Live
< Justice at Somerset House, London
words by Stuart Stubbs
Somerset House was once home to the Inland Revenue. Back then, maybe a taxman or two would whistle in time to the click-clacking of his typewriter, but that'd only be if no one was watching. Then, in 2004, a series of summer gigs sprouted in the building's impressive courtyard and have refused to go away since. Some you'd expect to find boxed in by the regal 18th Century architecture (the soaring, beautifully classical Sigur Ros), others less so (the leather encased Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), Justice, surely not.
Crrrrunching Parisian new-techno that causes any disco-biscuit muncher to hump sonic booms harder than ever, this is not music for the serene banks of the Thames, surely? Only it is. It's music for anywhere actually. Last year Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Augé gave us our 'gig of the year' as they turned Brixton Academy into a BO chamber (nice, aye?), distorting and welding together cuts from their '†' album. Tonight it's the same garb, equally as thrilling, just with far more scenic surroundings.
'Genesis' still starts, coming on like the arrival of Darth Vader in a particularly theatrical mood. Hips start to jut and the rain that's momentarily suggested this evening could be a chore halts as if commanded to do so. Similarly, it's as if Justice summon the showers to continue once more to coincide with their Simian collaboration 'We Are Your Friends'. Unsurprisingly, its late showing in the duo's set, and the fact that it is what it is, means that a downpour is not only tolerated but welcomed, even if the washing away of our sins at the alter if of Justice does seem a little corny at the time – y'know the drill; heads tip back for a taste of acidic drizzle to the sound of euphoric cheers that meet the teasing a capella sample of "we are your friends" that Justice hit over and over again.
From that point on the band's (are they a band?) chart hit comes and goes, never failing to crowd please as it mutates into their 'Atlantis To Interzone' remix and a closing Soulwax re-working of 'NY Excuse'. The same thing happens earlier as a gapless 80-minute set is peppered with an Uffie vocal'd hook, nabbed from '†'s' 'The Party'.
Somehow, Somerset House is still standing as Justice link hands to take their bow. It should be rumble by now, but it's not. And we notice this because we look around us for the first time since the pair took to the stage. Until then our eyes are either closed or entranced by the fluorescent crucifix in between walls of stack amps that are as impressive as these innovators of dance music.
All photography by Mic Wernej
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