Entertainment Books

Book SynopsisThe publication of Martin Popoff’s Uriah Heep: A Visual Biography is something of a bitter-sweet pill given recent events. Following the sad loss of Lee Kerslake in September 2020, Popoff — having interviewed various band members over the past few years — was all set to conduct another interview with Ken Hensley in mid November when the tragic news of Ken’s sudden departure reached Heep fans around the world. Undeterred, the decision that had already been made to immortalise Uriah Heep with a comprehensive visual biography remained. Popoff’s celebrated and detailed timeline takes us through more than fifty years of massive rock history from this much-loved band. From the early days with legendary front man David Byron, through the John Lawton years; the John Sloman and Pete Goalby fronted periods and from 1986 with Bernie Shaw taking centre stage; all eras are comprehensively covered. This differs from previous Uriah Heep books through the inclusion of so many previously unpublished photos, along with rare memorabilia and artefacts that makes this an indispensable addition to the vast Uriah Heep catalogue.

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Book SynopsisWhat is artistic resonance and how can it be linked to one''s life and one''s art? This latest book of essays from legendary theatre director Anne Bogart, considers the creation of resonance in the artistic endeavour, with a focus on the performing arts. The word ''resonance'' comes from the Latin meaning to ''re-sound'' or ''sound together''. From music to physics, resonance is a common thread that evokes a response and, in general, is understood as a quality that makes something personally meaningful and valuable.For Bogart, curiosity is a key personal quality to be nurtured throughout life and that very same curiosity, as an artist, thinker and human being. Creating pathways between performance theory, art history, neuroscience, music, architecture and the visual arts, and consistently forging new thought-paths, the writing draws upon Anne Bogart''s own life and artistic journeys to illuminate potent philosophical ideas. Woven with personal anecdotes, stories and reflections,Trade ReviewThis optimistic and brilliantly erudite book is essential reading for any serious theatre maker emerging from the pandemic in search of a new road map for theatre practice. Beautiful, fierce and inspiring - a love letter to the future. * Katie Mitchell, director *

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Book Synopsis''Over 20 films. Over 40 years. What collaboration in any medium has lasted so long, been so successful, so personal, so happy? Read this wonderfully entertaining book: a unique story of a unique life in the world of world cinema'' WES ANDERSON ''Jim is as eloquent and elegant with words as with the camera; here are almost a series of short stories of his life, vivid snapshots, told with an exacting eye. Every sentence is filled with his wry cadence, guided by his appreciation of things beautiful, amusing and unusual. We take the tour of his life which has as fascinating a cast and is set in locations as far flung and exotic as his films - except with way more sex. Read it and drink it in!'' HELENA BONHAM CARTER''Ivory is full of candour and randiness...[this] book will open the eyes, often very wide'' The Times---------------In Solid Ivory, a carefully crafted mosaic of memories, portraits, and reflecTrade ReviewOver 20 films. Over 40 years. What collaboration in any medium has lasted so long, been so successful, so personal, so happy? James Ivory met Ismail Merchant (in 1961) and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (in 1962), and one of the earliest, most durable, most independent of independent film families came to life. The widest varieties of stories (neorealist memoirs, literary adaptations, avant garde experiments) and settings (England, France, Italy, India, the Americas North and South); the broadest collection of superb actors and artists (Vanessa Redgrave, Paul Newman, Anthony Hopkins, Shashi Kapoor, Maggie Smith, Subrata Mitra!). Read this wonderfully entertaining book: a unique story of a unique life in the world of world cinema. * Wes Anderson *I met Jim when I was 18 . He was an introvert to Ismail's extrovert. I always wondered what was going on in his head. Now I know, and I'm so glad he's shared it.Jim is as eloquent and elegant with words as with the camera; here are almost a series of short stories of his life, vivid snapshots, told with an exacting eye. Every sentence is filled with his wry cadence, guided by his appreciation of things beautiful, amusing and unusual. We take the tour of his life which has as fascinating a cast and is set in locations as far flung and exotic as his films - except with way more sex. And I thank God I'm not in it. Jim is now in his ninth decade and I believe his secret elixir is a delight in life - read it and drink it in! -- Helena Bonham Carter'James Ivory write[s] with perfect elegance...there's nothing starchy or uptight about these scenes from his fascinating life' * The Sunday Times *'Full of humour, warmth and crystal-clear reminiscences from his personal and professional life, Ivory's narrative is witty, informative, gossipy and at times eye-poppingly frank' * The Lady *'There's something rather brilliant about a man heading towards his hundredth birthday demanding more explicit sex. Ivory is full of candour and randiness...[this] book will open the eyes, often very wide' * Times *'Consistently entertaining' * Guardian *'A languid, enjoyably gossipy memoir from one half of Merchant Ivory that after a fascinating exploration of well-off, small-town American life in the Thirties and Forties, quickly gets eye-opening' * Evening Standard *Ivory writes beautifully and delicately, and emerges as a true cinematic rarity; the auteur who wants everyone to have a nice time while they make their best work * TLS *Over 20 films. Over 40 years. What collaboration in any medium has lasted so long, been so successful, so personal, so happy?...Read this wonderfully entertaining book: a unique story of a unique life in the world of world cinema. -- Wes AndersonJim is as eloquent and elegant with words as with the camera; here are almost a series of short stories of his life, vivid snapshots, told with an exacting eye. Every sentence is filled with his wry cadence, guided by his appreciation of things beautiful, amusing and unusual. We take the tour of his life which has as fascinating a cast and is set in locations as far flung and exotic as his films - except with way more sex...read it and drink it in! -- Helena Bonham CarterA memoir as eloquent and gracious as his films, Ivory's page-turner brims over with the boldness, candor, and modesty which only great minds can claim. Places, objects, bodies, people, and so many names, all have a place in his unassailably brilliant life. -- André Aciman - writer of CALL ME BY YOUR NAMEThe producer-director's memoirs are as stately and intimate as his indelible films, chronicling his childhood in Klamath Falls, Oregon during the Great Depression; his clandestine boyhood crushes; and the tribulations and triumphs of making movie magic. * Oprah Daily *

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Book SynopsisAll Year Round is brimming with things to make, activities, stories, poems and songs to share with your family. It is full of well-illustrated ideas for fun and celebration: from Candlemas to Christmas and Midsummer''s day to the Winter solstice.Observing the round of festivals is an enjoyable way to bring rhythm into children''s lives and provide a series of meaningful landmarks to look forward to. Each festival has a special character of its own: participation can deepen our understanding and love of nature and bring a gift to the whole family. All Year Round invites you to start celebrating now!

