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Fatboy Slim, RockNess 2010

Live Reviews

Cook doesn’t rely on well-known samples for his sound.

11th June 2010, RockNess / By Kirsty Cunningham
Fatboy Slim Through the course of tonight’s DJ stylings, the crowd will only be treated to four actual Fatboy Slim songs. At a less dance-centric festival this might have been a problem, but here at the banks of Loch Ness every minute is lapped up just as eagerly as the last.

Mr Cook, of course, inadvertently began the festival as a one-day event in 2006, and he looks every inch the proud dad as the first building strains of ‘Right Here, Right Now’ wash over the crowd. Wallflowers this audience are not - or maybe it’s just impossible not to move in the midst of this nostalgic number from 1999.

The rest of the set is clever, sharp and fast-moving. Cook doesn’t rely on well-known samples for his sound; he simply mixes and creates beats that are made for dancing. That’s not to say he doesn’t tease a little bit, though: the crowd are ecstatic when the main riff from Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ ‘Heads Will Roll’ is played out, but it’s stripped back straight away in a truly tantalising moment. Former hit ‘Weapon of Choice’ is given a slightly slower, more mumbling remix, inspiring many in the crowd to attempt Christopher Walken’s legendary dance from its video.

As will happen so many times over the course of this weekend, it’s a Queen song that becomes the most memorable. ‘We Will Rock You’ starts up and the ever-dancing fans catch on straight away, only to be in for a pleasant surprise as Cook’s video display in the background directs the crowd to sing “we will we will… RockNess!” A fantastic statement for the opening night of the festival, and as we look up at the stage we see that no one’s smile is as big as Norman Cook’s himself. A proud dad, indeed. Rating: 8/10
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