Dark Waves

This book examines the role of the synthesizer and electronics in shaping the dystopian sound of electronic music in 1970s Britain, presenting a musicological analysis of a variety of acts—including Cabaret Voltaire, Gary Numan, Throbbing Gristle, The Normal, Visage, Fad Gadget—and considering background, influences, and technological approaches.

DR. NEIL O'CONNOR is electronic music producer and academic at DMARC (Digital Media Arts Research Centre), Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, University of Limerick, Ireland.

Introduction Chapter 1: Background - Social and Cultural Influences Chapter 2: The Rise of the Synthesizer in Popular Music Chapter 3: Cabaret Voltaire and Dadaism Chapter 4: Throbbing Gristle and Confrontation Chapter 5: The Normal and J.G Ballard Chapter 6: Fad Gadget and Concrete Britain Chapter 7: Afterwards and Influences Chapter 8: Conclusion Notes Bibliography