“Anarchy is a way of life,” declares Bloody Beetroots founder member and focal point Robert Rifo while telling Gigwise what inspires him. An hour later, he’ll take to the stage all masked up and rearing to go whipping 60,000 revellers into a frenzy by way of his band’s anachronistic techno metal hybrid. The Bloody Beetroots full band live experience is a very different one to Rifo and regular sidekick Tommy Tea’s DJ sets. Playing into the hands of a receptive crowd, they’re a revelation and one which is duly devoured by a rabid audience only too willing to engage in the Beetroots’ eclectic musical melee. With three albums already under his belt and a fourth one which he’s due to start working on in September, Rifo and The Bloody Beetroots deliver the perfect accompaniment to a hedonistic Saturday night in the most idyllic of surroundings.
Earlier in the evening, Little Boots aka Victoria Hesketh also tells us about the new record she’s making before going on to drop a set of hardcore electro that’s equally well received by her adoring masses. Nowadays based in LA, not even a delayed flight can dampen the spirits of the Blackpool born musician-cum-producer-cum-DJ and while tonight’s exercise is more about keeping the dancefloor filled, the tracks she does preview off her forthcoming EP suggest this might just be her strongest body of work to date.
Also making a welcome return to the live arena are Icelandic experimental collective Múm. Having spent the past few years embarking on other projects, particularly guitar playing vocalist Ólöf Arnalds whose solo career has taken off in its own right during the band’s hiatus. Playing a set largely based around improvised interpretations of songs from their flawless back catalogue, Múm provide a welcome respite to the relentless onslaught of electronica and techno that dominates Saturday’s bill. Elements of post rock, ambience and traditional folk all seep into the mix while Arnalds and fellow singing multi-instrumentalist Hildur Guðnadóttir infuse a degree of drama into their band’s energetic performance. While there’s no hint of any new music in the pipeline, their set is an undisputed highlight and one that’s also an early contender for performance of the weekend.
Utrecht based four-piece Kensington also put on a confident performance, ably demonstrating the organisers’ decision to promote them to the Main Stage slot left vacant by London Grammar’s cancellation was indeed the right one. Bucharest hip hop collective Subcarpati also wow a huge crowd clearly enamoured by MC Bean and co’s indigenous concoction of rhymes, beats and not so obvious samples.
Elsewhere, London DJ Romare and Canadian minimalist techno legend Richie Hawtin also turn Banffy Castle into one huge all encompassing rave party, the former’s ‘One Night’ in particular proving something of a hit with all and sundry. Similarly, UK garage producer Zed Bias also fills the Booha floor and some, taking us back to the old school on more than one occasion during his ninety minutes set.
Electric Castle continues today with the likes of Idles, Jessie J, Nothing But Thieves and Cancer Bats all set to bring Transylvania’s finest musical shindig to an eventful climax.
