The Wire Primers: A Guide to Modern Music
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Description
Since it was founded in 1982, The Wire magazine has covered a vast range of alternative, experimental, underground and non-mainstream music. Now some of that knowledge has been distilled into The Wire Primers : a comprehensive guide to the core recordings of some of the most visionary and inspiring, subversive and radical musicians on the planet, past and present. Each chapter surveys the musical universe of a particular artist, group or genre by way of a contextualizing introduction and a thumbnail guide to the most essential recordings. A massive and eclectic range of music is celebrated and demystified, from rock mavericks such as Captain Beefheart and The Fall; the funk of James Brown and Fela Kuti; the future jazz of Sun Ra and Ornette Coleman; and the experimental compositions of John Cage and Morton Feldman. Genres surveyed and explained include P-funk, musique concrète, turntablism, Brazilian Tropicália, avant metal and dubstep. The Wire Primers is a vital guide to contemporary sounds, providing an accessible entry point for any reader wanting to dig below the surface of mainstream music.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 19.05 x 1.32 x 19.05 cm |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Isbn 10 | 1844674274 |
| Isbn 13 | 978-1844674275 |
| Item Weight | 318 g |
| Language | English |
| Print Length | 200 pages |
| Publication Date | 3 November 2009 |
| Publisher | Verso Books |
Reviews
User
Essential reading on essential music artists
Even as an editor Rob Young doesn't fail to enlighten. A great range of subjects and writers to broaden anyone's knowledge of some of music's essential artists. He certainly achieved his aim; to encourage the reader to listen to 'at least' one new track or artist.
User
Contemporary sounds beyond mainstream music
This is a review of The Wire Primers: A Guide to Modern Music (Verso, 2009)Most of the texts collected in this edition appeared in The Wire, a British magazine of modern music, between 1996 and 2006. Though not absolutely new, the contributions by music journalists, critics and historians, such as Philip Clark, Simon Reynolds, John Szwed et al., serve the purpose of being an introduction to modern music, i.e. music after the 2nd World War.The book includes four parts ‘Avant Rock’, ‘Funk, Hiphop & Beyond’, ‘Jazz & Improvisation’ and ‘Modern Composition’ each broken down into chapters which cover various artists and genres. There are essays on Captain Beefheart, No Wave, Dubstep, Fela Kuti, AMM, Free Jazz (it’s called ‘Fire Music’), John Cage, Music Concrète, etc. written in plain language a bit like collector’s guides, not comprehensive but all classic records listed.Both structure and content make it a good avant-garde-for-beginners handbook. Recommended to those seeking to expand their knowledge about contemporary sounds beyond mainstream music.
User
Must have for fans of the most interesting music magazine ever
I've been reading the Wire for two decades. Back when I worked in a music store in the mid 90s and thought I knew everything about music, the Wire was consistently the one magazine that would always reveal music I'd never heard of or considered. For those who haven't been reading this great magazine for as long, this is a great way to catch up on some essential acts/genres of underground and outer limits music. Even as a long-time reader, I saw a few pieces I had previously missed or had forgotten about. The Primers and Invisible Jukebox are the greatest part of the mag, and it's great to see one captured here.
User
A+
A+ transaction. Highly recommended.
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