HI:FI SOUTH
Hi:Fi
was an ambitious project for a first-time festival, happening
simultaneously in the South (The Matterley Bowl Estate, Winchester)
and the North (Matfen Estate, Northumberland). It also aimed to
fuse rock and dance genres in one space (an increasingly popular
and commercially savvy idea). In essence, it provided the slick
aesthetics of a dance event, with the rugged credibility of a
rock fest.
Artists on the bill were famed for their ability to speak to both
a rock and dance audience – e.g Ian Brown, Soulwax and Kosheen.
But did it work?
Hi:Fi
South took place on the same site as the former Homelands Festival
– a natural amphitheatre, with stunning views. In the age
of the uber-festival, it was nice to be in a reasonably-sized
location. Visiting the next stage/tent was not a massive schlepp,
and it didn’t take hours to reconvene with my mates. The
circular layout of the site made it easy to be on time for my
favourite band/DJ.
Fairground attractions gave a fun, unpretentious vibe to the event,
and the crowd was friendly and laid-back.
Musically, the tents were divided loosely into genre (live, electric,
drum and bass, breakbeat, hard house). It was pretty clear that
the organisers meant business, and wanted to attract those with
a passion and knowledge for their chosen style. In fact, at times
it felt a bit too earnest. It would have been nice to have a little
light relief in the form of an old skool/disco tent – more
laughter, and less gurning. The lightest thing on offer (to the
chosen few) was airless boutique-house in the Hedkandi VIP tent.
Although chill-out was included in the festival, it seemed odd
to not have a chill-out tent. After dancing my lils off in the
Soulwax arena, it felt like an absolute necessity!
Another downer was the restricted access. The acts didn’t
commence until 2pm each day, and the main area wasn’t open
until 1pm. This wasn’t a great thing for those who wanted
to visit a burger van, or go to the cash point.
Highlights
Kosheen
were a real treat, coming off like a less mannered
version of Goldfrapp. Here are a band who can flow seamlessly
between power-ballads, electro-pop, and drum and bass, and
still have a sound that is uniquely theirs. It’s a
mystery why these guys are not bigger.
Lemon
Jelly impressed with their psychedelic, cinematic
breakbeat opuses, as the sun came down on Sunday night.
Tiefscharz
gave us strict techno sounds that were unfussy, simple and
sexy.
My
Robot Friend was everything that pop music should
be - absurd, extreme and completely narcissistic. It’s
rather lazy to tag him as the ‘male Peaches’,
and it’s certainly wrong to put him in the reject
box marked ‘electroclash’. Who else brings his
set to a climax by jettisoning silly string over the crowd
from a glowing electronic phallus? Certainly not Shayne
Ward. At one point, Howard Robot took audience interaction
to a new level, by harassing people in the crowd with a
glowing camera probe. How very Powell and Pressburger!
Freestylers
were the singularly most impressive act of the whole weekend.
Whether they’re giving us punk, hip-hop or drum and
bass, their mission was to entertain, and that’s what
festivals are all about.
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The
Scratch Perverts threw together tracks by N.E.R.D, M.O.P,
M.A.R.R.S and probably lots of other bands with initials. This
was crowd-pleasing to the max, and the MC was sublime.
Brakes
shone with brilliant simplicity. They can write songs
about Dick Cheney without being the slightest bit po-faced. They
are zany, yet focused. Off-the-wall, but not contrived. It’s
big rock without the big rock clichés and some of their
songs are mere seconds long.
The
Radio Soulwax Arena on Sunday,
gave consistently tough ‘n’ funky tech-house, until
Soulwax themselves took over with Nite Versions Live. This was
followed by a mash-up extravaganza from Erol Alkan and 2 Many
DJ’s. These sounds, more than any other, epitomised what
the festival was about.
All
in all, Hi:Fi Festival had an impressive Freshman year. Let’s
hope it can retain the same personable charm in the future.
by David
Wright
