More about: LCD SoundsystemLoveBox Weekender

Lovebox burst into full bloom for its second and final day, looking outward rather than to London for inspiration. Chet Faker, Miike Snow, Jungle and Jamie Woon doused the Saturday crowd with an eclectic mix of chilled beats alongside feisty party tunes - but the day only really belonged to one band: LCD Soundsystem.

A warm, orange afternoon sky eases over Victoria Park in anticipation before the festival-defining set, and revellers were certainly keen to make the most of the weather, as Chet Faker delivered a host of languid dance beats - moulding a very different tone to the aggression of Friday’s grime laden celebrations.

The lustful funk of ‘I’m Into You’, dances masterfully between fan favourite ‘Cigarettes and Chocolate’ as the bearded producer, singer and songwriter performs both solo and alongside the stage band. The show, with its cacophony of instruments and sounds, echoes the experimental vibe of the day.

Miike Snow continues this immersive sound bubble – ensuring fractured beats and falsetto vocals from Andrew Wyatt draw a large crowd. The engulfing ‘Black and Blue’, an electric highlight from the 2009 self-titled record, appreciated as much as more recent pop highlights ‘Genghis Khan’ and ‘Heart Is Full’ from this year’s ‘iii’ LP. Calm and collected on stage, Wyatt, with his long hair and sunglasses, appears the embodiment of the music – emotive and fun, but all together unexpected and unpredictable.

As the set closes to favourites, including ‘Animal’, the prospect of Jungle, another band known for a dose of ice-cool, feels a step too far in the same direction for some. For those wanting a change, the elrow stage, with its South American party atmosphere, shone again, spinning astounding sets from De La Swing, B.Traits, Andres Campo, Steve Lawler, and Luciano – heightened by the love of the crowd.

Jamie Woon offered a more minimalist, acoustic feast on the West stage, reminding everyone just why he broke through five years ago with the soulful Mirrorwriting. ‘Lady Luck’ and the Burial produced ‘Night Air’ from that album produce the biggest cheers, but ‘Message’ and ‘Movement’, efforts from last year’s Making Time, do enough to demonstrate the more mature lounge vibe he is aiming for – whether it is enough to ensure him a lasting audience is a different matter.

But one band who need not worry about lasting appeal or relevance are cult electro-rock icons LCD Soundsystem. James Murphy, a man who, five years ago, decided to call time on the band with an emotional Madison Square Garden show, could not resist the itch of a return this year, and on tonight’s evidence it is clear why.

Quite simply, few acts hypnotise and suspend reality quite like LCD Soundsystem. Performing in London as part of a jam-packed summer schedule, Lovebox finds the band at its peak. Murphy is in his element, the voice and soul of the party – revealing the group played their first ever show in London, way back in 2002, and he intends to get just a drunk this time around.

If he isn’t sober, it’s difficult to tell, as every element in on point. With instruments and vocals crisp, the beats and synths wash through like a rainbow headrush; ‘US vs Them’ is a pulsing drum beast – entrancing to the core, ‘I Can Change’ an emotional rollercoaster of self-doubt, but all equal crescendos in their own right. Even if the years have passed, the effect of the music only gets more potent; electro-epic ‘Get Innocuous’ sees Murphy lose himself, not for the first time, in the swirling synths and Nancy Whang’s vocal. Eight minutes later, everything just about lands, having flown into orbit to some other galaxy.

Groove is key that holds the show together – simple and pure, but, as Murphy sings in on ‘You Wanted A Hit’ “there's lights and sounds and stories, music's just a part”. During their penultimate track, ‘Dance Yrself Clean’, he urges the crowd to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to bandmate Pat Mahoney. The guitarist then takes the opportunity to declare “refugees are welcome on this stage, this city, this island”. Celebratory, determined and irrepressible.

‘All My Friends” ends the show in typically emotive fashion, a heart-breaking yet life-affirming ode to age, friendship and life. Oh, there was also a huge disco ball, and a million other things - but you just had to be there.

Losing their edge? No chance.

LCD Soundsystem played:
Us v Them
Daft Punk Is Playing at My House
I Can Change
Get Innocuous!
You Wanted a Hit
Tribulations
Movement
Yeah
Someone Great
Losing My Edge
Home
New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down (With Happy Birthday interlude… more )
Dance Yrself Clean
All My Friends

More about: LCD SoundsystemLoveBox Weekender