Plaid

Plaid is a British electronic duo from London, made up of Ed Handley and Andy Turner. Active since 1991, the pair work on Warp and are associated with breakbeat, electronic, IDM and techno. Their music grows out of the early-1990s Artificial Intelligence scene and their earlier work as part of The Black Dog, where they are central figures alongside Ken Downie.

Style and background

Plaid begins with the influence of hip-hop, electro, techno, house and acid, and the duo’s early releases from 1989 onwards lean as much towards hip-hop as towards techno and electronica. Their approach reflects crate-digging, sampling and a strong interest in jazz and funk, which gives their rhythms a swing and their melodies a more complex, narrative shape. Across their career they keep a focus on detailed rhythm, groove and immersive listening, while also developing broader sound palettes and more sophisticated production methods.

They are part of a wider British electronica network that includes Warp artists such as Autechre, The Aphex Twin and B12, as well as Richie Hawtin, Speedy J and Kenny Larkin. Their music sits between club use and close listening, and they remain closely tied to live performance and small-club environments even after playing larger shows.

Career and collaborations

Plaid and The Black Dog run concurrently for a time, with the projects overlapping on Bytes and elsewhere, before Handley and Turner choose to focus entirely on Plaid in 1995. Their profile rises further after they support Björk on an Asian tour in 1996. They also work regularly with singers including Björk and Nicolette, and remix artists such as Goldfrapp and Herbert. These collaborations reinforce the song-based side of their work, which remains important alongside their use of electronics.

Visual presentation is also a significant part of the duo’s output, including artwork, videos and live projections. They work with evolving performance technologies and develop projects involving visual sequencing and three-dimensional image mapping. Their cross-media activity also extends to interactive and technological work, including involvement with Mogees, sound for The Carp and the Seagull, and a level in LittleBigPlanet 3.

Albums and soundtrack work

From the 2000s onwards, Plaid increasingly work on film and screen soundtracks. Their best-known soundtrack releases include Tekkonkinkreet and Heaven's Door. Their studio discography also includes Not For Threes, Rest Proof Clockwork, Futura Connect, Booc, Trainer, Double Figure, Parts In The Post, Dial P, Spokes, Greedy Baby, Scintilli, Reachy Prints, The Digging Remedy, Polymer and Peel Session releases.

Other projects include work for the robotic orchestra Felix's Machines with Felix Thorn, performed at Tate Modern in London in 2018, and a three-track EP written entirely on the Elektron Analog Rytm and sold in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. The duo continue to keep a large live schedule and maintain a reputation for constant studio experimentation.