Fifteen years and an unthinkable number of head-losing moments down the line and the Brixton duo still serve up piping hot carnival house with a side order of surrealism. Talking with your mouth full’s not an option as tonight the West Country hoards don’t hesitate for a second. Within the first five minutes, Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe ram the spectacular right into the forefront, so much so that it almost knocks the teeth out of the front four rows. Entering before an idealistically sadistic video backdrop of weaving thorns and broken roses, anorexic pandas with lasers for pupils, ballet dancers, half of the bongo supply of Mali and trumpets clash in wondrous cacophony over the Bollywood beats that have stapled the Jaxx onto the UK dance pinboard of genius alongside Liam Howlett’s Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers. Whilst the aforementioned bruisers and chic geeks channel brooding, aggressive glitchiness Buxton and Ratcliffe are as smooth as a melted caramel bar: opening with the infamous ‘Good Luck’ it doesn’t take a splitsecond for the grade II listed building to quake from the sheer heat of flailing limbs and handbags alike. Joined by seemingly half of Brixton high street over the course of the sublime ninety they grace the ecclesiastical realms of Colston Hall, it’s the back catalogue that truly shines tonight, each top ten track like lighthouses guiding us to a paradise lost. An acoustic rendition of ‘Romeo’ could be enough to stop Dave Gahan’s heart for a second time whilst ‘Red Alert’ is as powerful a warning shot now as it was in the beginning (or back in 1999). The essence of Notting Hill is brought to the Bristol wetlands during encore bamboo bangers ‘Do Your Thing’ and “Bingo Bango’, perhaps the only slabs of ad music still to retain their dignity whilst sound tracking everything from CITV to Goal of the Month. Upcoming single ‘Raindrops’ sees Buxton out from behind his synthethic pedestal in a rather dashing military regalia-esque tasselled number, distortedly serenading whoever it may be about his need for them ‘like a waterfall straight to the heart of me’. Lyrically, it’s still not quite there but if anything can disprove the big deal with witticisms and words I’d plump for ‘Where’s Your Head At’. Closing proceedings tonight, it’s as abrasive an anthem as you’re likely to find this side of Metallica yet there’s something in its raw charms that turns worries, hangovers and spilt drinks into superfluous musings. Roll on Rockness.Basement Jaxx- Raindrops
Scars is scheduled for release later this month and features the likes of Yoko Ono, Lightspeed Champion, Santigold and Yo! Majesty and can be preordered here
