Primal Scream play new songs at EXIT

Serbia | | 12 July 2008

The band were in brilliant form on the Serbian festival’s main stage and tore through hits lifted mainly from last album ‘Riot City Blues’ .

But there was also time for four new tracks from their forthcoming record, ‘Beautiful Future’, which is due for UK release on 21 July.

The stand out song was the title track, mellow by the Scream’s standards but instantly likeable, featuring a hook reminiscent of Steve Harley Cockney Rebel. It could well be the next single.

Almost impressive was the bluesy builder, ‘Uptown’, which could easily sit on their previous album but at the same time shows a progression.

They also played current single ‘Can’t Go Back’ and the more electro tinged ‘Zombie Man’, before finishing on ‘Country Girl’, ‘Rocks’ and ‘Moving On Up’.

The band showed a new found energy throughout the set and it was one of the best performances of theirs VF has witnessed in years.

Clearly moved by the reaction from the crowd, bassist Mani grabbed the mic from Bobby Gillespie at one point and said: “Hello Serbia, it’s great to finally be here. Thanks for having us”.

Another main stage highlight was Paul Weller, who also appeared reinvigorated by the energy of the EXIT crowd and overran his set time quite considerably as a result.

Kicking off with ‘Blink And You’ll Miss It’, the former Jam singer played songs spanning his extensive solo career, swapping seamlessly from guitar to keyboard throughout.

One of the clear highlights was an epic version of ‘Shadow Of The Sun’ from the album Wild Wood, another was a stunning cover of ‘Wishing On A Star, before he bowed out with crowd favourite ‘The Changing Man’. 
  
Also on the main stage, Beth Ditto looked her most refined in years as The Gossip raced through their disco rock anthems, the singer sporting a flowery dress and failing to get down to her pants.

The band finished on ‘Standing In The Way Of Control’, which clearly resonated with the Serbian crowd and the spirit of this year’s EXIT as the festival campaigns for greater freedom of movement around Europe.

The early hours witnessed a master class from the new breed as rising dubstep pioneers Skream and Benga wowed the main stage, far making up for Laurent Garnier’s below par 3-hour set over in the dance arena.

Saying that, the Frenchman did have to follow directly from Soulwax, who gave a typically intense demonstration of their technological genius.

The Belgians later returned in their 2ManyDJs guise to see out the early morning hardcore with mashs up from the likes of MGMT, The Prodigy and John Paul Young’s ‘Love Is In The Air’.

EXIT Festival continues through Saturday and Sunday, stay posted for more here.

• Get VF Festival Alerts Direct to Your Desktop