Reviews

Sound Unbound: Sampling Digital Music and Culture by Paul D. Miller, Roy Christopher

colophonphile's review

An anthology of articles on digital music and culture as well as a mix CD of 45 samples thereof. Put together by DJ Spooky, whose previous MIT publication, Rhythm Science, likewise paired book and music. The essays vary from overviews of specific areas (legal system in the age of sampling, network-based art ensembles) to reflections by musicians (Scanner on ghost images, Brian Eno on bells) to interviews (with Moby, Steve Reich and his wife/collaborator, Columbia Records's art director). The better writing makes the weaknesses in the lesser writing stand out, and the book could have used another strong edit pass (if we can't trust MIT to copyedit and to get the index right, whom can we?). The CD is excellent, with lots of spoken bits, from Gertrude Stein to William S. Burroughs, which makes an intelligent transition from the book; the CD isn't background music -- it is a text unto itself.

PS: I reviewed the book for Nature magazine. The web page says the full review requires payment to be read but in fact the full review appears on this page. The only thing behind the fee-wall is my author bio:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v453/n7191/full/453033a.html

ericabasnicki's review

4.0

It’s challenging to rate this book properly. The essays vary wildly in quality and, in my opinion, relevance. However, through this book I’ve been introduced to countless new books, artists, musicians, ideas etc. As a springboard for further exploration, it excels. As a cohesive collection about “sound” within the context of sampling, digital music and culture it falters. I suspect because of an overly ambitious/broad range of topics, or because by now this collection is over 10 years old. Nevertheless, it’s a book I’m keeping as I suspect I’ll refer back to it frequently. There’s a fair amount of gold within the pages, it just takes a bit of digging to find it.