Dan le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip and Bestival are a match made in heaven. Being signed on the Sunday Best label, the label that runs Bestival, this might be expected but this is more than just a commercial tie. This runs deeper.
Bestival is a strange mix of things; at night it’s a dance festival with some of the biggest names in dubstep, electro and house being present but in the strong light of day it offers space to mainstream alternative acts such as Mumford and Sons, Dizzee Rascal and the achingly beautiful XX. The variety of bands on offer is, in a way, a signifier for Bestival’s vision of what a festival in the year 2010 should be. This vision is probably best seen in the many art installations around the site as old peace symbols that your hippie aunt might recognise mix freely with the yellow smiley face of past raves.
It’s in front of this refined symbolism that Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip seem to fit so well. These guys though, unlike the festival, aren’t subtle about their mission. Dan le Sac lays down simple danceable beats whilst Scroobius effortlessly lets his positive, inoffensive rap roll off his tongue. Lyrics like, “they confuse love at first sight with lust at first light / it must have hurt right when trust first took flight / you’re young, you’ve no rights, you long for new heights / but some of those nights leave more than love bites” from the instantly likeable ‘Get Better’ are a perfect example of how Scroobius tries to make our generation think that little bit harder about their actions.
Live, their upbeat way of going about things works more than in mp3. The chorus from the previously mentioned ‘Get Better’ is simply the phrase “Get Better” repeated many times, boring? I don’t think so, hearing a crowd pour their hearts out and sing those two words with such passion is a powerful thing and shouldn’t be underestimated. Around half way through their set Scroobius pulls out a Bible and you almost feel the crowd cringe around you but thankfully it’s only for the brilliantly secular “Letter from God” a track that is meant to be God writing a letter to man. It’s a beautiful track that doesn’t set out to offend but simply tries to readjust the blame for the world’s problems onto those responsible, humans themselves.
This sort of thing might seem a little heavy for some but even if you give a cursory glance at Dan le Sac and Scroobius Pip (Top right) and take in the regal sight of Scroobius’ beard you’ll realise that these two just don’t take themselves too seriously.
This is why Bestival and Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip are so well suited. They both are trying hard to promote real and positive messages, be they promoting environmental issues or sexual responsibility but in a way which is actually enjoyable and not preachy and it works. It’s the best bits of the sixties remodelled for the new dance generation.
