Features

Well, it’s here, the record I’ve been looking forward to with a mix of high excitement and an anticipatory dread that it might not be the album I’ve been waiting for.

You know those people whose taste you instinctively distrust? Who only ever seem to love music that you can't stand? For me, that's Noel Gallagher. Every time he steps up to proselytise on behalf of a band, my heart sinks. Here, after all, is a man whose every aesthetic decision seems predicated on a terrifying fear of the unknown, whose idea of the avant-garde is Beck. If it doesn't fit Gallagher's conservative idea of The Song, he'll never speak out in favour of it.

I've just been to see Kings Of Leon who were good, but not amazing, but I'll blog that later. Muse are headlining in less than 25 minutes and things are getting surreal...I must type quicker, dammit!

With the departure of the amazing Calexico from the stage, the festival site went eerily quiet, but for the pounding sounds from across the site. The Hives were well into their main stage set.

Last night's Benicassim ended for us at about 7am this morning, after chilling out from a hard night's work by the backstage swimming pool with the Arctic Monkeys, some Horrors, Fifi Geldof and various others... so Animal Collective and Calexico were a perfect way to kick off the festival's final day.

At nine o'clock, the omens are not great. Sly And The Family Stone are meant to be starting their headlining set right now, and the strict curfew on this inner-city festival is 10.30. On the main stage, though, Chris Stein has decided to add a five-minute guitar solo to "Rapture", while Debbie Harry looks on with a sort of professional vapidity. Blondie, in all their lumpen, functional weariness, aren't going to be finished any time soon.

At nine o'clock, the omens are not great. Sly And The Family Stone are meant to be starting their headlining set right now, and the strict curfew on this inner-city festival is 10.30. On the main stage, though, Chris Stein has decided to add a five-minute guitar solo to "Rapture", while Debbie Harry looks on with a sort of professional vapidity. Blondie, in all their lumpen, functional weariness, aren't going to be finished any time soon.

Very quick blog, must head out to the Arctic Monkeys, who have just gone on the mainstage, incredibly loudly. Having just come over from seeing The Human League, what a difference! Whilst the League were playing 'Human', the tent just literally started emptying - a quick check of the clock, the Arctic effect has just taken place once again. The whole of Benicassim, literally, is herding towards the mainstage towards Alex Turner and the boys who are tonight's headliners. The site is deserted from the far end down. This is going to be immense. Eep.

Just got back from an incredibly frenetic show by !!! - the US dance-punk outfit were incredible. Singer Nic Offer fuelled with helium sneakily passed onstage by CSS' Lovefoxxx who was still waiting in the wings having just played another technicolor show, welcomed the baying crowd squeaky high - and the show was on!

Dinosaur Jr are one of the veterans playing this year's festival - we are still looking forward to seeing Animal Collective and Calexico this weekend. J Mascis comes on to greet the main stage with long (natural) platinum blond locks, and plugs in his guitar...