The Wire magazine has come to be known as the authoritative source on modern  music. This collection of essays  springs originally from the Undercurrents, and subsequently, the Tangents series of articles that were “thinkpieces” based on 12 basic themes or forces that have and continue to shape modern music. The 19 essays, broken into 4 categories: electrification, occultism, mechanism and freedom, were contributed by some of the most prominent modern music writers and offer insight into ideas as diverse as the origins of the phonograph to digital music to sound art and musical sculpture to soul music and free jazz.

A spectacular look at the evolution, technology and art of music, this is a must read for any musician or music appreciator.