Ghost Assembly – The ‘Altered Currents’ Ransom Note Mix

Raw machine funk, dipped in dub, NY garage, post-punk and the snare fills of Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

“Queer longing with a 4/4 add on, reverb as resistance.”

“Sheer undaunted farsightedness, unflinching moral resolve, stern intellectual vision, classical philosophical detachment.”

Abigail did her time and education working in Manchester’s vinyl emporiums: Piccadilly, Vinyl Exchange, Kingbee and co-founded Manchester Digital Music Archive and is a curator of Suffragette City since day one. Her ‘Altered Currents’ mix exemplifies what she describes as “Butch NRG.” Opening with her own amazing new single ‘De Laatste Rit (The Last Ride)’ as Ghost Assembly and winding through stone cold classics like The Cure’s ‘Fascination Street (Extended Mix)’ and Golden Teacher Meets Dennis Bovell’s ‘Instigator (Dub),’ before closing with the belter that is Lil Louis & The World’s ‘I Called U (The Story Continues).’

This is a cracker, start to finish. Get it on, let’s go…

Who are you
Ghost Assembly aka Abigail Ward. I also have a side project called SORE TITS.

Where are you
A city in Greater Lancashire known as Manchester.

And what are you
I’m a pansexual plant empath.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us…

How does your brain work when making music? how does it work when you aren’t?
Very intense levels of hyperfocus occur. For the first 7 hours it feels like a spiritual event, but then I can’t stop and I exhaust myself for days. When I’m not making music I am thinking about when I can next make music. Or I am thinking about cats.

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?
I have a hazy memory of the impact ‘Don’t You Want Me Baby’ by The Human League had on my toddler brain in 1981. It’s more of a feeling, really. My grandad recorded me singing it on his reel-to-reel. I think even at that age I was moved by the drama and mystery of great pop music.

Where was the mix recorded?
In that huge ever growing pulsating brain that rules from the centre of the ultraworld.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?
Writhing around on a bed of fifty pound notes, approximately 10 minutes after you’ve had a thimble-full of MDMA powder blown up your hole by Kristin Scott Thomas. Hopefully there will be a sunset.

What should we be wearing?
A tiger onesie.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?
It’s summer ’83 and I’m doing a live mix on Shep Pettibone’s ‘Mastermix Dance Party’ on Kiss FM 98.7. A couple of 1200s and a Bozak.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?
Fascination Street (Extended Mix) by The Cure has been in my top 10 ultimate tracks since 1992 and there it shall remain ’til death do us part.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?
Balearic Mike – Cosmic Alphonsus Vol 1

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?
Another live radio broadcast: Rankin Miss P on Dread Broadcasting Corporation in 1979. Just to get an education.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?
My kind friend, Jon, sold me 2 x Gemini PT 1000 II decks and a Gemini mixer for a song. Suited me down to the ground. I repaid him by destroying his eardrums for the next year. My set-up now is 2 x 1210s and a Mastersounds Radius 2 MK1, also a digital controller. Bit cunty.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?
They both matter. The first track should quell your nerves and set an intention. The last one should give the crowd a moment of love and togetherness to help them survive what Monday will inevitably bring.

What were the first and last records you bought?
The first record I went to a shop and bought for myself was the Slightest Touch by Five Star. The last one was Father John Misty’s Mahashmashana, which is a towering masterpiece.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?
A Flying Saucer sweet – the ones that are a bit like a tingly version of a communion wafer.

If it was an animal what would it be?
A featherhorn beetle.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?
John Cage’s 4’33”, because it’s hard to find the ‘one’.

Am I going to my dream job?
Drugs Not Jobs

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?
No, you feel a sense of perpetual nameless dread.

You just had a fight with the person you are closest to. do you not speak to them until they apologise…or do you apologise first?
I recommend punishing them with absence and silence until they break down. You then have the opportunity to be gracious in victory.

Your doctor says you need more exercise….what do you take up for exercise?
Flicking my chutney. It’s free and burns the same amount of calories that a flying saucer sweet contains.

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go? why?
I would go back to a night in 1994 when I was queuing for some chips after a night out in Preston and I heard 10CC’s ‘I’m Not In Love’ for the first time on the chippy’s radio. It was one of the most transcendent moments of my life.

Upcoming in the world of…
Insert canny self-promotion here.

Anything else we need to discuss?
Free Palestine.

Good Afternoon event at The Social on Saturday.  15:00-21:00

Ghost Assembly | Ladybeige | Kath McDermott | Abigail Ward |
Suffragette City Info

Saturday, May 10th, 15:00-21:00
5 Little Portland Street (Basement)
£12 advance / more on the door
Limited to 50 advance tickets

“Everyone who works on Suffragette City, including the DJs, gives their time free of charge to support worthwhile local grassroots charities. Over the years, we’ve raised substantial funds for organizations like Emmeline’s Pantry, The Proud Trust, Women Asylum Seekers Together, The Pankhurst Trust, and many more.”

Tracklist:
1 Ghost Assembly – De Laatste Rit (The Last Ride)
2 The Cure – Fascination Street (Extended Mix)
3 Golden Teacher Meets Dennis Bovell – Instigator (Dub)
4 Entendu Ensemble – Big Break (Original Mix)
5 Victor Romeo – Amerikan Dread (Lipelis Extended Dub)
6 John Cravache – Paris Roswell
7 Seduction – Seduction (The Reprise Loft Mix)
8 Speed Limit – Coppin’ Rhythm (Deep Rhythm)
9 Rozlyne Clarke – Dancing Is Like Making Love (Dub 2)
10 Franck Roger – Muddy (Edit)
11 Rhythm Of Paradise – Open Your Mind
12 Jeanette Thomas – Shake Your Body (Original 12″ Club Mix)
13 Ghost Assembly – I Miss Your Love (Club Mix)
14 Lil Louis & The World – I Called U (The Story Continues)