Fred’s Back Review – The guest-packed homecoming of UK dance’s golden boy is an eclectic triumph | Fred again

Fred Again, also known as Fred Gibson, has had impressive success in recent months: a tour from Madrid to Mexico City, a six-night residency in New York, and the debut of dozens of songs that make up his new album USB002. He is now back home in the United Kingdom; Literally through his four-show residency at London’s Alexandra Palace, but also through his opening night musical tribute.

Respectively, Gibson plays Arctic Monkeys’ “When the Sun Goes Down,” a techno mashup of EsDeeKid’s “4 Raws,” and a mashup of Spice’s dancehall “So Mi Like It” to the Chariots of Fire theme over a drum-and-bass beat — patriotic comedy, but a lot of fun for its own sake, all of which show an utter disregard for any sense of purity in electronic music.

He begins his five-hour set at 5.30pm, interspersing his own recordings with back-to-back sets with Hamdi, Oubidan and Nia Archives. It’s not the cheery “hug the stranger next to you” catchphrase of his albums in real life. It’s a dark, heavy forest and a garage in the UK. Gibson’s love of London rap, from drill to consciousness, was then illustrated with a string of guest stars: on new track Lights Burn Dimmer, Jimmy T would make Mike Skinner proud; Berwyn delivers BerwynGesaff’s ostentatious neighbours; Blanco loses himself in Solo.

Later, jazz quintet Ezra Collective joined Argentine hip-hop duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso for a triumphant, pulsating performance of Beto’s Horns. Gibson’s production feels like a skeletal key for these collaborators, unlocking their best work: the occasionally unemotional Headie One is energized and rousing on Smoke, Back to Basics and Ain’t It Different.

London is the natural home of Gibson garage and drum tracks, but the more introspective and tender songs Adore U, Danielle (Smile on My Face) and a mix of Dermot Kennedy’s For Island Fires and Family and Lost, in Dermot (See Yourself in My Eyes), are some of the best-received.

Initially, to prevent people from filming instead of dancing, audience members were given stickers to place on their phone cameras – which lasted for a full five seconds. Regardless, the charming and energetic Fred Again ensures everyone stays in the present moment.