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Book SynopsisFollowing methods known to have been adopted by Bach himself, the exercises provided in chorale harmonization are graded in such a way as to encourage the student to develop both technique and imagination within a closely-defined framework. The instrumental counterpoint section is based on Bach's two-and three-part Inventions. By close analysis the author helps the reader to recognize the procedures Bach adopted in various musical situations. The exercises are taken largely from Bach's keyboard works.Trade ReviewMalcolm Boyd's lucid text investigates how often various chords and progressions occur, in what contexts and (where possible) for what reasons. Following methods known to have been adopted by Bach himself, the exercises are graded in such a way as to encourage the student to develop both technique and imagination within a closely defined framework. Recommended for all music students.Table of ContentsPart One - Chorale Harmonization: Introduction, 1. Melodic Characteristics of the Chorale, 2. Cadences, 3. Harmonic Resource, 4..Unessential Notes, 5. Consecutives, 6. Textures, 7. Modal Chorales, 8. Exercises, Appendix, Part Two - Instrumental Counterpoint: 1. Introduction, 2. Melodic Characteristics, 3. Harmony, 4. Rhythm and Texture, 5. Musical Forms, 6. Exercises

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Book SynopsisMaking and Manipulating Marionettes is a comprehensive guide to the design, construction and control of string puppets, a craft and performance art that has fascinated audiences for over two thousand years. Topics covered include: An introduction to the marionette tradition and the principles and practicalities of marionette design Advice on materials and methods for carving, modelling and casting puppet parts Step-by-step instructions for the construction of human and animal marionettes using traditional techniques and latest materials Detailed explanations for marionette control, stringing and manipulation Secrets for achieving a wide range of special effects and traditional acts, tricks and transformations

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Book SynopsisMiles Davis was one of the musical giants of the twentieth century. In a career that spanned more than five decades, Miles transformed the face of jazz four or five times, and his music resonates far beyond the bounds of his genre. Miles made the most famous album in the history of jazz, "Kind of Blue", formed one of the greatest jazz quintets in the 1960s and fused jazz with rock. Including unique interviews with dozens of Miles' closest colleagues, many of whom have never before been interviewed about their time with him, "The Last Miles" concentrates on the final period of Miles' life, after he had emerged from a five-year lay-off from the world of music. Right up until the end of his life, he was still searching, still exploring and still refusing to play it safe. The focus is on the music Miles recorded and played, and how it evolved in the eyes of the musicians he played with. Those interviewed include, George Duke, Teo Macero, Tommy LiPuma, Marcus Miller, Darryl Jones and Easy Mo Bee. There are also interviews with musicians who played with Miles before the 1980s, including Dave Liebman, Pete Cosey, Michael Henderson and Mike Zwerin, who give their own assessment of the music Miles played during the final period of his life. Cheryl Davies, Miles' only daughter, is also interviewed. "The Last Miles" is full of fascinating new facts and stories about Miles. For the first time, every member of the group of young musicians from Chicago who helped bring Miles back into the music scene gives their story. Music journalist George Cole also reveals for the first time the full story behind a lost Miles Davis album recorded in 1985, tells you about a song Miles co-wrote for "Mick Jagger", how he worked with Prince, and discovers new and unreleased music that Miles recorded. If you've ever wanted to know how Miles recruited his band members, what it was like working with Miles in the studio or to play with him on-stage, "The Last Miles" has the answers. There is at least one chapter devoted to each album that Miles recorded during this period. Full track-by-track descriptions contain many new and interesting tales behind the songs including how Sting came to record on one of Miles' tracks, why Prince dropped a song slated to appear on the "Tutu" album, how Gil Evans helped Miles compose many of the tunes on the album "Star People", what Splatch means and who Ursula was.Trade Review"'The best Miles Davis book ever.' Randy Hall, singer, guitarist and producer, who worked with Miles in the 1980's 'Engagingly written from start to finish, The Last Miles is an essential portrait of Miles' last decade and a strong argument that his music was both valid and perfectly in keeping with a musical philosophy that would ultimately stretch over six decades.' John Kelman, All About Jazz 'Cole does for Miles' late work what Ian Macdonald's Revolution In The Head does for The Beatles, examining each album in meticulous detail.' John Lewis, Time Out 'Cole's certainly produced a fascinating book.' Chris Ingham, Mojo '[Miles] comes out of Cole's account larger, warmer and if anything even more important than ever.' Brian Morton (co-writer of The Penguin Guide to Jazz), The Wire 'A fantastic book, an amazing insight into Miles.' Guy Barker, jazz trumpeter 'For Miles fans, this book is a must.' Jez Nelson, presenter BBC Radio Jazz on Three 'I really do recommend The Last Miles... It is a fine work.' John Cavanagh, presenter Radio Scotland's Be-Bop to Hip-Hop 'A great book that plays a great tribute to the last years of Miles' life.' Erik Telford, presenter of Miles Radio 'Cole is a persuasive writer: he prompted me to go and dig out albums that I'd dismissed as inconsequential and listen again with fresh ears... A rewarding read.' Charles Waring, Blues & Soul 'The Last Miles needs to be covered by working musicians, producers and Miles' fans alike.' Livingstone Marquis, Straight, No Chaser"Table of ContentsPrelude; Introduction; Miles, the man; Miles - His life and music before 1975; Into the Shadows; The man with the horn; We Want Miles; Star People; Decoy; You're Under Arrest; Aura; The road to Tutu; The road to Tutu: The Rubberband album; The road to Tutu: Miles and Prince; Tutu; Siesta; Amandla; Doo-Bop; Live Around the World; Miles Alive; Miles' other recordings; Miles' guest recordings; The verdict on the music of the 1980s; Notes; References; Compilation albums; Tribute albums; The eighties music - cover versions; Unreleased material; Miles' tunes; Miles' bands; Discography; Books and websites.

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Book SynopsisWhen "Friday the 13th" premiered in 1980, the film introduced moviegoers to a new kind of cinematic terror - shocking, visceral, graphic and relentless. Spawning ten popular sequels to date, the series has become the most successful horror franchise of all time, and the character of 'Jason' an icon known around the world as the first name in evil. Now, uncensored and in their own words, over 200 alumni of the series recall a quarter-century's worth of behind-the-scenes stories - the struggles, feuds, foibles, controversies and calamities. Fully illustrated with nearly 600 never-before-seen photos, rare archival documents and production materials, this huge hardback volume is the ultimate oral and visual memoir of the series - a must-have for fans and cinema historians alike.

