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Review: Ladytron Hydro Connect Festival Inveraray

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Posted in on September 4, 2008 at 12:24 am

Friday August 29th Oyster Stage

Inveraray is an odd place to host a festival. Not that Bizarre is complaining because it is also bloody gorgeous. Perched in the highlands with a cute little Wicker Man-type town nearby (which advertises such tourist attractions as “Scotland’s favourite jail” – surely an oxymoron if ever there was one), this should be ideal sightseeing fodder for any Northern backpacker. However, over the past weekend it was the sight of a big walloping music festival packing in acts as varied as Sigur Ros, the Manic Street Preachers and, uhm, Duffy. It is Ladytron however, playing on Friday afternoon, that really blows the ears of the crowd. Clearly all these Nine Inch Nails support slots have allowed the ‘Tron to “up” their sound to the max and anyone standing at the front (as this foolhardy writer is) experiences a loud ringing noise for the remainder of the weekend. It is worth it though, Ladytron as a live experience are something to behold.

Lead singer Helen Marnie bounces around like a woman possessed, bellowing out such delightfully perverse lyrics as “he only wants you when you’re 17, when you’re 21, you’re no fun.” However, it is this year’s rollicking slice of pop perfection, Ghosts (strangely thrown away as the second tune of the set), that sees a notable rise in crowd enthusiasm. Perhaps the band’s best known number, Destroy Everything You Touch, is saved for the finale and what a fine piece of electro-clash it is – the single that broke Ladytron to a wider audience and deservedly so. Still, on the evidence of how utterly stupendous the new album sounds live (including highlight Runaway) this is one band whose best days are still ahead of them.

And for those who weren’t there here is some amateur footage from youtube of Seventeen. Add the mud and the smell of unshowered campers and you could almost be there…

Please visit: www.connectmusicfestival.com