London Freeze Festival at Battersea Power Station

Set in the shadow of the unmistakable Battersea Power Station, on the south bank of the Thames, Freeze Festival offers a somewhat odd marriage between winter ski sports and music. The first night of the festival is an indie-pop affair with The Enemy headlining the main tent, in what can only be described as post-industrial wasteland.

Upon arrival you’re greeted by a 150 ft ski slope, and a band of Yetis and Ski-Girls. If I’d had my wits about me, I’d have wagered with my guest as to how many time we’d hear the words ‘Dude’ and ‘Awesome’ (We stopped counting at 75). First band I caught was Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, who at first I thought were Iglu & Hartly (they’re on the bill for Saturday). Now I don’t think Iglu & Hartly are as bad as people say, and by extension, OELS should be given the same grace. They won’t be everyones taste, but they do a type of electro-indie-pop that is all well and good, and seems to make kids move in a rhythmic fashion. Even if they do look like extras from Nathan Barley.

I took a little wander around after that, it was necessary to keep moving, because, and this is in no way an understatement, freezing. Those clever marketing departments, they can even control the weather. There was a little bit of a buzz going round the venue, as pro stunt skiers but on an exhibition of jumping, turning and landing (is it obvious I know nothing about skiing?) that, well I don’t know much, but it looked impressive enough. Heading into the main tent and even though I’m clearly easily impressed, Reverend & The Makers would only prove to disappoint. Opening with their biggest hit, clearly an attempt to thaw out the crowd, they seemed a little bit disconnected, and not particularly entertaining. I’m really not sure where the attraction is with this band, I don’t think Jon McClure is a particularly good frontman, and I don’t buy the quasi-political schtick he pedals. I didn’t stick around for long, there were better things to be doing.

Like checking out local rapper Example. With a new line-up, losing a drummer and adding a keyboarder, and offering a set that, while picked bits from his debut album, those songs have now evolved into different beasts, and having been released into the ether, Example has now got the opportunity to re-hash, re-mix and re-visit different hooks and more subversive genres than the rap-pop market he was unleashed upon over a year ago. Offering a load of new songs from the forthcoming album, he seems to have been spending a bit less time in watching MTV Raps, and a bit more time in seedy clubs of East LDN, Amsterdam and Ibiza. And that, if you couldn’t tell, is a good thing.

The evening closed with a riotous set from The Enemy. For some reason looking trim and urgent, perhaps its Toms new haircut, they bashed out a familiar set with a few new tracks. Having seen them many times in the last 18 months or so, I have to say it seems the time off they’ve had recently has done them good, and with stadium dates with Oasis on the horizon for next summer, a band that I originally thought wouldn’t do much past one album, look like they might, while ever breaking any musical boundaries, may at least have something more to offer.

London Freeze Festival continues until Saturday, with Cypress Hill headlining. Tickets are available here.

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