At last, Wales' biggest dance all-dayer Escape has a proper headliner act with Underworld, the half-Welsh titans of the UK dance scene. The band that formed 28 years ago in Cardiff show no signs of throwing the towel in, either live or in the studio, continuing as they are to release their massive output through both downloads and nicely packaged CDs.

The sun is benevolently shining but staying cool is not a practical option at any of the five genre-themed arenas scattered around the Singleton Park. By early evening, bizarre columns of testosterone-rich perspiration steam, the freaky antithesis of dry ice, can be seen pouring skywards from the tent openings. Muscled up 'royd boys and Balearic pretty things, several in matching outfits, drift around the park seeking thrills and chills, and the Raveology tent sends out a hard beats remix of Underworld's ‘Born Slippy’ that points towards the big finale.

As the last rays of the sun hit huge inflatable flowers that decorating the main stage, Underworld appear. Dripping lustre, front man Karl Hyde (in a shirt as sparkly as a glitterball) leaps and poses to 'Cowgirl' (“an eraser of love”), a renowned club classic. The energy ignites instantly and the nurtured excitement progresses into 'Beautiful Burnout' from the band's current album Oblivion With Bells (review). Then there's the to-be-expected hands-in-the-air happiness of 'Two Months Off'. Each song has been supported by different background of stage graphics, be they stills of splintered ice, retro Space Invaders monitor screens or colour-changing inflatable glo-stick towers. The visuals for 'King Of Snake' cause much excitement as Hyde's big close-up face lights up the rear screen from his hand held video camera, which he soon turns on the crowd so everyone can enjoy that ‘look at me, I'm on telly’ feeling.

It's the Trainspotting-featured lager-boy anthem that most are here for, and when it hits the place erupts with collective maniac dancing. But for DiS it's the sinister and vocally disturbing 'Moaner' that steals the show. It rumbles threateningly towards its tumultuous climax, before slinking off like a wounded beast seeking vengeance, and then its lair. From that scintillating high, they close with 'Jumbo'. It’s a top song, although the relaxed swaying beat seems a stunted way to end a raucous evening. But under a still moonlit summer sky and after a fine box-ticking set, Underworld were always going to win tonight.

Photo: Tom Strickland