Friday’s all sunshine and smiles at the SonarVillage. The night-time frolics have taken their toll and the shady patches under the trees are the ideal spot for chilling on the astroturf. More than one sonarite seems to have gone home just to shower but hasn’t gone anywhere near their bed (unlike some who slept an impressive 10 hour nap and feel as fresh as roses). There are few names I recognise on the playlist so I spend most of the day flittering about, ducking in and out of the various stages and exhibitions, and hearing whatever music catches my ear.

One gem I was really looking forward to is Jeff Mills’ sountrack to Fritz Lang’s cult masterpiece Metropolis. I’d already heard the new soundtrack which stands alone as a brilliant composition in itself, but listening to it whilst watching at the film is a different affair altogether. Every image is impeccably synchronised with the music and captures the restless and distressing atmosphere to perfection. An excellent fusion of images and sounds, by far superior to the various-artist soundtrack they made us swallow in the eighties (do you remember that awful Freddie Mercury intervention?). A beautiful reinvention in the best tradition of Philip Glass’ Dracula (or the magnificent Koyaanisquatsi). Well done, I’d been waiting for someone to do this!

Most of the afternoon drifts by without anything terribly exciting happening. But towards the end of the day Lemon Jelly come on and play a cheerful, upbeat set wandering into the uncharted territories of country music, via a spot of classic funk, then back home with the crew from Loveboat for a bit of Frank Sinatra (or something like that). Just the stuff on this lazy afternoon, when all you really fancy is to kick back and lounge in the shade.

It’s happened to me before: I swear blind that I can’t possibly survive another night at Sonar, then somehow, someone talks me into it. So in spite of my best efforts I’m back on the runway, trying to make up my mind whom to go and see. One of the most awaited shows. is Leila over at the SonarPub. Apart from a little trouble with the sound, Leila Arab demonstrates that the success she enjoys is no coincidence. She runs through some of her most famous tracks with the help of various different vocalists, concentrating mainly on material from her last LP “Courtesy of Choice”. The visuals graphics are simple yet effective: a camera recording Leila’s movements behind the mixing desk and it leaves everyone with their mouth wide open. Andrew Weatherall & Radioactive Man take the stage straight afterwards and bring us an experimental techno set with excellent visuals. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire in the 21st century. Brilliant.

Time to check out the SonarClub (the scary stage, the size of a football pitch) where Masters at Work are spinning. I’m not a big fan of house, but the set is imaginative and lively. These guys really know their stuff! The pace is pleasantly steady, and rather than the somewhat monotone rhythms I associate with house, these tunes have brilliant, complex and varied rhythms, always backed by a solid bassline with a cool funky edge. I tend to get a bit bored with house, but tune after tune, the masters have me totally hooked. This is house at its best, like I remember it from ten years ago! And it’s really good fun. They slip us the odd classic, embarassing tunes we loved in the 80’s, and seamlessly blend everything from “Ride on time” to melodic piano instrumentals. They even pop a beautiful acapella into the cauldron for us to daydream to and before you know it, it’s four o’clock in the morning! Time to give Frankie Knuckles a chance at the decks, and true to his fame, he picks up from where the masters left off and carries it off perfectly. I thought I was going to flake out after an hour ago, but they’ve got me all charged up now. Frankie’s set is wicked, and a brilliant sequel to Masters at work: just as varied and enticing, and hard as I may try, cannot leave until six o’clock when he’s done. A good day for house.