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Book SynopsisMost Hollywood biographies are little more than 500-page musings on the ‘ when-I-met… ’ theme, filled with famous names, love affairs and cliché s of a ‘ meteoric rise’ or ‘ tragic fall’ . Bruce Campbell’ s If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor is the boisterous antidote to such convention. Campbell is the ultimate ‘ B’ Movie actor. Star of the cult Evil Dead trilogy, with a CV that ranges from buddy Sam Raimi’ s Spider-Man, through The X-Files and Xena: Warrior Princess, to the less-than-glamorous Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, you’ ve probably never heard of him. But his is one heck of a story! The popularity of Bruce, the cult hero of cable TV and Hollywood’ s second rung, is burning brighter than ever, his legion of fans undiminished after over thirty years. Insightful, encouraging and brilliantly funny, If Chins Could Kill! is a brilliant place to start for those unfamiliar with his work. For everyone else, it acts as a wonderful reminder for just why they fell in love with him in the first place.Trade Review‘An insightful and rant-filled guide to being almost famous'‘[an] entertaining and witty Hollywood memoir…[with] enough insights and smarts to appeal to readers with a serious interest in popular culture.’‘This engaging memoir offers much more than the standard, glamorous "and then I did..." show business autobiography… it succeeds as an evocative memoir that allows the reader to know Campbell. High recommended’‘ An insightful and rant-filled guide to being almost famous' ‘ [an] entertaining and witty Hollywood memoir… [with] enough insights and smarts to appeal to readers with a serious interest in popular culture.’ ‘ This engaging memoir offers much more than the standard, glamorous "and then I did..." show business autobiography… it succeeds as an evocative memoir that allows the reader to know Campbell. High recommended’

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Book SynopsisThe Great Wall: The Art of the Film chronicles the making of this landmark East-meets-West production, accompanied by insight and interviews with key cast and crew, including a foreword by director Zhang Yimou. Packed with fascinating storyboards, sketches, final film frames and behind-the-scenes shots from the set, The Great Wall: The Art of the Film is a stunning celebration of an epic movie that no fan should miss.Trade Review“an impeccably designed, content-rich item that is certainly a great complement to the movie” - Film Pulse“a beautifully hard-bound coffee table book” Retrenders “this is one of the best looking art books I’ve reviewed” Entertainment Buddha“ The superb showcase of the film’s incredible artwork, its style, and its design, make this book among the decade’s best books about the making of a film.” Borg.com “so rich with details that putting the book down is a difficult decision” Gamers Sphere “flipping through this art book is a treat for those who enjoy seeing the craft and care put into production.” - Midroad Movie Review“a beautiful publication” The Film Stage “straight up one of the most purely beautiful and elegant art books you’ll lay eyes on” - VG Blogger

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Book SynopsisThe first in-depth biography of one of music's most fascinating, colourful and innovative characters. This book is the most comprehensive history yet of the life, music and cultural significance of the last of the great black music pioneers and the era which spawned him. Clinton stands alongside James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone as one of the most influential black artists of all time who, along with his vast P-Funk army took black funk into the US charts and sold out stadiums by the mid 1970s with his mind-blowing shows and legendary Mothership extravaganzas. The book contains first hand interview material with Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey, Junie Morrison, Bobby Gillespie, Afrika Bambaataa, Jalal Nuriddin (Last Poets), Juan Atkins, John Sinclair, Rob Tyner (MC5), Ed Sanders (The Fugs), Chip Monck ("The Voice of Woodstock") plus other P-Funk associates and friends. The book presents an insiders' view of the rise of Parliament and Funkadelic from the doowop era and LSD-crazed early shows through to P-Funk's huge rise, the era of the Mothership and beyond.

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Book SynopsisA Scene In Between sets out to excavate the sartorial treasures of the UK’s 1980s guitar scenes. Using original archive photography from scenesters, band members and amateur photographers of the time, Sam Knee takes you on a fashion trip through the visual racket of pivotal indie bands including Primal Scream, Spacemen 3, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Tallulah Gosh, the Vaselines and countless others. Charity shop chic, anoraks, bowlcuts, leather trousers and stripy tees are all de-riguer in this evocative photographic historical capsule. Seven years on from the release of the first edition, Sam Knee has expanded his photographic contact base, and built a loyal Instagram following of over 60,000 (including many big names in fashion and music). This revised edition features a new cover and intro, and plenty of new photographic material that will delight both fans of his work and new music and fashion aficionados.

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Book SynopsisSince its release, "Sell Out", though still not the best selling release in "The Who's" catalog, has been embraced by a growing number of fans. As much as it is an expression of the band's expanding sonic palette, this work also functions as a critique of the rock and roll lifestyle.Trade ReviewDougan provides detailed dissection of not just the music and the minutiae, but the unique British cultural milieu that spawned Sell Out (for example, he spends a good time chronicling the rise and fall of the pirate stations). His love for the album and the band consistently shines through, but he never lets that get in the way of cogent analysis, and he additionally brings to the fore a dry wit perfectly suited to his subject. -- Fred Mills * Blurt Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe Stone Roses shows a band sizzling with skill, consumed with drive and aspiration and possessing an almost preternatural mastery of the pop paradigm. This book explores the political and cultural zeitgeist of England in 1989, and attempts to apprehend the magic ingredients that made "The Stone Roses" such a special album.Trade Review"'A brilliant series of pocket-sized books focussing on a classic album. Each one a work of real love.' NME"

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Book SynopsisU2 planted the seeds for The Joshua Tree during an existential journey through America. As Irishmen in the 1970s, the band grew up with the belief that America was a place of freedom and prosperity, a symbol of hope and a refuge for all people. However, global politics of the 1980s undermined that impression and fostered hypocritical policies that manipulated Americans and devastated people around the world. Originally conceived as The Two Americas, The Joshua Tree was U2''s critique of America. Rather than living up to the ideal that the country was an idea that belongs to people who need it most, the band found that America sacrificed equality and justice for populism and fascism. This book explores the political, social, and cultural themes rooted in The Joshua Tree when it was originally released in 1987 and how those themes resonated as a response to the election of Donald Trump when U2 toured for the album''s 30th anniversary. The author juxtaposes the band''s ex

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Book SynopsisReturn to the world of Blade Runner with this, the officially sanctioned box-set of the comic book series based on the cult 1982 science fiction movie Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott. Including art cards featuring the cover art from the individual books.LAPD''s best Blade Runner and detective, Aahna ''Ash'' Ashina, has been assigned to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Isobel and Cleo Selwyn, the wife and daughter of business tycoon, Alexander Selwyn, a close personal friend of Eldon Tyrell. Ash''s search will take her on a journey from the crime-ridden underbelly of Los Angeles to the promised land of the Off-World Colonies and back home again as she uncovers a terrible secret and a desperate conspiracy that forces her to confront her own hatred for Replicants - the synthetic humans that she hunts with such vengeance.Collects Blade Runner 2019: Los Angeles/Off-World/Home Again, Home Again.

