A Book Review Guide of Electronic Music Resources

Modulations: A History of Electronic Music
Edited by: Peter Shapiro

A coffee table companion to the documentary film by the same name although by no means is it absolutely definitive it does offer a look into the culture. Lots of cool quotes, but some missed connections almost too obvious to overlook. One of the first of it's kind, though. You gotta dig it for being at the forefront - kind of an outsider looking in feel. It offers a lot of insight, giving a lot of meaning to what is otherwise a hedonistic culture.

Published in 2000 - www.caipirinha.com

Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno & Rave Culture
By: Simon Reynolds

This documents the presence of drugs throughout the original summers of love in the UK, but follows thru to tie in styles to different types of drugs and has great shots of all your favorite dj's (Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, et al) way back in '88 -- so there's proof that they're geezers even if they don't necessarily look it. Generally well-informed & a pretty interesting read - the only thing we don't like about it is that it acts as if nobody is actually into the music for the music itself.

Published in 1998, Routledge

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
By: Bill Brewster & Frank Broughton

This book's right on. It walks you through the whole thing, from the birth of the turntable all the way up to the birth of the superstar dj. The facts are right on. I would consider this THE definitive source for your dj knowledge, many myths and legends put to rest in this book, and reading it should be an absolute prerequisite to becoming a dj.

Published in 1999: Grove Press Books

The ambient century: from Mahler to Trance - The Evolution of Sound in the Electronic Age
By Mark Prendergast