‘Tape Leaders’ book on pioneering British electronic artists has been reissued

A book documenting the early talent of electronic musicians, named ‘Tape Leaders: A Compendium of Early British Electronic Music’, written by Ian Helliwell, has been given a reissue.

The 224-page book, first published five years ago in 2016 by Sound On Sound magazine, documents the ‘analogue era’ of electronic music, and celebrates some of the first talents to emerge on the scene.

Reissued by Velocity Press, the book will be available for the first time outside of the Sound On Sound shop, previously exclusive to the magazine in limited edition.

Read this next: 23 dance music books you definitely need to read

Dubbed a ‘richly illustrated A-Z compendium’ which includes a ‘specially compiled’ 15 track CD, ‘Tape Leaders’ draws on the pioneering composers of British dance music, with the CD featuring tape and synth works never before heard.

“Containing information never previously uncovered, it shines a fresh light on many sound experimenters unacknowledged in the history of British electronic music,” the book’s description reads.

Over 100 composers are documented in the book, each of which was active during the early days of that era, and seminal to the beginnings of electronic music including Brian Eno, Roy Cooper, The Beatles, and White Noise.

Read this next: A new book on Daft Punk will look at their lasting effect on music

‘Tape Leaders’ also traces back to the early days of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, with an overarching focus on the sounds of the 50s and 60s.

The book will be launched at an event on November 8 at The Social, London, where the author, Ian Helliwell, is set to speak alongside Oli Freke of 'Synthesized Evolution’.

‘Tape Leaders’ is available in hardback with a copy of the 15-track CD. Grab your copy here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter