Thames & Hudson are excited to announce „Machines": A History of Electronic Music by Jean-Michel Jarre; a definitive illustrated history of electronic sound presented by the godfather of the genre. The book will also feature an array of special contributors, including Pete Townshend, Armin van Buuren, Gary Numan and Gillian Gilbert, with more to be announced.
Machines begins in 1913 charting a path that begins with The Art of Noises; the renowned Futurist manifesto, then chronicles the genre as fundamentally European, shaped by Surrealism and the Bauhaus, and, later, by radio pioneers. Detailed descriptions of more than eighty instruments – from the iconic ARP 2500 to bespoke, one-off creations – illustrate shifts in electronic sound. Throughout, Jarre’s unparalleled depth of knowledge, insightful anecdotes and devotion to the genre, produce an entertaining must-have book for any synth or electronic music fan.
This book is a journey through these machines: those I acquired, those I tamed, those I imagined, and those that shaped my musical language - and which together tell one possible story of today’s music.
When I step into the studio, they are there, lurking in the shadows, blinking silently.
They contain every sound in the world.
And like a gold prospector, my obsession is to extract a few nuggets from them.
My personal El Dorado.
-Jean-Michel Jarre
The US publication date will be November 17 (UK publication date will be October 8). The book will be released in various local languages. Updates will be shared via Thames & Hudson.
Order the book: https://lnk.to/MachinesJean-MichelJarre
