ALONGSIDE frontman Maxi Jazz and producer Rollo Armstrong, Sister Bliss formed Faithless 25 years ago and the band became one of the most successful acts in electronic music selling over 15 million records including timeless tracks such as the classics Insomnia and God Is a DJ.
They headlined festivals, stadiums and arenas all over the world.
After six albums they looked to have called it a day in 2011 but after almost ten years they are back with new album All Blessed which is out now.
Maxi Jazz might have moved on to devote himself to his own personal projects but his shoes are well filled on the new long player by Suli Breaks and Nathan Ball.
All Blessed is a very welcome and incredible return to form from the iconic band.
We caught up with the musical force behind Faithless, Sister Bliss this week and she talked us through some tracks from the new album and a selection of other current favourites you could expect to hear in her epic DJ sets.
R Plus – Cards (Kidmap Remix)
“This is from ‘The Last Summer’ album we made last year with Dido – this remix is chilled perfection – the yearning melody that feels so appropriate for now “whatever happened to those days”, with crisp piano chords and gentle electronic flourishes.”
Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Heartbreak
“This give me tingles up my spine – some breakbeat action takes it straight to the floor, and the lush synths reminds me of Orbital, topped off with a chopped up classic “Night and Day” diva vocal tugging the heartstrings – this one truly moves me!”
“Been road testing this over the last couple of years at various festivals, refining it along the way until it was fit for public consumption – writing the funky baseline was the key to take it up a notch to work with Nathan’s amazing soaring yet melancholy vocal. It’s an ode to everything we love in electronic music, and a little nod to the dystopian times we find ourselves in mediated through technology. Hope it will still be an anthem next summer when something like normal service may resume!”
Bklava – Back To Then
“Loving this upcoming Irish-Lebanese artist who brings something really fresh to the Garage scene – great lyrics, and catchy melodies and amazing sharp production this is a winner – check out her Bklava EP just out on Ministry of Sound.”
Gotsome – Caught In Your Rhythm featuring Clementine Douglas
“A proper house tune where the bass line just rolls and rolls – with a really cool female vocal topping it off.”
Disclosure – Douha (Mali Mali) featuring Fatoumata Diawara
“A breath of fresh air from the Disclosure brothers – loving the Afro-beat vibes and lush jazzy production on this one, the outstandingly joyous vocal from Malian artist Fatoumata Diawara feels like summer all over again.”
Faithless – I Need Someone featuring Nathan Ball and Caleb Femi
“From our brand new album ‘All Blessed’, I just love this collaboration with Nathan Ball and Young Person’s Poet Laureate Caleb Femi. It is so emotive and also describes the way many of us are feeling at the moment – that loneliness and yearning for connection is all too present in the current situation. Nathan’s voice is like a warm blanket and I’m looking forward to playing the brilliant remixes out in the clubs when I can.”
Bent – Friends
“Welcoming back the masters of Chill Out, Nottingham boys Bent are back with a new album – a band who are very close to my heart, supported Faithless live, and whose chanteuse Zoe Johnston collaborated with us on our third album ‘Outrospective’ – their new track is a return to vintage blissed out form. Can’t wait to hear the album ‘Up in the Air’ boys!”
Bicep – Apricots
“Deceptively simple track from the Belfast duo – but I love this stripped down vibe with little samples of Bulgarian choirs and African chants – the very few ingredients still make it a lovely track to get lost in.”
Eric Prydz – Opus
“Lovely glittering progressive track which you can imagine going off at a festival – loving his work for many years, and his epic remixes of Faithless – he really has this uplifting euphoric sound locked down. What a journey!”
The first Faithless album in 10 years, ‘All Blessed’, is out now on BMG. Buy / Play HERE.
