Chemical Spill!

A stellar line up has assembled at Koko tonight for the second evening of its BBC Electric Proms festivities. Such is the heavyweight pulling power of Old Auntie Beeb, that dance behemoths The Chemical Brothers grace the tiny Camden stage as the headline act, with French remix giants and industry darlings Justice an ample supporting foil. Where your average gig, dance or otherwise, might be content with a pre-recorded cassette of sub-standard pap to “entertain” the masses between acts, the BBC appear to have pulled out even further stops this evening, turning to their very own beats queen Annie Mac for the early birds, and the eclectic (if a little irritating) Zane Lowe later on.

On early evidence, the BBC seem to have got it right; Annie Mac ever reliable – those who braved the cold to queue early are amply rewarded with a typically superb set. Justice could easily be Daft Punk’s dark and brooding cousin. Their brand of pulsating beats clearly is able to tear a dance floor to shreds, and there’s a winning sense of the unclean about them. Nothing wrong with that. A little over derivative from their more established relative perhaps, but as set closer “We Are Your Friends” thumps into the Koko atmosphere, there will be few complaints.

Zane Lowe’s aforementioned eclecticism is an asset to him tonight – the ability to keep a crowd on their feet when following Pendulum with Arctic Monkeys is testament to the man’s abilities. Safe to say he has Camden “on board”. But with the promise of the almighty Chemical Brothers just minutes away, one would be correct to suggest that he’s not faced with the most difficult of audiences.

Tom and Ed enter the fray as heroes – bathed in white light, revelling in the godlike status bestowed upon them by this adoring London crowd. Along with The Prodigy, this is our great nation’s most coveted dance act, and for very good reason. Every aspect of this show is utterly magnificent. Lights and visuals which put Glastonbury to bed in June are employed to equal effect here, with nonchalant disregard for the discrepancy in venue size.