Above And Beyond

If you didn't think Faithless could get any more big room with their music, then think again. They just did. Regarded as producing some of the biggest nights in electronica before the recent revolution and dominance of EDM, Faithless are back to celebrate 20 years since their nascent, now allowing the names in the industry to remix their classics into the songs that will satisfy the biggest electronic festivals around the planet.

Calling in A list names such as Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Avicii, Above And Beyond, Eric Prydz and Axwell among others, the album has been given a contemporary make over, using the highest quality DJ's from house, trance and dnb to return Faithless to the masses.

The album at first seems to be about the numbers. The group are celebrating 20 years, the album is entitled 2.0. It's 2 CDs long - one remix album, one greatest hits. And all the remixed tracks are considered second generation, entitled 'insomnia 2.0' for example.

Continue reading: Faithless - 2.0 Album Review

Bringing Ibiza to a field just outside Liverpool, Creamfields was back again, with a plethora of headline disc jockeys, showcasing Creamfields as the powerhouse of UK-electronic festivals. With as many headline acts and big room DJs as Ibiza, the only thing the Daresbury site cannot guarantee is the Mediterranean weather, though after years of being unfortunate to receive bad weather on a biblical scale, it was about time the festival punters fell serendipitously to some great weather. 

Everything about the festival now seems augmented, revamped, rejuvenated and seemingly reinvigorated. Both outside stages, the tents, and the brand new 15,000 capacity mega arena seemed to have massively upped the ante, with grade A lighting and theatre to match the quality of the artists orchestrating their crowd below. Whilst stage hopping is very accessible, the frustrating part of Creamfields is down to the embarrassment of riches they portray in the artists they book, which any regular Glastonbury reveller will tell you is the most vexing part of the festival - missing artists you want to see.  

Despite being a three-day festival, Saturday is the main attraction, as tents stay open long into the morning, providing that Ibiza like mentality. From 5pm-4am, the choices were overwhelming and this was the crowds' predicament. Annie Mac or Dannie Howard? Above And Beyond or Armin van Buuren? Chemical Brothers, Avicii or Jooris Voorn? Maya Jane Coles, Laidback Luke or Hot since 82? Alesso, Seth Troxler, Pete Tong or Steve Angello? Knife Party or Gorgon City? The set clashes were inevitable, though the positive outcome to this is that the stages never seem chaotically rammed to the extent of ruining the music and atmosphere, like with the Swedish House Mafia in 2011.

Continue reading: Creamfields Festival 2015 Live Review