CLUBS

90s behemoths Leftfield are back but it’s not quite a full reunion, as Adam Anonymous finds out.

Leftfield’s return hasn’t followed usual templates of long-awaited comebacks. There’s no new record or ‘Greatest Hits’ to promote. Even calling it a reunion is inaccurate: Paul Daley has decided to concentrate on solo endeavours while it’s Leftfield partner Neil Barnes who’s resurrected the 1990s dance leviathans, aided by original vocalists Djum Djum, Earl 16 and Cheshire Cat. Either way, after a successful festival season testing the waters, their biggest live tour in a decade is ready to roll.

“I thought it was worth doing because there’s been such a response,” says Barnes. “It was strange initially [without Daley] when I started in January but now I’m used to this. You have to get on with it. Plenty of bands work without a member. And that’s not to take away from the fact that Paul was absolutely essential in the making all of this music. We were a team.”

Treading a tightrope betwixt nostalgia and dragging Leftfield into 2010, Barnes won’t be breaking out any new tracks on this tour. Instead expect to hear certain classic tunes – from a back catalogue that includes many (‘Open Up’, ‘Swords’, ‘Afrika Shox’ and, of course, Guinness ad soundtrack ‘Phat Planet’) – rewired to within an inch of their lives. “I’ve had to modernise some of the music,” he explains. “I don’t mean the main themes, because that’s Leftfield and I can’t change that, that’s what people expect. But some tracks are remixed, given a twist for ‘now’. I’m remaking tracks after 15 years. It’s an enormous job. I don’t just want to regurgitate everything. I get bored.”

Barnes is understandably coy about the sonic damage Leftfield’s famously room-shaking soundsystem can legitimately inflict in an age of health and safety regulations. Nevertheless, it’s probably wise to come equipped with a decent set of earplugs when they hit Bristol. “We’ve got potential to do earth-shattering things,” he laughs. “The system we’re taking is potentially much more powerful than the old one. It’s just how far we can go…

“The whole thing is nostalgic, I have to accept that,” he adds. “But I’ve gone back to original album versions which we didn’t do live, so it’s an old thing that feels new, really. It makes me very emotional to think that after so many years a lot of people want to come and see us. Leftfield fans have got very high standards and they’re not willing to accept a pastiche.” 

LEFTFIELD PLAY THE O2 ACADEMY, BRISTOL ON THUR 02 DEC.
 

Copyright Adam Anonymous 2010

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