Gorgon City

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

It feels like a lifetime since the Gorgons rocked our world with 'Ready For Your Love', the collaboration with MNEK that continued our re-emerging love affair with the skeletal, bomping house of the early 90s. One of those songs that never felt like it was getting old, it's hardly a surprise that it's made it onto on 'Sirens', the début album from the producers whose daytime names are Kyle Gibbon and Matt Robson-Scott.

They probably won't thank us for the label, but it's hard not to make comparisons to Disclosure, another relatively anonymous duo who owe a debt to the club vibes of 20th century. The differences between this and their album 'Settle' are in the margins, but present however. Both are impossibly slick, almost flawless, but whilst it was apparent that the Lawrence brothers were ready to take a few risks, 'Sirens' is so smooth it's almost featureless, constantly returning to a lexicon that predictably features wanting to be in love/being in love/being back out of love in what eventually feels like endless rotation.

Not that the boys don't have some pulling power: along with MNEK, the guest list here features Katy B, Jennifer Hudson and Maverick Sabre, amongst others. Of this big-hitting roster it's the latter which gets the best deal, dousing both 'Coming Home' and 'Hard On Me' with that rusty trademark squawk, his fractured pipes dragging some much needed soul from the source material. Misses Hudson and B are, in contrast, mutually left with some up front but fairly generic house workouts on 'Go All Night' and 'Lover Like You' respectively, marquee signings that could've both done with something that showcased their depth a little more.

Continue reading: Gorgon City - Sirens Album Review

With just hours until thousands of people flock to Portsmouth and Southampton for their annual ferry trip to the Isle of Wight Festival, it's time to look ahead to the first big event in the summer festival calendar.

Twelve years since the festival was resurrected, organiser John Giddings has steered Isle of Wight from strength to strength. With around 60,000 punters travelling to the Island, it's not just Seaclose Park that's transformed for the weekend, there's a real community spirit that's evident as buses wind their way towards the festival site. Past years have seen a surprise appearance from Kanye West for Jay-Z's headline set, rock royalty like Jagger, McCartney and Neil Young take to the main stage, and bands such as the Foo Fighters casually chatting to fans on the car ferry. This year looks like it will live up to the festival's reputation without a repeat of 2012's well-publicised mud bath. Although there's perhaps not many surprises on the line-up, there's still plenty to look forward to.

The top twelve to watch from June 12:
Boy George: If you're arriving early, the former Culture Club front man is headlining the Thursday night festivities. But far from a nostalgia act, George is touring his first album of original material in 18 years. He's embraced DJ culture and is likely to put on an impressive show whether he's behind the turntable or the microphone.

Continue reading: Isle of Wight Festival 2014 Preview