Fernhill Farm, 10 miles south of Bristol, is becoming a bit of a home for lovers and players of math-rock. On the 20th of August, the tiny plot of land again played host to ArcTanGent, a largely experimental endeavour cut from the same chunk of wood as 2000trees in Gloustershire; the other brainchild of organiser James Scarlett. This pulsating three-day sausage fest returned for its third consecutive year last week, featuring a plethora of returning acts and largely undiscovered talents. Varied and truly international acts graced the four stages with twinkling guitars, rumbling basses, and maniacal drumming. It was splendid and chaotic.

Here is part one of my top 10 list.

65daysofstatic

Taking some time out of a cramped studio in Guildford and taking to the open public on the Yohkai stage was evidently a very necessary move for 65days to get some things off their chests. The band have been fully embroiled in writing the music for impending game ‘No Man’s Sky’ for some months now, and big gigs like these provide them with a well-needed escape from the computer screens. Between songs in their first night headline set, 65days took their pent-up rage against the machine to their adoring fans, as they have done before, citing bank bailouts and missiles as reason enough to (in guitarist Joe Shrewsbury’s words) “drink the Tories’ eye juice like Soleros”.

Regardless of their bizarre anti-establishment tirades, 65days met their pre-festival anticipation with explosive aplomb. Having become one of the stalwarts of electronic post-rock in their 14 year existence, the band dug into their repertoire to produce high-intensity songs that set up the festival beautifully. Highlights such as ‘Crash Tactics’ and ‘Unmake the Wild Light’ blared out of the gargantuan side-stage speakers, sandwiching a band who have clearly found their home in an ever-increasing sea of on-stage gadgets and cables.