- Gilles Peterson's Worldwide is less a brand than it is an empire. Disparate realms of music, often found at opposite ends of the record shop bins, come together with Peterson at the helm, and his fans follow. What's even more impressive than the ease with which he links guitar-strumming folk with bombastic club cuts is the zealousness of his delivery, which belies his decades-long career as a broadcaster and general tastemaker.
The annual Worldwide Awards honour the acts Peterson has found most impressive in the past year. KOKO made a remarkable setting for the 2014 edition, with a sold-out crowd clamoring onto stairwells and leaning out from the numerous balconies while a giant disco ball glimmered overhead. There was an opulent feeling to it all, which was fitting for the award ceremony portion of the event, though Peterson's amiable nature brought it all back down to earth.
The night certainly had its highlights. Jonwayne, whose Rap Album One was crowned Album Of The Year by Worldwide voters, shook the place to its core with his head-spinning production and nimble tongue on the mic. LuckyMe cohort Cid Rim, whose rework of CHVRCHES' "Recover" was named the #4 track of the year, was another high point, with neck-snapping drums and soaring melodies that outmatched many of the other performers. Five-piece outfit The Internet, fronted by Odd Future stalwart Syd Tha Kyd, was a fitting selection, too—jazz, hip-hop and the kind of energy found in Syd's vocal delivery are all trademarks of Peterson's sound world.
Though the awards delivered on many levels, there was a sense that perhaps 2014's edition wasn't as harmonious as years past. Some of the acts billed felt like filler—Mount Kimbie's performance, for example, amounted to 15 minutes of soul records played nearly start to finish. Swindle, though touted for unifying dubstep and jazz, provided both without really marrying the two. Some attendees bemoaned what they saw as a drop in quality compared to previous editions.
Still, it would be hard to walk away from the night's events disappointed. Whether it's acoustic ballads, sleazy funk, dance floor detonators or futuristic rap beats, Worldwide always has something to offer.