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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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter