Faithless - 'Bombs'
For a record which aims to fuse the twin excitements of Green Day-style political outrage at the horrors of war, and floor-filling dance beats, this ain't half a mumbly jumble of rumbly bumbling numbness. Part of the problem is the way they've used the noise which is Faithless's greatest asset, namely Maxi Jazz's brainiac snoozyrap.
Where past Faithless tunes have used the calm delivery over barnstorming noise to heighten tension - like 'We Come One' sounding like The Invasion of the Mild People - this doesn't have the apocalypto-beats behind it, and so poor Maxi ends up stuck between some wafty voices which could not sound more bored if they tried.
Which is hardly helpful. The man's got a point to make, people. Give him a hand, eh?
Released: November 20th
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(Fraser M)