As with many of their contemporaries such as The Chemical Brothers and Underworld, Leftfield pioneered the use of guest vocalists throughout their career. Among the more prominent were Toni Halliday (of Curve), who sang on "Original", Djum Djum on "Afro-Left" and Earl 16 and Cheshire Cat on "Release the Pressure".
Neil Barnes' entry into the music world was as a DJ at The Wag Club while simultaneously playing percussion instruments. Around 1989, inspired by Afrika Bambaata, Barnes decided to try his hand at electronic music production. In 1990, he released the single "Not Forgotten" on the Rhythm King label. It was followed by "More Than I Know" in 1991.
For the remixes of these tracks, Barnes called upon Paul Daley, then a hairdresser, but also in A Man Called Adam and a formerly a session musician for the Brand New Heavies and Primal Scream, appearing on their Dixie Narco EP. Barnes and Daley had previously worked together as percussionists at The Sandals' first club, Violets. As their mutual interest in electronic music became clear the pair decided that they would work instead upon Leftfield, once Barnes had extricated himself from his now troublesome contract with Rhythm King.
Leftfield's first major career break came in 1993 with the single "Open Up", a collaboration with John Lydon. That single was soon followed by their debut album, Leftism in 1995. On this album, Leftfield blended styles like dub, breakbeat, and techno. Five singles supported the album: "Release the Pressure" (featuring Earl 16 and Chesire Cat), "Song of Life", "Open Up" (featuring John Lydon), "Original" (featuring Toni Halliday) and "Afro-Left" (featuring Djum Djum).
Leftism was shortlisted for the 1995 Mercury Music Prize but lost out to Portishead's Dummy. In a 1998 Q magazine poll, readers voted it the eightieth greatest album of all time, while in 2000 Q placed it at number 34 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. The album was re-released in 2000 with a bonus disc of remixes.
In 1996, the song "A Final Hit" featured on the Trainspotting soundtrack.
Their second and final album, Rhythm and Stealth was released in 1999 and it reached #1 in the UK Albums Chart. The album maintained a similar style, and featured Roots Manuva, Afrika Bambaataa, and MC Cheshire Cat from Birmingham.
Rhythm and Stealth was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 2000 but lost out to Badly Drawn Boy's The Hour of Bewilderbeast. Three singles were issued: "Afrika Shox", "Dusted" and "Swords". The song "Phat Planet" featured on Guinness' 1999 advert, Surfer.
In 2002 the band split. In 2005, they issued the greatest hits compilation A Final Hit. In 2010, Leftfield reunited and played a string of shows. However, Leftfield is now represented by Barnes alone with a backing band and singers, as Daley is concentrating on his DJ work, as well as releasing a solo album.
Official site: http://www.leftfieldtour.co.uk
Shallow Grave
Leftfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've no faith to declare my feelings
Take trust for instance, or friendship.
These are the important things in life.
These are the things that matter,
that help you on your way.
If you can't trust your friends, well, what then... What then?
I believe we need them.
But if one day you can't trust them any more, well, what then...
What then?
In the song "Shallow Grave" by Leftfield, the singer reveals a lack of emotional attachment towards others. The singer claims to possess no feelings of love or rejection, as well as an absence of faith to express their emotions. They also bring up the importance of trust and friendship in life, stating that they believe in their necessity but hint at a lack of confidence in them.
The lyrics suggest that the singer takes a more detached viewpoint towards relationships, urging listeners to consider what may happen if their friends cannot be trusted. The meaning behind the song may touch on the human tendency to protect oneself by avoiding vulnerability through relationships. In a sense, the singer reveals an apathetic attitude towards life, leaving listeners to wonder how true their statements are or if they are simply a form of self-protection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not ashamed, I've no love, I've no rejection
I feel neutral and indifferent towards everything, neither ashamed nor passionate.
I've no faith to declare my feelings
I lack conviction to express my emotions.
Take trust for instance, or friendship.
Let's consider the importance of trust and friendship.
These are the important things in life.
Trusting and being friends with others are crucial aspects of a fulfilling life.
These are the things that matter,
These are the values that hold significance.
that help you on your way.
They assist you in navigating life's challenges.
If you can't trust your friends, well, what then... What then?
If you lose faith in your companions, what is the next course of action?
Oh, yes. I believe in friends.
I acknowledge the importance of friendship.
I believe we need them.
I believe that human beings require companionship.
But if one day you can't trust them any more, well, what then...
However, if you are incapable of trusting your friends, what choices remain?
What then?
What options exist moving forward?
Writer(s): Neil John Barnes, Paul Terence Daley
Contributed by Skyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.