A few weeks ago Merek from Invasion went down to Minehead to see Chrome Hoof perform at ATP. ATP, or All Tomorrow’s Parties if you didn’t already know, is a legendary avante garde music festival (est. 1999) that takes its name from an old Velvet Underground tune.

Part of what makes ATP so amazing is that it uses the oft-overlooked British holiday camp as its venue. For three days straight, 2000 or so chilled hipsters take over either the Butlins at Minehead or Pontins up in Camber Sands. It’s got more creature comforts than a normal festival due to the lack of mud, the absence of disgusting portaloos and the reassuring presence of a solid roof at night to avoid the inevitable rain (everybody has a chalet!). And what’s more the whole thing’s super friendly (that’ll be the pills – ED).

Another thing with ATP is that the headline act traditionally curate the festival, inviting their favourite performers down to play and even going so far as to programme the weekend’s television. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, who were recent headliners at the festival, described it as “the ultimate mix tape” and this pretty much sums it up.

A true mark of a great guitarist is the ability to 'rock with your cock out' without actually exposing yourself...

On this occasion it was Portishead topping the bill and their ‘mix tape’ was pretty awesome by all accounts, with some incredible acts from across the spectrum. The opening night was arguably owned by one of the UK’s most exciting live bands, the one and only Chrome Hoof. This silver-clad, disco-prog-rock behemoth has been blowing the collective minds of gig-goers for years and with a fantastic new album about to hit the streets, the Hoof rocked ATP like a colossus. A day or so later I was wandering about and managed to catch a few words with founding member Milo Smee.

At times it felt like I was in a David Lynch movie or something

Let’s be honest, you guys are revered for your music but you also have a reputation for, err… let’s say ‘partying’. What did you make of the whole Butlins vibe? It’s hard to explain to anybody who hasn’t been to an ATP before how a weekend at Butlins could actually not be shit.

We survived. We had sentinels spread out in a few hotspots - of which our chalet was one. Unfortunately I was quite ill so had to be the resident square and keep chucking noisy, drunken people out so I could get some sleep. I felt a little bad because people had just come back from a mission to bring a music centre over to step things up. But not really that bad. One of our members vanished at some point and wasn't seen for days…

The mosh pit grew and grew as you played, partly because almost all your live tracks have a huge, pounding dance feel to them. You've got the groove!

No, YOU got tha' groove!! People dancing with a common purpose is not something always associated with a live band, but it is part of our ritualistic heritage. Sometimes people who would never listen to disco or techno or any dance music, find they can't deny the 4/4 groove-magic. Metallers and klubboids unite! That's transmutation of base trends... so is vodka into cosmic manure.

The Hoof really took the roof off. As far as twenty-six piece, silver coloured, psych-rock, hooded multi-instrumentalist bands go Chrome Hoof are up there with the best of them.

ATP at Butlins was an amazing weekend of music throughout, with this writer particularly enjoying Black Mountain, Sunn-o))), Om and the raw blues of Seasick Steve. The next day featured performances from the Aphex Twin and lots of other acts; we ended up hanging out at Butlins until about 7:00 or 8:00 the next day. The whole thing was amazing and we’ll definitely be heading out again next year.

Chrome Hoof's latest album Pre-emptive False Rapture is out now on Southern Records. www.myspace.com/chromehoof

The two next ATP Festivals take place in May 2008. www.atpfestival.com