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • A poignant and hilarious memoir from the cultural icon, gay rights activist, and four-time Tony Award–winning actor and playwright, revealing never-before-told stories of his personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, and of his fabled careerHarvey Fierstein’s legendary career has transported him from community theater in Brooklyn, to the lights of Broadway, to the absurd excesses of Hollywood and back. He’s received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, films, and TV shows: Hairspray,  Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Cheers, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, and Kinky Boots. While he has never shied away from the spotlight, Mr. Fierstein says that even those closest to him have never heard most

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Book SynopsisThis is a book not just for fans of the band: it sot just for fans of the band: it's for anyone interested in how culture can spark national conversations.

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Book Synopsis With careers spanning eight decades, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were two of the most prolific animation producers in American history. In 1940, the two met at MGM and created Tom and Jerry, who would earn 14 Academy Award nominations and seven wins. The growth of television led to the founding of Hanna-Barbera''s legendary studio that produced countless hours of cartoons, with beloved characters from Fred Flintstone, George Jetson and Scooby-Doo to the Super Friends and the Smurfs. Prime-time animated sitcoms, Saturday morning cartoons, and Cartoon Network''s cable animation are some of the many areas of television revolutionized by the team. Their productions are critical to our cultural history, reflecting ideologies and trends in both media and society. This book offers a complete company history and examines its productions'' influences, changing technologies, and enduring cultural legacy, with careful attention to Hanna-Barbera''s problematic record Table of ContentsIntroduction: Animation, Culture, and the Legacy of a Partnership 1. 1940–1957: The MGM Years 2. 1958–1962: Transitioning to Television 3. 1962–1964: A Page Right Out of (Television) History 4. 1964–1969: Equal Representation, Where Are You? 5. 1970–1975: Success Breeds Complacency 6. 1976–1978: Profits, Policy, and Popeye 7. 1978–1981: Holding On to the Past as the Future Approaches 8. 1981–1985: Trickle Down Animation 9. 1985–1990: Toys and Technology10. 1990–1993: Corporate Changes and New Strategies11. 1993–1996: Cable Connects Kids of All Ages to Cartoons12. 1996 and Beyond: Digitization and ConsolidationConclusion: Growth Does Not Mean ProgressChapter NotesReference ListIndex

