General Ludd: Shine A Light On… Mix

General Ludd are a Glaswegian duo who have returned from the furthest reaches of the cosmic sprawl with heads full of "trippy rhythms and musical chaos." They've channeled this interstellar energy into making the Rare Earth Metal EP on Ten Thousand Yen set of clanking machine music made for kinky factories, and you need it in your life. Seeing as we loved the EP so much, we thought we'd ask the lads to put us a mix reflecting on the "link between man and machine", and they gave us this blast of fractured AI dreaming – a set made of remarkable techno moving inexorably forwards to a new dawn…

Who is General Ludd?

He's the mythical hero of a group of artisans at the end of the 18th century in northern England. He became a leader of striking workers who were facing technological unemployment at the beginning of the 19th century. So, General Ludd isn't really anybody. I guess part of the reason for using the name is to get people to look up for themselves the history of the UKs radical tradition. 

Why are you making the music that you do?

To dance, to get together, to get free. 

Your new EP Rare Earth Metal has something industrial about it. Has that always been a sound in your music?

Not always, there's definitely a dialogue going on between the human and the machine.

What kind of process do you have to create your music?

We channel unconscious, visceral expression with electricity.  

What kind of atmosphere do you try to create when you play a set?

Tom –  It really depends on the context, all the old cliches of journeys and immersion. To facilitate a sense of being out of time, out of control. 

Rich – I'm always trying to present music that I love in a way that I'd want to dance to with my friends. 

Who is your average audience member?

All people.

Bass or a hand clap?

Both at the same time. 

How do you use space as an instrument in your music successfully? Is there a key?

The key is in-between the notes.

What do you do on a day off?

There are no days off in a Post-Fordist World. 

Onto the mix…

Where was the mix recorded?

 At home in the studio, where we make most of our stuff.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Anywhere with the eyes closed. Loud.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

Turntables and a 2 track mixer -> turntables and a 6 track mixer. 

What were the first and last records you bought?

First record was Big Loada by Squarepusher and the last record was another copy of Do It Any Way You Wanna by People's Choice.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Kulkuset:

Upcoming in the world of General Ludd?

More records, more parties.

Buy Rare Earth Metal EP from General Ludd here, Ten Thousand Yen and listen to the teaser on Soundcloud.