Simon Reynolds announces new book exploring the roots and future of electronic music

Music journalist and writer Simon Reynolds has announced his latest book, Futuromania: Electronic Dreams, Desiring Machines and Tomorrow’s Music Today.

Marking his first book in eight years, this forthcoming publication will explore the future of electronic music.

The book starts with a chapter reflecting on the roots of the umbrella genre with names such as Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer, as well as influential figures including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Boards of Canada, Burial, and Daft Punk.

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Featuring more than two dozen essays and interviews, the structure of the book works in chronological order from the '70s to now and beyond.

Reynold shares: “I’m thrilled to be reunited with Lee Brackstone and excited to join the adventurous list at White Rabbit. Futuromania is a twisted sister to Retromania - a themed collection of pieces that celebrate the sounds that feel like tomorrow’s music today. Spanning from Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ to Auto-Tune’s impact on 21st Century pop, Futuromania explores the interface between science fiction and pop music, the human use and abuse of technology, and the dreams and nightmares stirred up by electronic sounds.”

Publisher at White Rabbit, Lee Brackstone says: “I’ve worked with Simon on all his publications since his masterpiece, Rip it Up and Start Again back in 2005 so this feels like getting married all over again – not that we were ever divorced.”

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He continues: “It’s no word of hyperbole to say Simon Reynolds is the reason I get to do what I do at White Rabbit. It was reading him as a teenager that first opened my eyes to the intoxicating power of writing about music. Futuromania is his first publication for eight years, and the first of two books we are committed to together. I can’t wait to share them both with his many fans and acolytes.”

Futuromania: Electronic Dreams, Desiring Machines and Tomorrow’s Music Today will be available via White Rabbit on April 11, 2024, in hardback, audio and ebook. Pre-order it here.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter