The world waited with bated breath when UNKLE released Psyence Fiction four years ago. As the man behind the Mo Wax label, and with DJ Shadow in tow, in had seemed that James Lavelle could do little wrong. As it turned out, that album divided fans, with some dissing it as a lesser DJ Shadow record. Lavelle moved on though, ditching Shadow in the process and hooking up with the unknown Richard File. The fruits of their labour, Never Never Land, was solid rather than innovative, lacking the edge to propel Lavelle back to the top.
Ten years on from ‘The Time Has Come’ EP and the UNKLE sound has shifted radically from its hip hop roots. Only the opening avalanche of drums and sampled vocals that herald their arrival onstage hark back to their debut. A staccato of hi hats announces ‘Reign’; Ian Brown’s vocal hangs in the air while the music swirls around like a ghostly wind. One can only stand in awe of this portent of the oncoming storm.
When it hits, it comes courtesy of a sample of The Cult’s ‘She Sells Sanctuary’. Later on they drop a loop from Smashing Pumpkins ‘1979’ but it’s with the malevolent rumble of Leftfield’s ‘Africa’ that the set really erupts.
Lavelle clearly has a lot to prove. But while he no longer is an arbiter of cool, on tonight’s evidence he most definitely can rock hard.