KEEPING THE FAITHLESS..

Dance act behind classic single return

- By Casey Cooper-Fiske

WITH its nostalgic echo, classic single Insomnia by Faithless is one of dance music's best-known tracks, still as popular today on its 30th anniversary as it ever was.

The pioneering 1995 progressive house track was created by the group's composers Sister Bliss, real name Ayalah Bentovim, and Rollo Armstrong, along with late vocalist, guitar player, programmer and producer Maxi Jazz, real name Maxwell Fraser, who died in December 2022.

The track only reached No27 in the UK singles chart initially after Faithless released it on their own Cheeky Records label in 1995.

After it became popular in mainland Europe and was championed by DJ Pete Tong, the song - effectively made in a garden shed - was re-released in 1996 and shot to No3 on the UK charts, and into dance music history.

While the group went on to have seven UK top-10 singles and three UK No1 albums, Insomnia still remains their calling card.