Sister Bliss is on record herself saying that if you’re going to have one tune far more widely known than the rest of your work, it sure helps if the track is “a banger”.
A dance classic and guaranteed floor filler, Insomnia, first released way back in 1995, still stands the test of time.
An anthemic beast of a tune, the searing bassline and sensational drop complete with the raspy, distinctive tones of Faithless frontman Maxi Jazz — “I confess, I burnt a hole in the mattress/ yes, yes, it was me, I plead guilty” — have ensured it is as much loved by the general clubbing public as the plethora of followers of the group.
Electronic giants Faithless folded in 2011, but recently regrouped for a 20th-anniversary tour — and back very much by popular demand — that included a gig in Abu Dhabi during the F1 weekend at the end of last year.
But Bliss herself, now in her early 40s, has increasingly done her own DJ sets over the years, including a number of shows in Dubai, sprinkling Faithless classics in with her work.
As it was on Friday night when she headlined the inaugural Dubai Music Conference with a one-and-a-half hour show at Pacha at the Madinat Jumeirah.
Faithless tracks Miss U Less, See U More (“Love to know you better!”), God is a DJ and her encore track, We Come 1 — traditionally a Faithless encore track as well — all made an appearance before a decent-sized audience, that while not packed certainly crowded the dance floor.
I confess however — yes, yes I plead guilty — there may have been one or two more Faithless tunes but an attempt to get to the upper tier of the indoor arena via the elevator ended a further floor up on the roof terrace, where you can’t hear the artist on the main stage. And I had to wait a wee while in the queue to get back down. Lesson learned — take the stairs.
The classically trained Bliss describes herself as the musical engine of Faithless — a justified tag for the keyboardist, composer, producer and player of numerous other instruments too.
Her own tracks are house-oriented, and not commercial in the slightest.
Much as when Faithless did their ‘Sound System’ tours, a stripped down version featuring Maxi Jazz on a live PA and Bliss doing a DJ set, just having the London-born musician, real name Ayalah Bentovim, on stage is of course nothing like the full, live act. In full, Faithless consist of eight musicians.
But when you get an extended mix of Insomnia from Sister Bliss as the clock strikes 1am, it more than makes up for it.
They still “can’t get no sleep”.