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Book Synopsis'Destined to be a classic' Sunday Independent'Gabriel Byrne tells his story brilliantly' - Edna O'Brien'Dazzles with unflinching honesty' Washington Post'An absolutely marvellous book' - Colm TóibínBorn to working-class parents and the eldest of six children, Gabriel Byrne harboured a childhood desire to become a priest. Four years later, Byrne had been expelled from an English seminary and he quickly returned to his native Dublin. There he took odd jobs as a messenger boy and a factory labourer to get by. In his spare time he visited the cinema, where he could be alone and yet part of a crowd. It was here that he could begin to imagine a life beyond the grey world of ’60s Ireland.It was a friend who suggested Byrne join an amateur drama group, a decision that would change his life forever and launch him on an extraordinary forty-year career in film and theatre. Moving between sensual recollection of childhood in a now almost vanished Ireland and reflections on stardom in Hollywood and on Broadway, often through the lens of addiction. Hilarious and heartbreaking Walking With Ghosts is a lyrical homage to the people and landscapes that ultimately shape our destinies.Trade ReviewThe wonder of this memoir is its unembellished truth. It is written by a man whose amazing story is the stuff of literature -- Edna O'BrienSo beautiful, it seems extraordinary that [Byrne] has kept this light under a bushel all this time . . . Gorgeous -- Graham Norton, BBC Radio 2An absolutely marvellous book . . . beautifully written, poetic . . . it’s a really riveting read -- Colm TóibínGabriel Byrne has written the most beautiful memoir. This is haunting prose and wondrous, sad, uplifting, my book of the year -- Claire KeeganWalking With Ghosts is lavish with lyricism, but presents a pretty unvarnished version of its author . . . The book is also a conscious departure: stylistically ambitious, purposefully (and successfully) so * The Guardian *Thoughtful, moving and without a trace of self-indulgence, this honest and beautifully-written book reads more like a novel than a memoir, drawing the reader into a narrative that is full of courage, humour and above all, humanity. I really loved Walking with Ghosts and can't recommend it highly enough -- Christine Dwyer HickeyImagine Séamus Heaney's eye falling on Hollywood's glare . . . it really did remind me of Séamus Heaney, it seemed to have that very sharp focus and also that wonderfully lyrical way of expressing it -- Richard Coles, BBC Radio 4Make no mistake about it: this is a masterpiece. A book that will wring out our tired hearts. It is by turns poetic, moving and very funny. You will find it on the shelf alongside other great Irish memoirs including those by Frank McCourt, Nuala O'Faolain and Edna O’Brien -- Colum McCann, author of Let the Great World SpinThe allure of Gabriel Byrne's memoir is that it persuasively humanizes what it is to be a big deal movie star. Byrne is wonderfully without cant or bluster or phony humility. Instead he leads with felicity, candor, humor and empathy. In the end, he seems to be somebody you'd be glad to know -- Richard FordByrne arrives at a truth greater than an honest and sensitive memoir; he verges on a profoundly touching articulation of our short time on earth, time that will make of each of us nothing more or less than a ghost -- Mia Colleran * Irish Independent *A wry and warm, swirling poetic reverie of a memoir -- Colin BarrettA joy of a book - full of heart and humour, beautifully told -- Sinéad GleesonDestined to be a classic . . . What makes Gabriel Byrne a great writer is that he knows that whether we are wicked or good, few of us get what we deserve * Sunday Independent *Reading the book was a beautiful experience; it’s superb. It really is a very special book so if you love someone buy it for them for Christmas -- Eamon DunphyStructured around an imaginary, haunted visit to the Dublin of his youth, the book does offer sketches from the movie wonderland – John Boorman being bossy on Excalibur, testy encounters with Laurence Olivier in the 1980s – but it is more to do with conjuring up a now-vanished Ireland. The smell of the Guinness brewery. Early acting experiences in a nativity play. The church, everywhere the church * Irish Times *The writing is so vivid it’s as if we are by Gabriel Byrne’s shoulder through the sorrowful times and the joyous moments. He weaves an intimate and absorbing tapestry of the poignant and the funny -- Kirsty WarkA working-class family memoir as well as a meditation on fame and its discontents -- Sena O'Hagan * Observer *Walking with Ghosts is exquisite. This book feels like the culmination of a long literary career and not the debut of a famous actor. Byrne makes himself fully vulnerable while in total command of language and form. There is great truth and great beauty in this close examination of a life and the passage of time. I’ve never read a memoir so raw and honest and literary and absolutely, staggeringly brilliant -- Lily King[Byrne] writes with much more depth than the typical celebrity memoirist, accessing some of Seamus Heaney’s earthiness and James Joyce’s grasp of how Catholic guilt can shape an artist . . . A melancholy but gemlike memoir, elegantly written and rich in hard experience * Kirkus (starred review) *Mercurial, ferociously honest and moving . . . A poignant symphony of memories and dreams, longing and loss, in a search for the immigrants most elusive prize, home -- Karl Geary, author of MontpelierA poetic journey into those secret realms of memory which dominate our lives, but are rarely spoken about. By revealing himself with such courage, compassion, and exquisite poise, Gabriel Byrne gives readers that rare gift of being able to see themselves in the feelings of another person. This book is more than a memoir—it’s a mirror that reflects the deepest parts of us in exile -- Simon Van BooyA remembrance of the Ireland Byrne left behind, one which is no longer there * Hot Press, '2020 Books of the Year' *Dazzles with unflinching honesty, as it celebrates the exuberance of being alive to the world despite living through pain. [Byrne's] portrait of an artist as a young boy is steeped in nostalgia of the best sort, re-creating the pull of home . . . With this tender book — full of warm and often funny stories — Byrne shows us the depth of his true character * Washington Post *In emotional, evocative prose, Walking With Ghosts describes the town outside Dublin where [Byrne] grew up, the oldest of six children crammed into a small house, their father working as a barrel-maker for the Guinness brewery, everyone in each other’s business. They were steeped in Catholicism . . . In passages that are horrifying, then funny, then both, he describes, for instance, learning the story of Adam and Eve from a fire-and-brimstone nun, in a lesson that ends with God declaring to the fallen pair: 'And by the way, your children will be miserable as well.' ('That’s why the world is such an unhappy place,' the nun adds.) . . . Can you go home again? That is the tantalizing question raised by Walking With Ghosts -- Sarah Lyall * The New York Times *This is a book about grief, loss, the secrets that we keep and the joys of creativity. It's also about dealing with addiction and the vertigo of fame. We always knew Gabriel Byrne was an astonishing actor but now we also know what an elegant, intelligent and dignified writer he is -- Mariana Enríquez, author of Dangers of Smoking in BedByrne is very honest and interspersed with all of the beautifully evoked sadness [in Walking With Ghosts] are very funny moments . . . you know he has a very good sense of humour but he probably wouldn’t admit it -- Jane SmileyIn pared down prose both luminous and raw, Walking with Ghosts is about first things—parents, siblings, loves, heartbreaks, parts, failure, success, loss, but most of all it is a tender embrace of the past as Byrne discovers and accepts the truth of who he is in all his human struggle to be at peace with oneself and one’s imperfections. In a voice full of warmth, compassion, humor and wonder, Byrne steps into the role of writer with the same assurance, humility and intensity that he brings to his acting roles. More, this debut marks a welcome new voice that blends memory and imagination for an all-encompassing and wise memoir that reads like a novel -- Vanessa Manko, author of The Un-AmericanIt is at times a heartbreakingly tender excursion between the living and the dead. The actor is an artist of the written as well as the spoken word -- Tommy Condren * Sunday Independent *A beautifully judged blend of sparkling anecdotes spliced with the darkest of memories -- Sarah Halliwell * The Gloss Magazine *The diary of a poet who also happens to be a famous movie star -- Monique RoffeyActor Byrne channels his fellow countrymen and Ireland's literary masters - Beckett, Heaney, Joyce, Yeats - to create an exceptionally lyrical and expressive memoir about his childhood and early career . . . Bracingly revealing about his struggle with alcoholism, achingly passionate about the Ireland of his youth, and piercingly frank about his acting life, Byrne is a vivid, evocative, and sumptuously compelling memoirist * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisFamous names and influential thinkers answer the question: What Makes Us Human?

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Book SynopsisDmitri Shostakovich was the most popular Soviet composer of his generation. Internationally esteemed, he is widely considered to have been the last great classical symphonist, and his reputation has continued to increase since his death in 1975. Shostakovich wrote his First Symphony aged only nineteen and soon embarked on a dual career as concert pianist and composer. His early avant-gardism was to result in the triumph of his 1934 opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Though at first highly praised by Stalin, Shostakovich would later suffer from a complex and brutalising relationship with the Soviet dictator and the governments that followed him. In spite of this persecution, his Seventh Symphony was embraced as a potent symbol of Russian resistance to the invading Nazi army in both the USSR and the West. Though his later years were marked by ill health, his rate of composition remained prolific. His music became increasingly popular with audiences as he established himself as the most popular composer of serious art music in the middle years of the twentieth century.Trade Review'Brian Morton has composed a model biographical sketch buttressed by a sympathetic exegeses of the most important thing: the work.' - Guardian.

