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.
Stewart has written a chapter on The Fall for this book.
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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World Without End, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Leach Juice, Twitter
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Wharto15, Twitter
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube