I have lost the habit of reading books a long ass time ago when as a teenager... and am wanting to get back into it, just so i can brag about being a pretentious intellectual mother******. So I figure I better start from the easy stuff, which are the subjects I like - electronic music being one of them. Suggestions?

I'm wondering about stuff that looks into the history of the EDM scene, how it all started, the culture behind it, how and why did those early Chicago, Detroit dj's built so much respect from everyone still nowadays, etc. Or maybe something completely different, if a good read and inspiring.

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http://www.amazon.com/Modulations-H...g/dp/189102406X

Some nice history and a good number of interviews with some pioneers and big names across genres, along some with discography. Published in 2000, so it is ten years old now, but it still has good stuff in there, overall.

lol.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles http://www.amazon.com/Modulations-H...g/dp/189102406X Some nice history and a good number of interviews with some pioneers and big names across genres, along some with discography. Published in 2000, so it is ten years old now, but it still has good stuff in there, overall.

i actually dont think modulations is that great. it's a decent overview for someone who has very limited knowledge, but the writings are so short and i don't like how it's divided up so stringently rather than existing as a continuous story.



in addition i would suggest a few books:

first i have to recommend what is basically a mind-blowing anti-history of electronic music.

http://www.amazon.com/More-Brillian...s/dp/0704380250

second i'd recommend this book to go back a little bit further and see where it all came from

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Saves-Da...9/dp/0822331985

i'd also recommend reading 'the wire' magazine, go back into history and check it out.
http://www.thewire.co.uk/


and subscribe to the 313 mailing list.
Heres the history of detroit techno, fully searchable, straight from the horse's mouth:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/

Last edited by nefardec on Oct-28-2010 at 21:59

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec i actually dont think modulations is that great. it's a decent overview for someone who has very limited knowledge, but the writings are so short and i don't like how it's divided up so stringently rather than existing as a continuous story.

I didn't say it was "great," I said it had mostly good stuff in it.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles I didn't say it was "great," I said it had mostly good stuff in it.

sorry, i didn't mean that as a direct response to your words about the book.

i have a copy of modulations on my shelf, so obviously i think it's worth reading ...

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec in addition i would suggest a few books: first i have to recommend what is basically a mind-blowing anti-history of electronic music. http://www.amazon.com/More-Brillian...s/dp/0704380250 second i'd recommend this book to go back a little bit further and see where it all came from http://www.amazon.com/Love-Saves-Da...9/dp/0822331985

the first one is 80$, the second I might pass up purely on homophobia for the cover

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quote:

Originally posted by noikeee the first one is 80$, the second I might pass up purely on homophobia for the cover

I found more brilliant than the sun for a dollar on a used book rack

also, check a library?


also, if you have homophobia, i'd recommend you stop your inquest into the history of electronic music now, or you'll be scared shitless

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec also, if you have homophobia, i'd recommend you stop your inquest into the history of electronic music now, or you'll be scared shitless

heres another recommendation, not really history though. Author is dubstep producer Kode9

http://www.amazon.com/Sonic-Warfare.../ref=pd_sim_b_5



i also like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Culture.../ref=pd_sim_b_5

and this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Noise-Water-M.../ref=pd_sim_b_4



and i just found this which looks like it will be right up my alley
http://www.amazon.com/Phonographies.../ref=pd_sim_b_2

Try "Energy Flash" (or "Generation Ecstasy" in the US) by Simon Reynolds. Predominantly a history of the explosion of rave culture in the UK, but it contains a lot about the American origins too. It was published in 1998 and contains a lot of insight that has since been forgotten or suffered from Stalinist revisionism at the hands of the dance music tastemakers.

Also "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" by Frank Broughton and Bill Brewster is an obvious one, an extensive introduction to the origins of DJ culture with loads of great interviews and stories. Chapters on Northern soul, dub, disco, Detroit techno and acid house.

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quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Also "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" by Frank Broughton and Bill Brewster is an obvious one, an extensive introduction to the origins of DJ culture with loads of great interviews and stories. Chapters on Northern soul, dub, disco, Detroit techno and acid house.

Yeah, i didn't mention this because I knew someone would, but it was one of the first books I read when I started getting more into the history of this stuff, and it's pretty solid.

In that same vein, check out their website book list:

http://www.djhistory.com/books/?