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Book Synopsis1000-PIECE PUZZLE: Piece together the world of James Bond in this exciting jigsaw inspired by the iconic films. The perfect challenge for dedicated James Bond fans, lovers of cinema - or anyone who enjoys a good puzzle.FIND THE CHARACTERS: Featuring a cast of original Bonds, villains and supporting characters to spot as you race through shuttle launches and underwater lairs to island retreats and casinos.INCLUDES A PULL-OUT POSTER: With information about the featured characters, gadgets, locations and scenes on an illustrated poster bursting with 007 facts.SCREEN-FREE FUN: From one of the world's leading publishers of books and gifts on the creative arts. Laurence King works with the world's best illustrators, designers, artists and photographers to create beautiful books and gifts which are acclaimed for their inventiveness, beautiful design and authoritative texts.SUBSTANTIAL JIGSAW: Completed

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Book SynopsisFrom his own adolescence, when his allegiance was to punk rock, to his work as one of the essential voices of our time on music and culture at the New York Times and the New Yorker, Kelefa Sanneh has made a deep study of how our popular music unites and divides us. Distilling a career's worth of knowledge, Sanneh explores the tribes music forms, and how its genres, shape-shifting across the years, give us a way to track larger forces and concerns.He debunks cherished myths, reappraises beloved heroes and upends familiar ideas of musical greatness, arguing that sometimes the best popular music isn't transcendent: it expresses our grudges as well as our hopes, and is motivated by greed as well as inspiration. Throughout, race is a powerful touchstone: just as there's always been a 'Black' audience and a 'white' audience (with some overlap) there is Black music and white music and a whole lot of expropriation.This is a book to shock and awe the deepest music nerd, and at the same time to work as a heady gateway drug for the uninitiated.Trade ReviewThe most elegant history of popular music ever written . . . Sanneh not only delivers a coolly dazzling overview of the battlefields of genre but also revels open-heartedly in the music itself, his taste unbound by dogma or prejudice. The operative word is keen: zealous in spirit, exact in execution, ferociously acute from the first sentence to the last -- ALEX ROSS * * author of The Rest is Noise * *Kelefa Sanneh has achieved the impossible. Major Labels somehow manages to unspool everything you need to know about 50 years of music, but more impressively, he makes you care about all of it. Even the stuff you don't care about. It's funny, it's personal, and as a piece of writing the book borders on poetry -- DAVID LETTERMANAn intellectually rigorous retelling of rock and pop history * * The Times, Best Books of the Year * *The most wide-ranging music book of the year . . . elegantly written * * Herald, Music Books of the Year * *Intriguing, controversial, personal . . . a unique and absorbing read * * Guardian * *The book is immensely readable, and full of rich detail * * Independent * *This is a long-haul read, yet charmingly conducted in that languid, laconic New Yorker style that makes such a mammoth undertaking even possible. Its kick is to sew into the stories some near hidden gems - and socking ones too -- ANNIE NIGHTINGALESanneh's hospitable prose makes understanding this labyrinthine history feel like an adventure * * Guardian * *Entertaining, diligent . . . His observations are always fresh and thought-provoking, and presented with clarity and wit * * MOJO * *Inside this big, ambitious hybrid book was a smaller, more personal and altogether more compelling exploration of belonging and identity through music * * Observer * *

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Book SynopsisThere’s no template for making it as a globally successful pop group. Some of the ingredients remain constant and beyond the music, there’s a mix’n’match selection of premature death, drugs, drink, destroyed friendships, lukewarm solo projects and bungled finances. The saga of Joy Division and New Order has all those clichés, yet both groups defined their times and overturned their musical landscape. First, there was Joy Division. Their music reflected both the barren urban landscape of their native Manchester in the late 1970s and singer Ian Curtis’s heart of darkness. They remain forever set in aspic, not merely – if “merely” is the right word – by the suicide of their extraordinary and extraordinarily volatile singer, but by two albums as close to perfection as music can come. From the ashes of Joy Division rose New Order, who recruited a keyboardist because of – rather than in spite of – the fact she couldn’t play. On the cusp of the British dance music boom, with what seemed like remarkable prescience, they invested in The Haçienda, a club in their native Manchester. In its pomp, the queues were around the block, but its debts would sink their heroically hopeless record label, Factory. If Joy Division were sublime musical darkness, New Order were bathed in sunlight and their globally popular music bridged the chasm between indie and dance and inspired a generation. Having conquered the world while maintaining their credibility, they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and imploded in a tsunami of recrimination, while still making fabulous music to this day. You couldn’t make it up: there’s no need to.

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Book SynopsisThis book covers both the artistry and craftsmanship of cinematography and visual storytelling. Few art forms are as tied to their tools and technology as is cinematography. Take your mastery of these new tools, techniques, and roles to the next level with this cutting-edge roadmap from author and filmmaker Blain Brown.This 4th edition has been thoroughly updated throughout to include detailed information on the latest lighting and camera equipment, as well as expanded and updated discussion on the following areas: shooting on a budget, color spaces with emphasis on the new UHD standards, the decision-making process in choosing what lights and equipment to use, considerations concerning power issues, safety and what electrical supply is needed for various types of lights, an examination of the cinematographerâs role in preproduction, and much more. Topics Include:â Visual storytellingâ Continuity and coverageâ Cameras and digital sensorsâ The tools and basics of film lightingâ Methods of shooting a sceneâ Continuity and coverageâ Exposureâ Colorâ Understanding digital imagesâ Using linear, gamma, and log videoâ Image control and grading on the setâ Data management and the DITâ Optics and focusâ Camera movementâ Set operationsâ Green screen, high speed, and other topics.Whether you are a student of filmmaking, someone just breaking into the business, working in the field and looking to move up the ladder, or an experienced filmmaker updating your knowledge of tools and techniques, this book provides both the artistic background of visual language and also the craft of shooting for continuity, lighting tools and methods, and the technical side of capturing images on digital or on film.The companion website (www.routledge.com/cw/brown) features additional material, including lighting demonstrations, basic methods of lighting, methods of shooting a scene, using diffusion, and other topics.Trade Review'It’s been a painful transition from film to digital for many cinematographers. Brown takes the mystery out of it and presents the technical aspects of this change seamlessly. It is, after all, about art!'Judy Irola, ASC, Conrad Hall Chair in Cinematography and Color Timing, USC School of Cinematic Arts'As a practicing cinematographer who also teaches, I consider The Filmmaker’s Guide to Digital Imaging essential reading for my students. Blain Brown demystifies the technical processes of digital cinematography from the most basic to the more complex. Given the recent rapid development in this field, working professionals too will find this is a must-have guide. I’m one of them.Anthony Jannelli, Head of Graduate Cinematography, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University‘Just when you think a textbook can’t get any better, Brown comes up with this. Explanatory diagrams and illustrations from films give insight into the thought process and methods of the cinematographer. Brown illuminates both the large gestures and the finer points of the art and craft of cinematography.’James Henderson, Filmmaker/photographer/educator‘This is a welcome updated version of Cinematography: Theory and Practice, which keeps the traditional approaches to camerawork, and includes additional chapters on technological developments, such as Cameras, Image Control including a section on LUTs, and DIT & Workflow. This is an essential book for teaching camera techniques to students in the changing world of cinematography technologies.’Jeremy Bubb, Chair of NAHEMI. Filmmaker, and Academic.'It’s been a painful transition from film to digital for many cinematographers. Brown takes the mystery out of it and presents the technical aspects of this change seamlessly. It is, after all, about art!'Judy Irola, ASC, Conrad Hall Chair in Cinematography and Color Timing, USC School of Cinematic Arts'As a practicing cinematographer who also teaches, I consider The Filmmaker’s Guide to Digital Imaging essential reading for my students. Blain Brown demystifies the technical processes of digital cinematography from the most basic to the more complex. Given the recent rapid development in this field, working professionals too will find this is a must-have guide. I’m one of them.Anthony Jannelli, Head of Graduate Cinematography, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University‘Just when you think a textbook can’t get any better, Brown comes up with this. Explanatory diagrams and illustrations from films give insight into the thought process and methods of the cinematographer. Brown illuminates both the large gestures and the finer points of the art and craft of cinematography.’James Henderson, Filmmaker/photographer/educator‘This is a welcome updated version of Cinematography: Theory and Practice, which keeps the traditional approaches to camerawork, and includes additional chapters on technological developments, such as Cameras, Image Control including a section on LUTs, and DIT & Workflow. This is an essential book for teaching camera techniques to students in the changing world of cinematography technologies.’Jeremy Bubb, Chair of NAHEMI; Filmmaker, and AcademicTable of Contents'It’s been a painful transition from film to digital for many cinematographers. Brown takes the mystery out of it and presents the technical aspects of this change seamlessly. It is, after all, about art!'Judy Irola, ASC, Conrad Hall Chair in Cinematography and Color Timing, USC School of Cinematic Arts'As a practicing cinematographer who also teaches, I consider The Filmmaker’s Guide to Digital Imaging essential reading for my students. Blain Brown demystifies the technical processes of digital cinematography from the most basic to the more complex. Given the recent rapid development in this field, working professionals too will find this is a must-have guide. I’m one of them.'Anthony Jannelli, Head of Graduate Cinematography, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University‘Just when you think a textbook can’t get any better, Brown comes up with this. Explanatory diagrams and illustrations from films give insight into the thought process and methods of the cinematographer. Brown illuminates both the large gestures and the finer points of the art and craft of cinematography.’James Henderson, Filmmaker/photographer/educator‘This is a welcome updated version of Cinematography: Theory and Practice, which keeps the traditional approaches to camerawork, and includes additional chapters on technological developments, such as Cameras and Image Control including a section on LUTs, and DIT & Workflow. This is an essential book for teaching camera techniques to students in the changing world of cinematography technologies.’Jeremy Bubb, Chair of NAHEMI; Filmmaker, and Academic

