Drifting Away album art

Drifting Away

Faithless
Outrospective (1999)
Moderate 90 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range6/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Stylesoft vocals
Notes: The song features a smooth blend of electronic beats and soft, soothing vocals that create a calming atmosphere. Its layered production adds depth while maintaining a gentle flow.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksmild
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsmild

A reflective track that explores themes of longing and introspection, set against a backdrop of lush electronic soundscapes.

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Moods: contemplative, introspective, melancholy

Traditions: electronic

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: soft vocals.

Where this sits in Faithless's catalog

We have 27 songs from Faithless in the library. Of those, 0 are rated Safe, 26 Moderate, and 1 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits below the artist average of 6.1, making it the #16 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from Outrospective

We have 10 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

1999 context

Released in 1999. We have 304 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.3/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1990s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
contemplative · 3297introspective · 5721melancholy · 5399
Traditions
electronic · 918

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-16. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "Drifting Away"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "Drifting Away" by Faithless?

"Drifting Away" by Faithless rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.

How loud is "Drifting Away" — what is its dynamic range?

"Drifting Away" has a dynamic range of 6/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.

Does "Drifting Away" have sudden or surprising changes?

"Drifting Away" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

What is "Drifting Away" best for?

In our library "Drifting Away" is recommended for: meditation, relaxation, study. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "Drifting Away" released?

"Drifting Away" is from 1999, on the album "Outrospective". It appears in our 1990s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "Drifting Away"?

We tag "Drifting Away" as contemplative, introspective, melancholy. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "Drifting Away"?

The vocal style is soft vocals.

Should I listen to "Drifting Away"?

"Drifting Away" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry
moderate
DR 7
Fear of Heights
Drake
moderate
DR 6
Do You Love Me
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
moderate
DR 6
Fascination
The Human League
moderate
DR 6
The Lightning I
Arcade Fire
moderate
DR 7
Baby I Need Your Loving
The Four Tops
moderate
DR 6

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan safe
It's Too Late
Carole King safe
If I Were a Boy
Beyoncé safe
What Was I Made For
Billie Eilish safe
Thumbing My Way
Pearl Jam safe

What this song means to people

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