Fred Again review – guest-heavy homecoming for the golden boy of UK dance is an eclectic triumph

Following a six-night stint in NYC, Fred Gibson returns to London for a brilliant, five-hour melange of his own tracks and wildly energising guest-star mini-sets

Fred Again, AKA Fred Gibson, has been on an impressive run in recent months: a tour from Madrid to Mexico City, a six-night residency in New York, and the emergence of dozens of the songs forming his unfolding album, USB002. He now comes home to the UK; literally with this four-show residency at Alexandra Palace in London, and also in the musical homages he pays on the opening night.

In succession, Gibson plays Arctic Monkeys’ When the Sun Goes Down, a techno mix of EsDeeKid’s 4 Raws, and a blend from Spice’s dancehall track So Mi Like It to the Chariots of Fire theme over a drum’n’bass beat – comedy patriotism, but very enjoyable for it, and all showing absolute disregard for any sense of purism in electronic music.

He begins his five-hour set at 5.30pm, interspersing his own discography with back-to-back sets with Hamdi, Oppidan and Nia Archives. It’s not the euphoric “hug-the-stranger-next-to-you” of his Actual Life albums; it’s dark, heavy jungle and UK garage. Gibson’s love of London rap, from drill to conscious, is then made clear with a series of star guests: on new track Lights Burn Dimmer, Jamie T would make Mike Skinner proud; Berwyn delivers a braggadocious BerwynGesaffNeighbours; Blanco gets lost in himself on Solo.

Later, jazz quintet Ezra Collective are joined by Argentine hip-hop duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso for a triumphant, pulsating performance of Beto’s Horns. Gibson’s production feels like a skeleton key for these collaborators, unlocking their best work: the sometimes impassive Headie One is energised and excitable on Smoke, Back to Basics and Ain’t It Different.

London is the natural home for Gibson’s garage and drum’n’bass tracks, but the more introspective and tender Adore U, Danielle (Smile on My Face) and a mix of Dermot Kennedy’s For Island Fires and Family and Lost, into Dermot (See Yourself in My Eyes), are some of the best received.

At the outset, to prevent people filming instead of dancing, members of the audience were given stickers to put on their phone cameras – which lasted all of five seconds. Regardless, the charming and energetic Fred Again ensures everyone stays in the moment.

• Fred Again plays Alexandra Palace, London, on 13, 26 and 27 February