Luke Vibert

Luke Vibert is a British recording artist and producer known for his work in many subgenres of electronic music. Largely responsible for pioneering the electronic music genre known as Trip Hop under the alias Wagon Christ, made from forms of ambient music mixed with instrumental forms of hip hop music and slow break beats. Vibert has also recorded under many different well known other musical aliases, most notably Wagon Christ, Kerrier District, Plug, Amen Andrews, Ace of Clubs, Luke Warm and Butler Keiv. He is based in London and tours and performs regularly all around the world.

Vibert grew up in Cornwall, England and played bass and drums in punk and rock bands growing up. Later a key member of famed British electronic musician Aphex Twin's Rephlex Records crew in the early 1990’s. Spurred on by the success of his friend Richard D. James (Aphex Twin), Luke began recording and releasing some of his own music and later released a collaborative album, Weirs on Richard James’ Rephlex label. Luke’s work attracted attention of Casper Pound of Rising High Music label who commissioned an ambient music album from Vibert, his first full length solo album, Phat Lab Nightmare, released under his now infamous alias Wagon Christ in 1994. A groundbreaking record which generated a great deal of buzz and attention for the young producer and his prolific output of releases

Vibert would go onto produce much more music under the Wagon Christ name and eventually signed to popular London based record label, Ninja Tune Records for many of his Wagon Christ releases and later to major label, Virgin Records. Vibert also uses other aliases such as Plug (for his drum and bass electronic music). For the 1996 album Drum 'n' Bass for Papa, Vibert signed with famed Grammy Award winning artist and Nine Inch Nails member, Trent Reznor’s Nothing Records. Vibert's many releases vary in style as he releases music under various names to keep his creative output selling and diverse. Each Vibert release and alias gaining critical reviews in major music publications and radio stations worldwide such as Rolling Stone, Magnet, The Wire, NME, Pitchfork Media, Red Bull Music, Vice, BBC 1. In fact one of Luke's earlier supporters was the late BBC radio personality, DJ John Peel, who has hosted Luke for the late DJ’s legendary "Peel Sessions" on the BBC a handful of times. Vibert has also co-hosted or has been featured on radio stations and media appearances all over the globe.  

In 1997 Luke toured the United States with his old mate, Aphex Twin for a sold out tour at major music venues throughout the USA. Aphex Twin (as AFX) has since released a series of limited 12" EP under the name of one of Luke's tracks, "Analord" from Luke's "Lover's Acid" full length album. In late 1999 and 2000, Vibert began touring the world with legendary slide guitarist, BJ Cole to promote their album Stop the Panic on US based, Astralwerks Records and Virgin in the UK. In 2004 the Cornwall duo of Apex Twin and Luke toured together again in Australia and have since played a handful of dates together.

Luke Vibert has been invited to headline and perform at some of the most popular music festivals, concert halls, venues and music clubs around the world including Sonar Festival in Barcelona, Coachella Music Festival in California, Moog Festival, Bangface Weekend and many more. Luke is a resident DJ along side UK electronic artist Posthuman for their widely popular “I Love Acid” club night, which started in the UK and has since taken place all over the world.

Vibert has curated and produced albums and record releases for various record labels and other musical artists. In 2006, Vibert's Wagon Christ song "Shadows" was featured on the DJ mix album A Bugged Out Mix by Miss Kittin, which charted on the French Albums Chart. In 2007 Luke collaborated and released music under "Moog Acid" with French pioneering synthesizer legend, Jean-Jacques Perrey before his passing. Vibert and Perrey were also featured in the documentary film, Moog about electronic music pioneer Robert Moog, whom Luke was also friends with. Luke's music has been licensed and featured on dozens of other artist DJ mix CDs and compilations in additional to films, ads and television programs including Sex and The City.

Luke has released almost 40 full-length albums in addition to hundreds of EPs, singles, remixes throughout his incredible recorded discography. A handful have been released thanks to his mate Mike Paradinas' (U-Ziq) Planet Mu Records including the full length albums, Homework, Lovers Acid, We Hear You, and Bizarster. Luke also continues to release music on UK based Hypercolour Records including the full length albums, GRIT, Ridmik, UK Garave Vol. 1, Amen Andrews, Modern Rave, and Rave Hop and furthering Luke’s Kerrier District alias and release output. Luke has also revived his Wagon Christ moniker with a recent full length release, “Recepticon” on People of Rhythm Records. Luke’s most recent full length album is Machine Funk released in March of 2023 on DeTuned Records.

Vibert has remixed a wide range of music artists such as Tortoise, Nine Inch Nails, Stereolab, Todd Osborne, Squarepusher, Aphex Twin, Meat Beat Manifesto, Thurston Moore, Coldcut, Lamb, David Sylvian to name a few.