The first new Wagon Christ album in 7 years (!) is due March 14th: Toomorrow. Wagon Christ is also known as Luke Vibert, aka Rephlex, Amen Andrews, Kerrier District and many other things. If there is one artist that is a constant soundtrack for work at Stately Beat Manor, it’s Vibert — his music is melodic, cheerful, unobtrusive and always giddy. If Raymond Scott, Henry Mancini or Esquivel had been acid disco/IDM DJs they would probably have been Vibert. (He actually made an album with Jean Jacques Perry.) He favors chunks of chords pounded on the organ, so it always sounds like you are in some hip roller rink. Although Wagon Christ is his best known avatar, based on the description, I doubt Toomorrow will sound much different than Rhythm or We Hear You, his last two albums as Vibert, which sound like Irving Berlin drum ‘n’ bass.
He has no webpage, no Facebook, no Twitter. As far as I can tell, he hasn’t done an interview in four or five years. He never comes to the US to DJ, (although he did once, five years ago, and I went.) He is a total mystery to me. He has nothing to say for himself but hours and hours of music that make you laugh and feel good.
I actually wrote this post just to see if I could embed this mp3. And I can! Enjoy!
Wagon Christ – Manalyze This! by Ninja Tune & Big Dada
PS: here’s the website for cover artist Celyn Braizer’s website — a video is in the works!
I’m a HUGE Vibert nerd and giddy is exactly how I’m feeling after reading/listening to this post! Sci-Fi Staircase is as good as it gets in my book. There’s a new Kerrier District coming next month too!
Nice! (And my employer didn’t disable the MP3 like it does the video clips!)
Does this mean we’ll see more music comics post, like “The Carbon Copy Building” or perhaps The Residents’ “Freak Show”?
(What’s your opinion of Girl Talk and Illegal Art records?)
This is good news… thanks for passing it on, Beat!