Fatboy Slim, Glasgow review: 'an eclectic mash-up'
The ever-enthusiastic Norman Cook brought together a diverse range of sounds to euphoric effect in Glasgow, writes Fiona Shepherd
Fatboy Slim, Barrowland, Glasgow ★★★★
Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim has filled some of the biggest hangars on the planet with his maximalist mix sets, so a three night residency at Barrowland was equivalent to an exclusive intimate club set. Except that there is nothing exclusive about a Fatboy Slim set. Rather, he is an ever-enthusiastic MC whose music and samples employ the testifying language of church to create a euphoric and welcoming environment.
His middle-aged congregation are long-term adherents, getting down on the friendly preacher’s instructions, while unsure if their knees could take the strain. Cook teased with snippets of his hits Praise You and Rockafeller Skank married to pumping beats, poised to reconstruct his back catalogue while the wraparound screen carried the instruction to “put your phones away and enjoy the moment”.
He played somewhat to acid house nostalgia with his visuals but his set was an eclectic mash-up. Tori Amos, Fleetwood Mac, Talking Heads were all fair game, the latter’s Life During Wartime allied to a tough and compelling techno rhythm and the most penetrating bassline of the night. Elsewhere, he spliced two contrasting anthems, Underworld's Born Slippy and The Killers’ Mr Brightside, and turbo-charged the gospel chorus of Stevie Wonder’s As before drawing the through line to house music with Danny Tenaglia’s Music is the Answer.
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The hard techno strains of his own Star 69 was an extended treat. Eat Sleep Rave Repeat, one of his indubitable bangers, was fitted with a Hi-NRG beat while Renegade Master retained its big beat roots. With the crowd now thoroughly warmed up, he brought out the rave klaxons for a closing salvo of Praise You and Right Here Right Now interpolated with Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. The Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction and his own Rockafella Skank also made a great pairing as he chucked in The Ramones and The Beatles at the last gasp. So many records, so little time.
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