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Ocean of Sound

Ambient sound and radical listening in the age of communication
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( 1,797 ratings, 121 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Ocean of Sound by David Toop delves into the immersive world of ambient music, exploring its origins and influences. The book takes readers on a sensory journey across different cultures and time periods, examining how sounds from nature and technology intertwine to create unique auditory landscapes. Through insightful narratives, Toop showcases how music shapes and reflects the way we experience the world around us.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the complex interplay between music, sound, and culture. It delves into the immersive nature of ambient music and explores its creative evolution, making it a captivating read for anyone interested in the subtleties of audio experiences and cultural histories.

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The classic account of ambient music, with a new foreword by Michel Faber.

The classic account of ambient music, with a new foreword by Michel Faber

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

David Toop's extraordinary work of sonic history travels from the rainforests of Amazonas to the megalopolis of Tokyo via the work of artists as diverse as Brian Eno, Sun Ra, Erik Satie, Kate Bush, Kraftwerk and Brian Wilson.

Beginning in 1889 at the Paris exposition when Debussy first heard Javanese music performed, Ocean of Sound channels the competing instincts of 20th century music into an exhilarating, path-breaking account of ambient sound.

'A meditation on the development of modern music, there's no single term that is adequate to describe what Toop has accomplished here ... mixing interviews, criticism, history, and memory, Toop moves seamlessly between sounds, styles, genres, and eras' – Pitchfork's '60 Favourite Music Books'

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Ocean of Sound by David Toop is celebrated as a comprehensive exploration of ambient music, regarded by critics as a captivating and transformative read. Esteemed as both innovative and encyclopaedic, the book interweaves interviews, history, and personal reflection, offering readers a unique perspective on listening and understanding music. Highlighted for its artistry and intellectual depth, Toop's work is often compared to literary masterpieces, bringing a fresh narrative to the landscape of modern music.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788160308

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 August 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Serpent's Tail

Edition: Main - Classic Edition

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Michel Faber

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 32.0mm

Width: 196.0mm

Height: 128.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 320

About the Author

David Toop is an English musician, author and professor of audio culture and improvisation at the London College of Communication. He was a member of the Flying Lizards and a contributor to the British magazine The Face. He is a regular contributor to The Wire, has recorded Yanomami shamanism in Amazonas, appeared on Top of the Pops, exhibited sound installations in Tokyo, Beijing and London's National Gallery, and performed with artists ranging from John Zorn, Evan Parker, Bob Cobbing and Ivor Cutler to Akio Suzuki, Elaine Mitchener, Lore Lixenberg and Max Eastley. He has published five books, including Ocean of Sound, and released eight solo albums.

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