’s a galvanising force in people getting together to do something positive. There’s nothing more joyous than people dancing and losing themselves to music."
"What’s exciting is putting The Dance into context as our sixth album," adds Bliss. "After getting together to do one single, we never thought we’d reach this point. It’s mad, innit? But it’s also very rare that you find a unique voice and when Rollo and me first encountered Maxi, we didn’t want the conversation to end. Our first record, Salva Mea, was very odd for 1990s dance music. The original is like a symphony that goes into hip hop then banging house – it’s all over the bloody shop."
was generally critical of the release, but tended to question the band's commercial success rather than the music; "(Faithless have) released records to ever-quieter choruses of appreciation since their debut, 1996’s Reverence. If they put out another collection of house-hued electro-pop but nobody’s around to hear it, have they released anything at all?" However, Diver did note that "Crazy Bal’Heads dubs itself into a delightful spin, and Flyin Hi’s gentle washes of sound are chill-out perfection. Dido
’s turn on Feelin Good is also a highlight, the vocalist sounding better than ever," but lamented a generally mediocre album; "too many token gestures ensure any lasting impression is extremely brief. Should they plan another long-player, Faithless would do well to return to their own source in search of the spark that first fired their career into life." Chris Flynn from The Vine.com.au was very critical of the album, saying that "The Dance is a complete anachronism. It’s as if nothing has happened in music over the last 15 years, or at least nothing to which Faithless have paid any attention. The Dance feels like Reverence: The B-Sides."
However, other critics have provided praise for the album; Mike Antonich from Now Its On welcomed the release as a return to the Faithless of old, saying that "...filled with six to seven minute songs, The Dance is a return to the clubs and, as good as Not Going Home is, there are tracks to come that will top it....Tweak Your Nipple is a massive, storming dance masterpiece...The Dance is a huge rebound release for Faithless and a resounding response to those who have questioned if their time on the electronic and dance music scene has passed them by. It combines the eclecticism the band is known for, relaxed moments intertwined with mammoth dance tracks and the positive messages of Maxi Jazz."
Entertainment-Focus.com also gave the album critical acclaim, stating that "Faithless are in top form here. Though the majority of the record is not quite as tight and epic as some of their earlier work they are still at the top of their game."
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
act Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
on their own record label, Nates Tunes, and first for PIAS Recordings. Dido
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
is featured on the songs "North Star" and "Feelin' Good". Actress and singer Mía Maestro
Mía Maestro
Mía Maestro is an Argentine actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Nadia Santos in the television drama Alias, and as Christina Kahlo in Frida.-Life and acting career:...
performs the vocals on "Love Is My Condition".
The Album
The band's common theme for the album was a 'back to their roots' approach, with vocalist Maxi JazzMaxi Jazz
Maxwell Alexander Fraser , better known as Maxi Jazz, is an English rapper. He is best known as the lead vocalist of British band Faithless.- Biography :...
elaborating that the album was a return to the old, with an eye on the future; "This is probably the danciest album we’ve ever created; it’s like a return to what we did before but more so." Sister Bliss
Sister Bliss
Sister Bliss is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of the now disbanded dance group Faithless.She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano...
added that the club culture was something the band members, especially her, were stuck with; "Late-night DJing will be the death of me but I’m good at it, goddammit. I’ve always found house music deeply absorbing; it forces you to be in the moment and it’s locked into my DNA. I get riled when dance music gets undervalued as mindless nonsense because there’s a galvanising force in people getting together to do something positive. There’s nothing more joyous than people dancing and losing themselves to music."
"What’s exciting is putting The Dance into context as our sixth album," adds Bliss. "After getting together to do one single, we never thought we’d reach this point. It’s mad, innit? But it’s also very rare that you find a unique voice and when Rollo and me first encountered Maxi, we didn’t want the conversation to end. Our first record, Salva Mea, was very odd for 1990s dance music. The original is like a symphony that goes into hip hop then banging house – it’s all over the bloody shop."
Track listing
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak | Certification | Sales/ shipments |
|---|---|---|---|
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
10 | - | - |
| Polish Albums Chart OLiS OLiS is the official list of the highest selling music albums in Poland. The list exists since October 23, 2000 and is provided by ZPAV.... |
20 | - | - |
Reception
Critical reception has been mixed. Mike Diver of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
was generally critical of the release, but tended to question the band's commercial success rather than the music; "(Faithless have) released records to ever-quieter choruses of appreciation since their debut, 1996’s Reverence. If they put out another collection of house-hued electro-pop but nobody’s around to hear it, have they released anything at all?" However, Diver did note that "Crazy Bal’Heads dubs itself into a delightful spin, and Flyin Hi’s gentle washes of sound are chill-out perfection. Dido
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
’s turn on Feelin Good is also a highlight, the vocalist sounding better than ever," but lamented a generally mediocre album; "too many token gestures ensure any lasting impression is extremely brief. Should they plan another long-player, Faithless would do well to return to their own source in search of the spark that first fired their career into life." Chris Flynn from The Vine.com.au was very critical of the album, saying that "The Dance is a complete anachronism. It’s as if nothing has happened in music over the last 15 years, or at least nothing to which Faithless have paid any attention. The Dance feels like Reverence: The B-Sides."
However, other critics have provided praise for the album; Mike Antonich from Now Its On welcomed the release as a return to the Faithless of old, saying that "...filled with six to seven minute songs, The Dance is a return to the clubs and, as good as Not Going Home is, there are tracks to come that will top it....Tweak Your Nipple is a massive, storming dance masterpiece...The Dance is a huge rebound release for Faithless and a resounding response to those who have questioned if their time on the electronic and dance music scene has passed them by. It combines the eclecticism the band is known for, relaxed moments intertwined with mammoth dance tracks and the positive messages of Maxi Jazz."
Entertainment-Focus.com also gave the album critical acclaim, stating that "Faithless are in top form here. Though the majority of the record is not quite as tight and epic as some of their earlier work they are still at the top of their game."