Ruby

Ruby is a trip-hop and electronica duo made up of Lesley Rankine and Mark Walk. The group forms in 1994 and remains active.

Background

Ruby begins as a project for UK vocalist Lesley Rankine and US composer and producer Mark Walk. The name comes from the fact that both Rankine and Walk have a grandmother called Ruby. The duo’s work spans electronic music, trip hop, noise and industrial.

Rankine starts her music career as the frontwoman of the London indie punk band Silverfish. After Silverfish split in 1993, she moves to Seattle and joins forces with Walk, with whom she has already worked on material for the industrial group Pigface.

Recorded work

Ruby’s debut album, Salt peter, appears in 1995. A remix album, Salt peter Remixed: Revenge, the sweetest fruit., follows in 1996. Rankine later returns to Scotland to work on the second Ruby album, Short Staffed at the Gene Pool, which is released on Wichita Recordings in the UK and Thirsty Ear in the US in 2001.

The song “Grace” is mixed by several producers, including Mira Calix of Warp Records. Later in 2001, Ruby issues another remix album, Altered and Proud: The Short-Staffed Remixes.

Activity

After this period, Rankine takes a break from recording and returns to Scotland. The project is also known for a sound that draws together downtempo trip hop with electronic, noise and industrial elements.