Boorman's Picks: Top Five Zoo Project Festival Acts

Image: Zoo Project

Entering their third festival year, Ibiza's Zoo Project will bring their own brand of insanity to Donington Park on September 12th, deep in the forest. Expect to rub shoulders with various species, including Racing Ostriches, Mermaids and Gentleman Chimps; and of course a shed load of musical talent. Here are my top five must sees:

Ten Walls

The man of the moment - or perhaps the walls of the moment - with signature squelching brass and wonky ambience, we all want to know how a Ten Walls live set cuts it.

Ten Walls has recently been outed as Mario Basanov, who was gradually building a reputation on the underground with releases on the likes of Needwant and Moodmusic, but his Ten Walls moniker has really propelled him into the stratosphere. 

You couldn't go to a major club in Ibiza last summer without hearing 'Gotham', so I for one am desperate to know how the man behind it rocks a dance floor.

DJ Falcon

This is a bit leftfield - you don't see DJ Falcon on many line ups, but he's bound to get on well in a zoo! This man was an innovator in the late nineties and early part of the century, - right at the forefront of the French filtered house sound that was doing the damage back then with 'Together' and 'So Much Love To Give' on the legendary Roule Records. 

If you listen to the recording of the last set he played in the UK, you know it'll be absolutely ideal at a festival. Eclectic, relentless, ravey and generally fun; that'll do nicely.

Maribou State

As with Falcon, it just seems to make sense at a festival, but this time in the sense of lounging about and generally feeling surreal, rather than raving it up. There's an old skool trip hop feel to Maribou State, but also with a modern, bang-on-the-money dubstep fidget.

Check out their recent treatment of Fatboy Slim 'Praise You' (above). These boys have got an angle.

James Zabiela

The ultimate performer, you could feasibly watch Zabiela playing with the sound off and be entertained. What bit of technology is he going to use to mangle his set with this time? It's all part of his still fresh allure.

James Zabiela @ Lancaster Castle A-Wing Prison from Nhapitapi on Vimeo.

What makes it more exciting is his recent thrust and direction. He's really been banging out the techno rumble of late, as you can see from this video live at our very own A-Wing the other week, which should make for the perfect soundtrack for a balmy September afternoon and evening.

Nightmares On Wax

This is my Zoo Project lifetime achievement award basically. Having just released their seventh album on Warp Records, you've got admire how these boys still remain relevant. 

They'll be in Ibiza for a good bit of the summer, spinning at We Love, but if you don't have the use of a plane, then take the opportunity to join me in paying homage to a quarter century of absolute quality.

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