Fred Again at Reading Festival review

Undoubtedly the most important breakout digital act in latest reminiscence, Fred Once more and his distinctive model of emotional digital music captured a lockdown (and finally, post-lockdown) feeling of partying by collective grief and uncertainty.

It shortly progressed to a staggering stay present, bolstered by a powerful Boiler Room set and sealing the take care of a four-night Alexandra Palace run and an Different Stage standout at Glastonbury 2022. It’s a present that’s drawn record-breaking crowds at different festivals (Helsinki’s Stream Competition and Budapest’s Sziget Competition each noticed staggering numbers this summer time), and Studying isn’t any completely different. 

“We don’t usually begin a present like this,” he says of the rumbling ‘Flip On the Lights once more..’  that kicked off tonight’s set, “however I knew precisely how I used to be gonna begin this, as a result of I understand how it feels to be in that crowd”. It shortly turns into obvious that Studying’s Primary Stage has by no means seen a present fairly like this. Apart from the truth that digital music hasn’t had high billing since Disclosure headlined in 2016, the dimensions of this present and the dimensions of the gang might mark a big shift in Studying’s reserving habits.

Largely forgoing the heartfelt speeches and slow-building piano tracks that set him other than another DJ or producer, Fred is firing on all cylinders tonight. Large hitters like ‘adore u’, devoted to his little sister, and glitchy banger ‘leavemealone’ arrive early on, Fred dashing between his scissor carry opening set and the primary stage.

Evidently, Fred Once more is so a lot better when it’s simply the bangers. The earth-shattering run of ‘BerwynGesaffNeighbours’, ‘Jungle’ and ‘Rumble’, all from 2022’s ‘USB’, the latter polished off with an additional Child Keem pattern and a heavy D&B outro, is inimitable. It’s the Saturday evening at Studying, and with nothing billed in opposition to him bar the late 2000s indie of The Wombats, he’s making each minute depend.

After that intense excessive, we’re again to traditional Fred for the house stretch. ‘Angie (i’ve been misplaced)’ and ‘Clara (the evening is darkish)’ set the stage for his breakout hit, the Blessed Madonna collaboration ‘Marea (we’ve misplaced dancing)’ that minimize straight to the guts of these lacking partying throughout the pandemic. Loads of Fred Once more’s ‘Precise Life’ collection is a transparent descendant of artists like James Blake and Caribou, however as is clear on this very discipline, nothing cuts by like Fred.

By the point ‘Billie (loving arms)’ and ‘Delilah (pull me out of this)’ arrive to shut out, there’s a sort of euphoria felt throughout the competition that doesn’t come round usually. Reserving Fred Once more.. to headline a competition normally berated with “I assumed this was a rock competition!!” feedback might’ve been a threat, nevertheless it’s one value taking when the payoff is that this intensely good. 

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