Basement Jaxx LIVE @ Brixton Academy 6.12.13

They were once an unstoppable force in the world of dance music but it’s no secret that Basement Jaxx have inevitably been overtaken in the progressive House race by other duos with a little more currency (cough, Disclosure). However, Felix and Simon are back in their old stomping ground of Brixton tonight to play the first of their two sold out shows and as the crowd mill into the 02 Academy, it’s clear that over 70% of said crowd were quite clearly raving to Basement Jaxx back in the day when it was their first time round.

It’s almost hard to believe that Remedy was released 14 years ago, fusing dance-hall and hip-hop into one glorious concoction and as the tunes from the album are splashed across the setlist including Red Alert the audience are taken on a blissful joyride through a sturdy career in the mainstream.

Instead of hiding behind basic visuals, Basement Jaxx are fully integrated into their show with it being as aesthetically entrancing as the music. A constantly controlled chaos from beginning to finish, the guest vocalists are in more ways than one the stars of the show. Adorned in multi-coloured karate robes, kimonos and feather headdresses, extravagance was clearly a highlighted subject on the Basement Jaxx tour mindmap. All four walls of the Brixton 02 bounce with a frenetic energy encompassed by the audience and Basement Jaxx themselves.

When you’re not watching a robot take to the stage for Where’s Your Head At or staring enthralled by the strobe lights corybantic flow you start to realise just how fucking good the vocalists actually are. I presume it’s hard to belt out all Whitney-like on most days anyway but when you’re throwing yourself around the stage whilst doing so, it really is kinda impressive.

Timeless classes like Oh My Gosh, Do Your Thing and Good Luck are met with just as much euphoria as their lesser known tracks and with an audience whose feet don’t stop moving throughout the whole set alongside the biggest gig party atmosphere this side of 2013 you’d be a fool to ever question Basement Jaxx’s relevance.