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Warning: long windedness!
Apologies for reviewage lateness. I have issues with procrastination that I’m seeing a psychiatrist for…well hopefully will be...when I get round to it.
I’ve been really looking forward to this years festival, more so than last year, and was quite worried that I’d be in for a bit of a disappointment. Having everything packed in my trusty green back pack (Camera, flashy things, whistle, sweets, fruit and waterproof just in case), got my lift at around four, and trucked over to Stratford-upon-avon. Took us a total of an hour to get there, but another hour and ten minutes in the traffic queues! Finally arriving on site, went to get in, where there was virtually no queue at all! Security was a complete joke – for more on that, see the other thread.
Once in, headed straight into the GK tent to try and find any TA’s. Mike was on, Push – Strange World the tune as I entered! Noticed Adams tallness at the front right. Not many TA’s were about so I wandered off to get some water. Off to the Beach area to find the ‘Scottish Contingent’ and watch the display planes. Anyhoo, the order of the night seemed to be to wander much, and get in many, many DJ’s. Here’s what I thought, in roughly chronological order:
- Mike: Much the same as last year, though I’d go as far to say it was ever so slightly better, in the fact that there were distinctly fewer, ‘yeah! Woo! Come On!’s’ than last year, though I didn’t stick around for long.
- Anne Savage: No as good as I remember hearing last time. She played Jonah – Shh...listen just as I was leaving, but was an unknown, and frankly, not very good remix so wandered off again.
- Picotto: Wasn’t quite sure what to expect from him, as its been a good while since I saw him last (GKGG ’01). His set was quite up and down for me, when it was good it was brilliant, but on the down parts it was a bit boring. Overall though it gets the thumbs up from Spin Doctor, despite a few dodgy mixes. How awesome was Blue Monday? 
- Adam Beyer: Some great tunes, but the tempo changes were way too much. It seemed like +/- 20bpm in some places!
- Clarke: Technically, he sounded quite good, but his trickery got too much for me at times. Despite this, I really enjoyed him, especially the dropping of Way of life! This was the only set I saw all the way though.
- Scott Project: Oddly, I seem to think we saw him, Adam doesn’t seem to think the same way. 
- Tiesto: Only caught the last few moments of Tiesto. I was glad to hear his remix of Adagio for strings, as now I can have an ‘official’ opinion as it were. It’s really not a patch on the Ferry mix, but I did actually enjoy it loads while it was on. Apparently, I exclaimed in amazement to Dave at one point ‘This has two breakdowns!’
- Paul Van Dyk: Absolutely loved his tunes! What he was playing really suited my mood at the time.
- Ferry: Classics aplenty. No complaints at all.
- Fergie: Geh – naff. Really killed the atmosphere with a massive BPM drop. Lay down out side for a while to grab some energy. lol
- Umek: Agreeing with others that this wasn’t his best, but it was still of a very high standard!
- Jules: Much better form than usual. Some great tunes. F&W – You Will Understand! TA numbers at this point in the main tent were very low so I danced for a while, but feet/tummy acheage prevented me from going to duration.
At some point went on a ride, which I don’t know the name of, and am in two minds as to whether it was a good idea or bad. It was definitely an experience. Also went to the oxygen bar, which was very refreshing. I’m surprised how wobbly it made me feel on my feet! Also saw snippets of Lab 4 & Andy Farley.
Good Points:
- No rain, mud or general wetness, save from, understandably, around the water points
- Some of the completely random conversations I had.
- Display planes!
- Sound system in the main tent.
- meeting new TA’s, and finally putting the names and faces together of some I’ve met before!
Set of the night:
Undecided – between Clarke, PVD or Ferry.
Tune of the night:
System F – Out Of The Blue
Bad Points:
- Two years running with out Nick Sentience. Boooo - This is not how things should be.
- Mobile phone lossage*
- length of my review.
* This is quite a mystery. My dear old mum suspects that I lost it somewhere inside global, however, I am positive I had it in the car on the way back, because I was texted instructions back to the car as I couldn’t find it! This leaves three possibilities; a) it was lost in the short walk between the grass hill at the entrance of GKGG to the car, b) was lost in the car on the way home c) was lost in the short walk from the car to the house, hmm, ok four, d) was lost inside the house. Tired ringing it, but I remember leaving it on silent, had a search of the car, no luck, turned the house upside down, still no luck. I have no idea where it is. I left a voicemail on it asking if it’s found to ring me so I can get it back, but I highly doubt people will be that generous, even though it’s a 3310.
That’s all form Spin Doctor’s rather long winded GKGG ’04 review. No pics from me I’m afraid. I have one of those ‘antique’ cameras which requires film (I like to hold the pictures damn it!) and, true to form I only took about 5, so on this film there are about 5 different events on it. Roll on GKGG ’05!
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