FAITHLESS have made some killer dance records over the years and now they have been given the remix treatment by a collection of other club luminaries.
Faithless 2.0 is a new album celebrating the work of Sister Bliss, Rollo and Maxi and features an impressive line-up of DJs and producers who have tackled some of the trio's tunes and approached them from a fresh perspective.
Avicii reassembles the brilliant Insomnia and makes a decent stab at it although that track in its original form is nothing short of of magnificent. Thankfully Tim has treated the song with respect and the reworking falls on the right side of cool but no amount of digital DIY can enhance what is pretty perfect to begin with.
In fact, one of the best things about this album is that you get the original Monster Mix of Insomnia. Further remixers on parade include Axwell who knocks out a very potent mix of Music Matters, Armin Van Buuren who delivers a clever take on We Come 1 and Eric Prydz who puts a modern and clinical twist on Not Going Home.
GAME ON
THE Game's new record The Documentary 2 is a powerful hip hop opus filled with shoulder shaking bass lines and forthright rhymes.
The Game pulls no punches in his lyrical content but he definitely also possesses a penchant for funky grooves and catchy melodies. This iron fist/velvet glove feel to the album makes it consistently interesting throughout.
The track Don't Trip epitomises The Documentary 2's raison d'etre and also pulls in some serious heavyweight hip hop talent in Dr Dre and Ice Cube as well as Will.I.Am who lends the more commercial and accessible touch.
Other tracks that deserve a heads up are the quirky Standing On Ferraris which features Diddy and Mula, a slick and vicious production which boasts a Kanye collaboration.
RAPPED UP
IF YOU happen to have even a passing fancy for rap music then a new compilation will have you itching for the download button or streaming yourself senseless. Ministry of Sound have just released Rapper's Delight and it really does contain some seriously special rap and hip hop moments.
The album manages to blend some very classic pioneering rap records with a selection of recent polished pop-rap efforts. Both styles do undoubtedly have their place but there'e no question that the real treasure on the album is thanks to the seasoned, classic test of timers that shine so brightly.
Eric B and Rakim's Paid In Full, Straight Outta Compton by NWA, It Takes Two by Rob Base and DJ E Z Rock, Can I Kick It by A Tribe Called Quest and the album's title track by Sugar Hill Gang all still sound amazing while other less groundbreaking tracks such as Drake's Started From The Bottom and Grindin' by Clipse have also definitely earned their call up.
