Mars by 1980: The Story of Electronic Music

Review An elegant, humorous, diligently researched labour of love. ― Uncut If you only buy one account of electronica, make it this . . . Enthralling. ― Record Collector A vital document. Essential reading. ― Louder Than War Stubbs unpicks a vast, sprawling and very human history . . . A wise, humane guide. ― Sunday Times A fascinating trip back to the future which stands alongside Simon Reynolds's rave history Energy Flash as one of the best books in the field. ― Q magazine An absorbing account . . . This instructive book may help us listen to the world with ears newly attuned. ― FT Weekend Product Description In Mars By 1980, David Stubbs charts the evolution of electronic music from the earliest mechanical experiments in the late nineteenth century, through to the familiar sounds of electronica, house and techno that we know today. It's a tale of mavericks and future dreamers overcoming Luddite resistance, malfunctioning devices, and sonic mayhem. The beginnings may be in the world of avant-classical composition, but it continues on through the cosmic funk of Stevie Wonder and Giorgio Moroder, via the astonishing sounds of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, through unforgettable eighties electropop by the likes of Depeche Mode, the Pet Shop Boys and Laurie Anderson, and right up to present-day innovators on the underground scene. Book Description An exhaustive history of electronic music from the acclaimed author of Future Days About the Author David Stubbs is a British author and music journalist. Alongside Simon Reynolds, he was one of the co-founders of the Oxford magazine Monitor before going on to join the staff at Melody Maker. He later worked for NME, Uncut and Vox, as well as the Wire. His work has appeared in The Times, Sunday Times, Spin, Guardian, Quietus and GQ. He has written a number of books, including Mars by 1980: The Story of Electronic Music which was a Rough Trade Book of the Year. He lives in London.