Customer Reviews

Undercurrents: The Hidden Wiring of Modern Music

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This is a wonderful book, written by some of the best and smartest writers on contemporary music. It takes up and connects musical practices from free jazz, classic electronic music, and sound poetry to HipHop turntablism, electro-funk, and experimental rock; and it does so in sparkling prose that's eminently readable. If you want a glimpse of what is truly vital in the music of the 20th and early 21st centuries, buy and read this book.

From the preeminent music journal comes forth an excellent series of essays covering a vast array of topics under the expansive unbrella known as music. The fine music writers of the Wire have blessed us with a collection of very thoughtful, deep essays on music. A wide range of disparate threads are tied together by the wonderful muscial minds from many of the Wire's peerless journalists and scholars. Do not be scarred, this is not stuffy, academic hogwash; this is enlightened and entertaining writing. Many key concepts and underlying themes are explored within the confines of this fine book. Including: The phonograph, electronics, chance operations, Futurism, Surrealism, the civil rights movement, noise, and musical evolution. Modern composition, free jazz, experimental rock, ethnic music, Techno, and Turntablism are all expounded upon with great clarity, research, and wit. Many of these essays first appeared in the Wire, however, all essays within have been updated and revised. Anyone with even a passing interest in contemporary music or the socialogical aspects of it needs this book. If you read 'The Wire' you know what to expect. If you don't, you're life is missing an important element.