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Book SynopsisDecolonizing contemporary jazz dance practice, this book examines the state of jazz dance theory, pedagogy, and choreography in the twenty-first century, recovering and affirming the lifeblood of jazz in Africanist aesthetics and Black American culture.

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Book SynopsisAn epic journey through sea shanties, high tides and seven seasFrom the international bestselling singer comes The Book of Sea Shanties.The world sang in harmony with Nathan Evans, the Glaswegian postie turned singer of sea shanties. Join him as he takes you through time and seafaring history to discover the true meaning of Wellerman, and who and what exactly was the Drunken Sailor?Featuring over 35 best loved shanties, Nathan will share the meaning behind each of his favourite shanties and show how they have shaped and inspired him. Beautifully illustrated throughout, it will also include original shanties and bonus content written exclusively for this book.Whether you're young or old, gather around and discover the riotous world of sea shanties.Praise for Nathan Evans:A 'Sea Shanty sensation' Rolling Stone'An artist who really lifts the mood when he performs' Daily Telegraph'Too good to miss' Brian May, Daily Express

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Book SynopsisIllustrated encyclopedia of more than 100 guitars and the musicians who have mastered them, from the rockabilly and blues pioneers to the rock heroes of the current day.

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Book SynopsisSheryl Iott investigates the relevancy of cognitive science to musical development and distills the best teaching and learning methods for musicians of all skill levels based on these scientific concepts. Filled with over 100 musical examples, this book imparts practical suggestions and advice that anybody can incorporate into their own practice.The book is divided into three parts: the beginning musician and important cognition topics that relate to early music study, such as language acquisition, aural processing, and the development of audiation along with a relaxed approach to the instrument the intermediate musician and more advanced cognitive processes, including visual processing, chunking, and early problem solving the advanced musician moving towards expertise, requiring higher levels of knowledge representation and a more creative approach to problem solving, with strategies to tackle the most difficult repertoire The book includes sample lesson plans, workshop templates, and sample practice assignments.

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Book SynopsisPacked with rare photographs and stunning on-the-page facsimile memorabilia, this book provides an insight into the unique journey of one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century - Elvis Presley. Follow the incredible story of the man they call the ?King of Rock and Roll." Elvis Presley?s life and career are shown, from his carefree beginnings at Sun Records in the 1950s to global superstardom. In addition, the book features rare interviews with the legendary Elvis guitarist Scotty Moore, Drummer DJ Fontana, and Elvis?s loyal backing singers the Jordanaires. To bring you even closer to the King the book features a wide variety of superb on-the-page rare memorabilia and documents from the archives, including tour posters, personal letters, publicity material, and fascinating items and tickets from his greatest gigs and best albums.

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Book SynopsisDine like the lords and ladies and bring the high society meals and treats home with these 100 delicious recipes inspired by Netflix’s most-watched series of all time—Bridgerton.Blue satin ball gowns, chocolates and high tea, five course meals with family, scandal, and romance. Welcome to the dashing world of Bridgerton. Grosvenor Square is buzzing with ladies and lords dressed to the nines, promenading in the park, and sharing lemonade at the evening’s ball. And while you might not be able to score the jewels and frocks of the Bridgertons and the Featheringtons, you can still eat like them with The Unofficial Bridgerton Cookbook. From dazzling canapes, savory meat pies, sparkling wine, gooseberry pie, delicious finger sandwiches, and more, you’ll be eating like a Bridgerton in no time. Nevermind what Lady Whistledown says, it’s time to eat! These 100 recipes inspired by the delectable foods from Regency England will have you dining Duke and Duchess style with recipes like: -Daphne’s Lemonade -The Duke’s Gooseberry Pie -Penelope’s Cucumber Sandwiches -Queen Charlotte’s Cakes -And many more! Now you can feast like high society and devour these delectable recipes perfect for any social event.Trade Review“Delightful… the perfect holiday present… an absolute must-have.” —She Knows“An amazing gift.” —Sarah Scoop“One of the most ideal recipe books.” —Daily Mom“A fun cookbook and would make a delightful gift.” —Books Cooks Looks“Eye-popping… the recipes are riveting.” —Orange County Register“Pretty and ornate… surprisingly accessible.” —Everything Zoomer“Gorgeous and whimsical.” —Cookbook Divas“Very pretty.” —NWI Times"Surprisingly simple yet satisfying." —Greatist“The book offers no less than 100 recipes entirely inspired by the Netflix series, enough to delight the most gourmet fans.” —Elle France

