Sounds of the Underground ─ A Cultural, Political and Aesthetic Mapping of Underground and Fringe Music

This study of underground music in the digital era offers a political discussion of the music’s anti-capitalist aesthetics. “Underground music” is defined here as noncommercial forms of music that exist outside of mainstream pop and classical, such as noise, free improvisation, extreme metal, post-noise experimental pop, and sound art. The book draws on interviews with musicians as well as descriptions of performances. Part 1 defines this genre and examines global and local underground and fringe scenes. Part 2 delves into the politics of underground and fringe music, cultural policy and underground music, the digital economy and labels, and festivals and venues. Part 3 explores listening to the underground. The book includes an extensive bibliography divided into six sections: general sources, anonymous web references, extreme metal, free improvisation, noise and post-noise, and a discography. Black and white photos are included. Annotation c2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)