Faithless. A band that have made an enduring mark on the music industry and the underbelly of the electronic dance scene since their inception in 1995. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who hadn’t heard their number one hit, ‘Insomnia’, or a rave playlist that didn’t feature some of their biggest hits, such as ‘God Is A DJ’ or ‘We Come 1’. Their recent show at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester was a powerful testament to their widespread appeal, uniting original ravers with their Gen Z counterparts for a night that evoked the vibrant energy of the city’s legendary venues like The Haçienda in its heyday.
Upon entering the post-industrial venue, music blared from the supporting act of the night, Dutch electronica band, Tinlicker. Despite only bursting into the realm of electronica in 2013, the duo have clearly made a name, and sound, for themselves, drawing in an incredible crowd not often seen for an opening act. Highlights included their remixes of Alt-J’s ‘Breezeblocks’ and Robert Miles’ ‘Children’, the latter being a club-classic that was a sure-fire way to warm the crowd up and prepare them for what was to be a night of nostalgia.
Then came the moment everybody in the tiered, brick-walled warehouse was waiting for. One by one, each member of Faithless took to the stage to take their rightful position, before breaking into their iconic, party-starting sound that immediately got everyone moving.
Visions of 90s’ ravers and political protest of the decade so far characterised the night, further proving Faithless’ prowess and relevance both in a retrospective and contemporary sense, while vocals provided by Amelia Fox and Nathan Bell further evoked the sense that the band – now all in their 50s – were championing blossoming artists while simultaneously redefining theirs. Fox’s angelic vocals stunned over the reimagined version of the band’s 2020 hit ‘Synthesiser’; a moment within the set that felt like a defining one for the young artist’s musical career.
A particularly moving moment in their set was the performance of ‘We Come 1’, whereby visuals of Maxi performing the iconic spoken-word track were plastered proudly across the lit up stage, and gig goers embraced to echo the lyrics: “I’m the left eye / You’re the right / Would it not be madness to fight / We come 1”.
“This is music’s city right here”, Sister Bliss asserted loudly over her mic as the gig began to wind down. The night felt like a true celebration – not just because it was a Friday evening in the vibrant heart of the North, but also as a tribute to Maxi Jazz’s life and legacy and to Manchester’s status as a revered music mecca. Though a band born out of South London, the group’s Tensake remix of ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ felt like an ode to the northern crowd that faced them, where a real feeling of togetherness and pride painted the venue’s industrial walls.
The band ended on a remix of Dido’s ‘Thank You (Not So Bad)’, another classic pre-millenium anthem that both united and cooled down the fired up audience and proved the timeless nature of the decade that defined them and their contemporaries.
Though nearly 30 years have now passed since their debut, Faithless’ Manchester performance was a testament to both their ability to evolve and maintain their prominence in the electronic scene and fearlessness in navigating the personal and poignant heartbreak of losing their beloved frontman. The future, however that will look for the band, will certainly be one that continues to invigorate audiences both old and new.
Words by Ruby Brown
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