Luke Vibert

Possibly the most original of the neo-ambient trip-hoppers was Luke Vibert, also known as Wagon Christ, a protagonist of the British scene since the early 1990s. Luke Vibert devoted his project Wagon Christ to the ambient side of the trip-hop equation with Phat Lab Nightmare (1994) and especially with the celestial trance of Throbbing Pouch (1995), exuding abandon and fatalism. Massive sampling of orchestral sounds gave Tally Ho! (1998) an almost symphonic grandeur.

In 1994 Vibert's talent was featured on a series of recordings: the EP Sunset Boulevard (Rising High, 1994), the album Phat Lab Nightmare (Rising High, 1994), with the ever more psychological Mahadelic and Aerhaart, and the EP At Atmos (Rising High, 1994), that moved towards a more percussive approach with the likes of Inside Out and Hasjit. These recordings were influential in redefining the standard for ambient rave music.

Like many of his contemporaries, Vibert has released under a wide number of aliases, including Amen Andrews, Spac Hand Luke, Plug, Kerrier District and The Ace of Clubs, as well as the aforementioned Wagon Christ.