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Book Synopsis'The joy of these scripts is in being able to appreciate the craft and ambition involved in the sharpness of the dialogue, the cunning of the plotting, and the desire never to repeat themselves, as Pemberton and Shearsmith build each episode into a miniaturist treasure. A must for anyone who wants to write for television, or who just wants to see how the magic is done.'- NEIL GAIMANTake a further peek behind the door marked 'number 9' as the scripts from series 1-3 are collected here for the first time. An anthology of darkly comic twisted tales by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, read how each 30-minute self-contained story with new characters and new settings, sprang to life from the page.Each series is prefaced by a foreword from the show creators, giving readers and fans behind-the-scenes insight to this creative phenomenon. It is a beautifully written series, some stories comic, some tragic, all highly original and inventive. As well as Steve and Reece, it has featured guest appearances from a plethora well-known actors including Jack Whitehall, Peter Kay, Sheridan Smith, Gemma Arterton, Keeley Hawes, Alison Steadman, Conleth Hill, and David Morrissey. Relive the show's every enjoyable moment down to the stage directions with Inside No. 9: The Scripts: Series 1-3.Trade ReviewThe joy of these scripts is in being able to appreciate the craft and ambition Involved in the sharpness of the dialogue, the cunning of the plotting, and the desire never to repeat themselves, as Pemberton and Shearsmith build each episode into a miniaturist treasure. A must for anyone who wants to write for television, or who just wants to see how the magic is done. -- Neil Gaiman

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Book SynopsisA rare look at an underappreciated and pioneering figure in Japanese free jazzAspirations of Madness, Blank Forms? fifth collection of archival, unpublished, or newly translated texts, takes its title from a series of interviews with Japanese free jazz pioneer Masayuki Takayangi that were published in Japanese in 1975?76 and are published here in English for the first time. The interviews provide a rare look at Takayanagi?s eccentric practice and personality, both long under-recognized by audiences outside (and often, inside) of Japan. The postwar Japanese history that Takayanagi describes also surfaces in this publication?s opening piece, a poetic tribute by the writer and artist Louise Landes Levi to one of Takayanagi?s contemporaries, the poet Kazuko Shiraishi. Aspirations of Madness includes a second Levi poem as well, ?A Deep River,? written while at La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela?s Dream House in 2003. Complementing this tradition of Japanese free improvisation and poetry is the republication of a 1977 interview with Joseph Jarman, the great composer, poet, and multi-instrumentalist. We also feature Charles Stein?s introduction to Being = Space x Action. Further along, Aspirations of Madness features an excerpt from The Tree of Music, a cross-cultural treatise by the Russian musicologist Genrich ?Henry? Orlov, the English translation of which has never been published before. Aspirations of Madness closes with one of Maryanne Amacher?s final pieces of writing, ?The Agreement,? from 2009. The text takes the form of a letter between Amacher and the Open Ended Group, with whom she had planned to collaborate on her final, unfinished project, Lagrange: A Four Part Mini Series.

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Book SynopsisWe Love K-Pop is a true celebration of Korean Wave music. Packed with vibrant photos, readers will journey through the songs, styles and stories behind all their favourite K-Pop groups and solo artists. Discover more about the process of transforming from trainee to idol, rate the best music videos, and compare key stats. Whether you''re a Blink, a Carat, or part of the Army, there''s something for every K-Pop fan!

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Book Synopsis''An inspired and intuitive navigation of the drone continuum . . . with a compass firmly set to new and enlightening psychedelic truths'' BECKMonolithic Undertow alights a crooked path across musical, religious and subcultural frontiers. It traces the line from ancient traditions to the modern underground, navigating archaeoacoustics, ringing feedback, chest plate sub-bass, avant-garde eccentricity, sound weaponry and fervent spiritualism. From Neolithic beginnings to bawdy medieval troubadours, Sufi mystics to Indian raga masters, cone shattering dubwise bass, Hawkwind''s Ladbroke Grove to the outer reaches of Faust and Ash Ra Temple; the hash-fueled fug of The Theatre of Eternal Music to the cough syrup reverse hardcore of Melvins, seedy VHS hinterland of Electric Wizard, ritual amp worship of Earth and Sunn O))) and the many touch points in between, Monolithic Undertow explores the power of the drone - an audio carrier vessel capable of evoking womb Trade ReviewAn inspired and intuitive navigation of the drone continuum, MONOLITHIC UNDERTOW maps the heavy underground with a compass firmly set to new and enlightening psychedelic truths -- BECKThis is a masterpiece, heavy, fun, mad, wild, inspiring, mind-blowing, massively deep though never precious, so many tangents somehow brought together with clarity and vision, love the idea of a left-hand path history, and the connections between the beginnings of the universe, ritual music and modern electronic rock is jaw-dropping. I love it, this is the music book of the year and the ultimate book on the sound of the eternal now. This is going to drop like a true fucking monolith from the skies. -- DAVID KEENANEvery now and then a book comes out that redefines a form, creates the narrative and is a startling jolt to the culture fabric . . . [MONOLITHIC UNDERTOW] is thrilling, inspiring, informative and makes you jump all over the internet looking for the soundtrack. The book is a game changer and you will never listen to music in the same way again -- John Robb * LOUDER THAN WAR *Sword is a deeply knowledgeable and perceptive advocate for a vast range of often esoteric, sometimes challenging, always extraordinary music * Quietus *Monolithic Undertow searches for our relationship to drone music: an epic playlist that begins in the womb, then criss-crosses an exhaustive thread across the lo-fi Verdantic cassettes of Alice Coltrne, the 'true British blues' of Black Sabbath, infrasonic weaponry and the gritty doom-clouds of The Velvet Underground -- ART REVIEWAddictive . . . Sword's is an impressively global ear * IRISH TIMES *Verbose and effusive when assessing recordings, Monolithic Undertow's scope is large enough that any reader will likely discover something * BUZZ *

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