Re: (313) Books (was rough guide to techno)

[Dissonance Electronic]

While books are in issue i'd like to recommend a book i picked up from the 
music library at uni. It's a brand new book but from a major publisher so it 
shouldnt be to hard to track down. Its called
"Discographies : dance music, culture and the politics of sound" By Jeremy 
Gilbert and Ewan Pearson.(Published: London ; New York : Routledge, 1999.) 
And I cant do it justice in a short description but its a critical / 
theoretical / cultural approach to many of the issues involved in dance 
music (which in their definition includes house, techno, soul,disco hip hop 
etc). Their analysis draws on contemporary critical theory using the work of 
Barthes, Kristeva, Derrida, Foucault et al. (while it utilizes these 
thinkers the book is always careful to explain the ideas that they are 
drawing on - you dont have to go and read the thinkers to understand the 
book) Its not a history but a very sophisticated analysis of the the role of 
music and dance music in particular in western culture. Of particular 
interest was a section where they looked at some of the reasons why western 
culture is so resistant to dance music. Its quite academic but very 
rewarding - i dont find it arrogant or pretensious either but i have some 
experience with this sort of writing. I'd recommend it to any one who is 
interested in 'dance music' in the broadest sense of the word. Its also very 
applicable to experimental electronic music. Any one who wants some more 
info feel free to email me.
Peace
Josh

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com