The Big Chill Festival 2004

United Kingdom | by Ross Purdie | 31 July 2004

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Considering it's set in a stunning bowl valley deep in the rolling hills of Herefordshire, The Big Chill has a distinctly London feel. Hoards of 20 and 30 somethings flood in from the city, bringing hampers of Champagne and humous, setting up camp under gazebos to protect themselves from the relentless sunshine. The ensuing city-settlement is perhaps best summed up by Saturday morning performers Orijahnal Outernational, who instruct 'London' to 'put your hands in the air'! A Freudian slip, ironic quip, or a true reflection of the festival's demographic? For the strawberry-munchers among us there's even a croquet lawn ('It's bang-in' - apparently) but a more rural feel is evident at the odd 'Ewe Phoria' set-up, where grown men and women dress up as sheep and crawl around a mock-up farm, getting herded into a pen by an overexcited 'sheep-dog' and farmer, complete with staff and whistle. It's a lot funnier than it may sound. But if we needed a true reminder that we are in the country it comes when a mini-whirlwind tears through the valley, spinning a gazebo 30 foot into the air before it comes back down to earth with a crash. And that's nothing to do with mushrooms, as some suggested. Oh, and if we needed any other reminder of where we are, Eastnor Castle is the most beautiful festival site in the UK - and that's without any enhancement either.       

The musical line-up is as eclectically diverse as ever, with Coldcut and Lemon Jelly (Friday and Saturday night's headliners) pulling the largest crowds. But it's two Norweigan bands, Magnet and Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band that leave the biggest impression. Seeing as this is their first Big Chill, Magnet (Saturday 2.20pm) come across as seasoned pros. Virtually melted into their chairs and occasionally taking time out to lie down at the front of the Chill Stage, the country-influenced four piece take their time over everything, delicately constructing deeply powerful lullabies that scud between the sinister and the uplifting to create a dusty, desert ambience. Frontman Even Johansen takes his seat somewhere between Thom Yorke and Richard Ashcroft (minus the attitude of either) and, while his songwriting can be as moody and melancholic as his husky Eskimo voice, he relays an ever relaxed optimism that permeates through his warped fairytale balladry. Locating that illusive spit of sand dividing the seas of soft rock and trip-hop, Magnet invite us into their own unique and unpredictable space, tinkling pianos and acoustic guitars combining over crashing drum beats and grand brass pomp. Bob Dylan's 'Lay Lady Lay' is a highlight, despite the hit single's collaborator Kate Rogers being absent due to illness, and 'The Day We Left Town' is so achingly amazing that Even even bothers to stand up.

'Ralph Myerz' (aka Erelend Sellevold) on the other hand cannot sit down (Saturday 8.45pm). Looking like he'd fit straight into Linkin' Park, kitted up in skater boi rock get-up and cap, the Bergen-based DJ thunders around stage flanking speakers and working the crowd into a sea of carnival carnage. Having grown up in the same town, it's perhaps inevitable that RMATJHB's cheeky summer, pop-tinged electronica would be compared to Royksopp - but it's much better than that. The band's two stickwielders, a drummer and a percussionist, lock head-to-head in gladiatorial battle, eyes constantly connected, goading eachother, slamming shit out their sets and building a towering wall of drummed-up glitterball funk. It's a walzer ride of '80's electro, sampling Pacman-like bleeps and burps, which keep us munching into the evening. We're even featured on the last tune as Ereland plays dentist and asks us to 'aaah', the sound being recorded and incorporated into the song's intro. RMATJHB have come a long way this summer, having already filled the prestigious opening slot at Glastonbury - the one that helped propel The Darkness to fame the previous year. Not bad for a band that only got together because they were asked to appear at a local festival as a one-off favour. So expect much more from them now but make sure you see them live - their recorded sound is much more down-tempo, the band describing themselves as the character 'Two Face' from Batman.