Book Reviews

Bass Culture: Lloyd Bradley

Viking UK

While The Rough Guide to Reggae offers an in-depth history and analysis of the genre, Bradley's take is more through the eyes of those who make the music, from Prince Buster on. Perhaps inevitably, there's an Anglophile slant, but Jamaica was a British colony, and the connections between countries are strong. Very readable and colloquial, it's the kind of book that takes you deep into Kingston, Brixton, Chapeltown, and other parts that few have managed to bring to life well, all the while keeping the focus on the music and those who helped it progress - at least throughout the roots period, Bradley's sphere of interest. For anyone wanting real insight into the culture behind reggae, rocksteady, and ska, this is a recommended read.

Fela: The Life and Times of an African Musical Icon: Michael Veal

Temple

Veal talked with and played music with the late Fela Kuti, the father of Afrobeat, and comes to this book with the thesis that the man was a persecuted genius. That Fela was persecuted is beyond argument. And the fact is that his musical vision was very focused, and certainly fertile. At his best, Fela was a genius, but not every piece of music he issued warrants massive praise. But Veal does an excellent job of describing the life (and death) of a man who truly was an African Musical Icon, and who forged a bridge between Africa and America in his music. Easy to read, and with enough anecdotes to stop and dryness. Enjoyable and educational.

People Funny Boy: David Katz

An exhaustive biography of the man known as 'Scratch,' undertaken in such detail that it has to be a labor of love. If Lee Perry produced it, recorded it, or even came within 100 yards of it, it's in here. And in some ways, that's the problem with this book. Its detail is incredible, but tiring - the brief bios on virtually everyone become tiring, and the emphasis is much more on the what than the why. You come away with a deep respect for Perry, and a renewed desire to hear all the facets of his music, but you don't really know whether he's as mad as a March hare or not, or exactly why he took the paths he took - which would have been far more interesting than just the facts, ma'am. Still, as reggae books go, this is, without a doubt, complete.

Rumba on the River: Gary Stewart

Verso

Amazingly, the Congolese music scene has never been documented, on either side of the river. But Stewart makes up for the lack of information with what must be one of the most detailed and exhaustive studies of music there's ever been. Not that it's dry; quite the opposite. But the wealth of information here is staggering, and helps make this the definitive book on the subject. There's simply no way anyone else could do it better. The minutae of comings and goings, new bands, old ones breaking up, is catalogued, and the development of the music, into rumba, then soukous, is explained. A stunning piece of work, on every level.

The Billboard Guide to Tejano and Regional Mexican Music: Ramiro Burr

Billboard Press

Amazingly, there hasn't been a concise guide to this genre before. Burr's book, with articles followed by an A-Z listing of artists, offers a good grounding for anyone wanting to know more, even if the entries are a little confusing on occasion, and can leave you searching around for a particular artist. However, he knows his stuff, and more importantly, he loves it. So as well as the basic information, the passion is communicated, as well as something of the history and possible future of this music. Inevitably, as the popularity of this grows within the mainstream, it won't be the final word. But for now, it does a fine job.

The Brazilian Sound: Ed. Chris McGowan and Ricardo Pessanha

Temple

While many know the bossa nova and the samba, their history (at least to most American eyes) has gone untold - until now. The editors show the development of the music in Brazil, as well as exploring the many regional styles, offering potted biographies of some of the country's biggest stars. In many ways it's more a reference than a book to sit, read, and enjoy, but there's no doubting the vast scholarship behind it, and for those seeking to get beyond the basics, it's invaluable, the kind of source book to go back to again and again. The sections on Carnival and samba schools are especially outstanding.

The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop: Peter Shapiro

Rough Guides

There's no doubt that hip-hop is probably the most popular musical currency on the planet, having grown from small origins around 1980. It's also spun itself off into so many sub-genres that you need a scorecard to keep track - which is where this should have come in. However, it doesn't exactly succeed in being the volume on hip-hop. Why? The alphabetical entries offer no background or history of the genre and its rapid development to world domination. That might just be excusable. But it commits a bigger sun - focusing only on U.S. hip-hop. No Latin tip, no Massive Attack, no MC Solaar, no acknowledgment that much of the hip-hop creativity is taking place outside North American. There's not even a tip of the hat to Kool Herc, the godfather, whose Jamaican origins helped fashion the style. Which makes all this definitely not dope.

The Rough Guide to Irish Music: Geoff Wallis and Sue Wilson

Rough Guides

Looking at this, the words that spring to mind are exhaustive and inspiring. The authors know their subject deeply and obviously love all facets of the tradition, whether it's the players, the records, the history, or the venues. The background section offers a general context for the music, while the divisions by instrument, groups, even families, give potted biographies that become something quite definitive when taken as a whole. Add to that discography recommendations, and you have what stands as a complete book (to which the Irish section in the Rough Guide to World Music stands as almost an afterthought), rather than the little pocket-sized volume it appears to be (open it up and the wealth of information makes it seem like the Tardis). Whether you know a lot or a little, this stands as an incredible volume.

The Rough Guide: World Music, Volume 2: Ed. Simon Broughton and Mark Ellingham

Rough Guides

Volume 1 told half the story, and now you can get the rest of the world's music explained and encapsulated. Is it necessary? Beyond a doubt. The in-depth features on each country offer real illumination on all aspects of musical tradition and future, well-researched and excellently written. That said, it's not a book to attract those with only a passing interested - there's simply too much information here. But for anyone whose interest extends further, it's a goldmine of information and CD recommendations, the type of book that gets taken off the shelf several times a week. To call it the Bible Part 2 might be sacreligious, but in world music terms, it's probably quite true.