At this stage, your correspondent was running on fumes, but there is no better group to lift the spirits of the tired and weary than Daft Punk. Playing atop a huge pyramid, situated in the middle of a giant metal latticework compromised of small triangles, this was quite the spectacle, with some stunning visuals and one of the best light shows I’ve ever seen.
Of course, this is electro-funk played by robots, as the presence of the two mechanoids behind the decks attests. Fittingly, they kick off with ‘Robot Rock’, which transforms the venue into a giant bouncy castle. Throughout the set, the duo veer between funky, danceable grooves and corrosive, pounding techno that might have even Alec Empire ducking for cover. Unsurprisingly, the hits go down a storm, with ‘Around The World’ eliciting a tremendous response early on. However, one of the highlights of the show, and indeed, of the week, arrives with ‘One More Time’, during which the rain that we’ve stayed one step ahead of throughout the past seven days finally catches up with us and pours down in bucketloads.
Of course, ‘One More Time’ is a phenomenal, life-affirming piece of music to begin with and, somehow, the fact that we’re all dancing our arses off in the pissing rain makes the atmosphere even more mindblowing. One awesome, pulverising version of ‘Da Funk’ later and it’s time for home. It’s been an amazing week of music but, at this stage, some R&R is badly needed.
We are human after all.