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