Guest Selector: Luke Vibert

From the leftfield trip hop of Wagon Christ to the expertly crafted nu boogie found on his Kerrier District LPs, Luke Vibert has left few stones unturned in his wake over the past 20-odd years. 

Ahead of a couple of dates around the UK, including Manchester's Antwerp Mansion with the Hypercolour brethren, Vibert offers up seven albums carefully plucked from his extensive collection. Best get yourself a pen and paper.

Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters
[Columbia, 1973]

Until 1989 I thought Mr Hancock was just an 80s electro one-hit-wonder, then my mate Jeremy Simmonds played Head Hunters in the common room at our 6th form college. What an eye-opener. Such beautiful music, relentlessly forward thinking, and life was never the same again! After that I discovered all his previous albums, from gorgeous modern jazz to lush disco with incredible vocoded singing, he hardly ever put a foot wrong.

Prince – 1999
[Warner Bros., 1982]

Well, as I was writing this he died, so this is now also incredibly poignant. I loved Prince throughout the 80s and could've picked from a few albums, but I suppose this was the first that really hit me impossibly hard, especially the track Something in the Water (Does Not Compute). He's been the biggest influence in my musical life, especially the way he made it all sound so personal, like it was recorded just for you. I was lucky enough to see him live in 1986 and 1988, and will never forget those truly epic shows. I imagine it was almost impossible to 'come down' from gigs like that.

Don Harper – Homo Electronicus
[Columbia Gramophone Company, 1974]

A kind of light-hearted album, nonetheless it's a complete corker and every track is a winner. Deep, funky, jazzy & incredibly melodic, I think Don got into trouble with the fusty old Musicians' Union for overdubbing himself, therefore 'putting fellow musicians out of work.' Wankers! I used to DJ out the version featured here of Don's own World of Sport theme, cut really fucking loud on a 7". Kicks arse in a club!

A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
[Jive, 1993]

Hard to choose from a handful of crackers, but this seems to be the most well-rounded LP they did. Hard as hell but gentle at the same time; unbelievable production, never bettered. Amazing beats, beautiful music and brilliant lyrics – what more could one want?! It's also their last album before they went a bit more R&B, which turned me off a little bit, I must admit. So sad we lost Phife a while back, such an under-rated MC.

Negativland – Escape From Noise
[SST, 1987]

Dear old John Peel is to blame for me finding this one (and so many others!). Just the way he said 'Negativland' used to make me laugh, let alone their hilarious, brilliant, revolutionary 'music'. This LP and the album Free are probably my faves, but everything they did, and still do, is 100% worthwhile. I usually don't like music with too many ideas or politics in it, but Negativland are the total exception. Visionary chaps!

Quincy Jones – Dollar$
[Reprise, 1972]

Ah, Quincy – so much lush music over the years. Could've picked a Marvin Gaye or a Stevie Wonder or even a Barry White or Isaac Hayes, but Quincy just hurts me more, especially with his soundtrack work. As with many a good soundtrack, which often works with the film in a way you can't appreciate on its own, this has some strange, disjointed moments, but Candy Man, Snow Creatures and Kitty with the Bent Frame are all incredible pieces. Money Runner and Rubber Ducky also tasty as...

Brian Bennett & Alan Hawkshaw – Synthesizer and Percussion
[Themes International Music, 1974]

Un-fucking-believable library record from 1974 that has to be heard and seen to be believed. Stupidly funky drums, percussion and synth with some beautiful Rhodes piano backing them up for good measure. Oddball is the standout, sounding like it still shouldn't have been invented yet! Some of the best musicianship I've heard on this. Don't know if it's just Bennett and Hawkshaw overdubbing themselves or a couple of their mates joining in but whatever, it's ridiculous!

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Luke Vibert plays at Antwerp Mansion on 27 May and The Somerley Tea Party on 3 June