Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2012

Last year’s Freaks festival is reborn an hour from Tokyo near Lake Sagami as Xland, with a convincing lineup of bands and DJs. Headlining are UK dance trio Friendly Fires, who pretty much blew the lid off Makuhari Messe at last year’s Summer Sonic. Also on the bill are a number of international acts including UK chillout duo Seahawks, performing in Japan for the first time. Domestic acts run from instrumental polymath Shugo Tokumaru to veteran turntablist DJ Krush.

Sagami Pleasure Forest, Sep 1. (listings).