Artist of the Week: The Prodigy

When Liam Howlett walked into the XL offices with his 10 track demo in 1990, not even he could have guessed the significance of that meeting. After an initial limited pressing of ‘What Evil Lurks’ made its way into record bags and clubs across the country, it was the second release of ‘Charly’ that really set out The Prodigy’s stall. Blending an irreverent bank of samples into a rave scene anthem, ‘Charly’, despite critical passiveness at the time, captured the hearts of the clubbing scene and announced the talents of Liam Howlett, Keith Flint and Maxim Reality.

Watch: The Prodigy - Charly

What followed was one of the most influential electronic albums in history. ‘Experience’ enjoyed massive success as Howlett and co refined their breakbeat rave stab sound, and changed the face of clubbing in the UK. Inviting many imitators, nobody else quite captured the dance music zeitgeist anywhere near as successfully as The Prodigy.

Using samples from contemporary reggae, and pitched up vocal clips, Prodigy had made their initial trademark sound. Concerned about the unwanted label of ‘Kiddie Rave’, their second album saw them hone their underground influences and send things somewhat darker, getting back in touch with the maturing rave scene.

Watch: The Prodigy - Voodoo People

Introducing a big beat, industrial focus, as well as a punk and incendiary grunge edge to proceedings, The Prodigy’s ‘Music For The Jilted Generation’ displayed their adeptness at changing up the formula to stay one step ahead of the rest, consistently pushing their sound forward. Tracks like ‘Voodoo People’ brought their original sound up to date, whilst ‘Their Law’ demonstrated a darker sound that would enthrall the masses.

This darker sound culminated in the incredible, original, and controversial ‘Fat of the Land’. Very much in their big beat stride, the vocals of Keith Flint and the honed production values featuring sharper than ever percussive oomph lead to the infamous, oft parodied ‘Firestarter’ - propelling them well and truly into public consciousness. ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ followed, causing uproar with its controversial lyrics and shocking video from Jonas Akerlund. Restricted air times and bans followed, which only heightened the exciting furore around the Essex based dance music pioneers. Liam Howlett later sunk his teeth into Dirtchamber sessions, a truly original mix cd that showcased some of the bands influences and changed the way producers and DJs approached the medium.

A 2 year hiatus followed, leading to 2004’s welcome return with ‘Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned’. Toning down the controversy and turning back up the dancefloor sensibilities, the album went straight in at number one. Since then The Prodigy have returned with vigour to get back to their rave roots. ‘Invaders must Die’ and ‘How to Steal a Jet Fighter’ have seen Liam Howlett and co in rich vein of form, as they once again get in touch with the public’s desire for edgey, dancefloor music, full of passion, creativity, and tenebrous panache.

Watch: Warriors Dance Live - Glastonbury 2009

Their Warrior’s Dance festival tour, which saw some of the bands favourite artists team up with the Prodigy themselves to throw an action packed, high end production, well and truly blew audiences away when it was unleashed back in 2009. Its return, acting as a festival inside a festival at Serbia’s Exit is a tantalising prospect.

The Prodigy @ Creamfields 2013

However it’s their appearance at this year’s Creamfields Festival that has us most excited. Teaming up with one of the UK’s leading dance music festival brands and appearing alongisde a top drawer line up, The Prodigy and Creamfields become something of a dream combination, as two the UK's best loved exponents of rave put on a show at Daresbury Estate on 24th August. This being their only UK festival date as well, its an essential chance to see Britain's leading electronic innovators giving it both barrels in front of a home audience of twisted ravers.

Featuring the sounds of missiles, choppers and shelling, a Prodigy live gig is an assault on the senses, their tenacity and energy is as fresh as when they first started out. Very much aware of peoples desire to rave again, they triumvirates of dark pounding rave gleefully wade between aggression, violence, and euphoria - thrilling audiences with their tribal, visceral instigations. There’s simply nobody like them, nor will there be.

An overwhelmingly appropriate Artist of the Week if ever there was one.