Abigail Ward is a veteran of Manchester’s electronic / dance music scene. She’s a DJ / writer / broadcaster / podcast producer, whose main aim is to challenge established narratives and get the real story out there. Abigail has worked with BBC 6, NTS, Melodic Distraction, Reform Radio, written for folks like The Quietus, Red Bull Music Academy, and edited and designed a book about Factory Records’ Rob Gretton (in the process, putting together a brilliant comp of music from Rob’s other label for LTM). She’s curated exhibitions, focused on the history of the city’s musical community, for Manchester University, NIAMOS, and The Lowry Museum, amongst many others. Abigail also consulted on Warners’ recent New Order reissues, and helped establish the Manchester Digital Music Archive. Previously part of Drake Music, Abigail is co-founder of the fund-raising event, Suffragette City. She is Passionate about LGBT+ / gender politics, and neurodiversity.

Abigail’s debut single, as Ghoßt Assembly, released last year on Ruf Dug’s Ruf Kutz, while pulling in references from classic New York and Chicago, was totally now. Raved about by both myself, and Abi’s old amigo Balearic Mike, I Miss Your Love is a bona fide, modern day house anthem. Watch out for the follow-up, produced in cahoots with Brian-Not-Brian, of Going Good / Midnight Drive.

Super selections and wonderful words by Abigail Ward. 

My ears get very tired from DJing and producing music. When I’m listening to stuff at home it tends to have a deep, intimate, spiritual vibe. It’s taken me years to learn how to do this, but mostly I sit and listen in stillness, sans intoxicants. I haven’t absorbed much new music at all in 2023, but here are some of the tracks that moved me in my downtime.

Andrew Wasylyk / Fugitive Light Restless Water (Alternate Mix)

I’m a huge fan of Andrew’s. This track reminds me a little of Marvin Hamlisch’s ‘Theme From The Swimmer‘, which is one of my favourite scores of all time.

Lana Del Rey / Let The Light In (Feat. Father John Misty)

A latter day Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell. I love Misty because he has that magical ability to really irk people.

Marvin Gaye / Song #3 (Instrumental)

The new deluxe edition of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ contains some previously unheard outtakes, including this one, which features Herbie Hancock at his peak.

The Circling Sun / Kohan

Spiritual jazz from New Zealand.

Loscil // Lawrence English / Cyan

Based on a recording of a century-old pipe organ housed at the historic Old Museum in Brisbane. It`s been processed and transformed into an ecstatic drone masterpiece.

Analog~1 / Virtual

Another fathoms-deep dub techno gem from J.S. Zeiter.

Ms Ray / Broken Heart Still Beats

I first heard this on Ruf Dug’s always reliable Soup to Nuts show on NTS. My kind of melancholy pop with a Prince vibe.

Doxa Sinistra / The Other Stranger

Ace reissue 7″ on Brian-not-Brian’s Midnight Drive label. It`s fragmented and unsettling, like my dreams. Brian and I are currently working on a project that will hopefully come out before summer.

Apta / Submerge

Modular gorgeousness and ‘wanton Gilmourisms’ from Piccadilly Records’ chief mushroom fancier, Barry Smethurst.

Paul Cousins / Retriangulation

Paul makes fascinating work with synths and reel-to-reels. He videos the process in a really beautiful way. This kind of gives me an AMSR feeling. He’s interested in the flaws in recorded music that are in danger of being ironed out by today’s correction technologies.

The National / Crumble

It’s great hearing Roseanne Cash on this, with her world weary country twang. I’ve coincidentally bookended this selection with tracks that speak of relationships that are about to expire. Typically cheerful.

Abigail also segued these selections into this super mix: