One of the true musical geniuses of the late 20th and early 21st century, Richard D. James has continued to be a pioneer in the electronic music landscape throughout his prolific, multi-faceted career. James, under his myriad of aliases, laid the foundation for ambient techno, drill ‘n’ bass and dark ambient across the span of six phenomenal studio albums and a multitude of EPs and side projects. Alongside this, he has crafted a unique visual identity, expressed through his iconic logo and video collaborations with Chris Cunningham. If that wasn’t enough, he has become a figurehead for artists as diverse as Thom Yorke and Pharrell Williams. Year by year, the mythos surrounding him continues to grow, ensuring he remains as culturally prevalent as ever. With no new, officially released music since 2020, this book marks the perfect opportunity to track the course of James’ sizeable catalogue. From the well-known to the obscure, the rapid bursts of activity in the 1990s to the so-called ‘hiatus’ in the 2000s, every corner of this formidable discography is examined in vivid detail, providing insightful analysis and an impetus to discover for new listeners and hardcore fans in equal measure. Beau Waddell has been a passionate music lover since a very young age and has adored writing for nearly as long. At 16 years old, he is the youngest On Track author but has already been published in poetry and fiction collections, such as the Generation Lockdown compendium, and furthermore, he has been commissioned by Record Collector magazine. He plays guitar, creating his own music and he also prides himself on his thirst for finding new music in a variety of genres. He is particularly infatuated with rock, electronica and jazz. He lives in Watford, UK.

Forming when punk was starting to become a force, The Police – led by drummer Stuart Copeland and singer/bassist Sting - used this emerging new form of music to create a sound that was both fresh, energetic and sophisticated. An early incarnation with guitarist Henry Padovani ended when Andy Summers joined the band, and under the innovative management of Miles Copeland, The Police took on the world. From 1978 to 1983, the band released five magnificent albums that took in rock, reggae, and world music. A succession of massive hit singles, including ‘Message In A Bottle’ and the classic and often misunderstood ‘Every Breath You Take’ also cemented their success. By 1983, they’d become arguably the biggest band in the world, but egos and arguments took their toll, and the group split in 1986. Sting would go on to massive solo success, but a reunion tour in the 2000s broke box office records and finally closed the door on the band. This book details every song and album from the first single to the last, making it a comprehensive guide to the music of one of the greatest bands in music history, with sales of over 100 million worldwide. Peter Braidis is a graduate of Rutgers University with a B.A. in History and Journalism. He currently works in education at Haddon Township High School in the state of New Jersey, USA. Music (especially Thin Lizzy) and helping children and animals are his passions, as well as pretty much any pasta dish. He has written on sports and music for the Philadelphia Inquirer, several magazines and authored the book Unstrung Heroes: Fifty Guitar Greats You Should Know. This is his second book for Sonicbond Publishing, having written Asia On Track in 2020.

As well as his time in Mott The Hoople, Ian Hunter has had a long and adventurous solo career. In this book, we unlock the secrets behind every lyric, riff, and melody. From the soul-stirring anthems that defined an era to the hidden gems that eluded the spotlight, we leave no chord unheard. It is an immersive voyage into the evolution of a songwriter extraordinaire, as we explore the stories, inspirations, and the mind of the creative maverick that brought these songs to life. With a mix of anecdotes, in-depth analyses, and a touch of rockstar charisma, this book isn't just a collection of pages, it's a front-row seat to Hunter's musical legacy. Whether you've been inspired by ‘All The Young Dudes’ since its debut or you're just discovering the magic of the Defiance series, Hunter’s music has become the soundtrack to so many people’s lives. It’s a deep dive into the heart and soul of Hunter's almost unparalleled musical journey. This book will appeal to all casual or diehard fans of Mott The Hoople's legendary frontman, making it the ultimate backstage pass Hunter fans have been waiting for. G. Mick Smith, PhD, The Doctor of Digital, is a consultant and recovering academic. He is the Chief Digital Officer at The Doctor of Digital Podcast and Smith Consulting, having formerly been an Executive Region Director and Campus Dean. Smith earned a PhD in the History of Religions from UCLA, and nine certificates in executive management and educational technology. Mick currently resides far from the madding crowd in sunny California, enjoying his parent's first new car, a 1957 Buick Special. He co-hosts The Aftermath Podcast, and wrote Burning America: In The Best Interest Of The Children?

Porcupine Tree began in 1987 as a solo project for Steven Wilson but became a four-piece band when Steven was later joined by Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin, and Chris Maitland (who was later replaced by Gavin Harrison). Their first live gig was in a pub in High Wycombe, England, in 1993, but by 2010 the band had toured Europe and America extensively, ending up by playing to thousands of fans at a sold-out Royal Albert Hall in London. The band was nominated for two Grammy awards, and their last album, The Incident, made the top 30 in both the UK and the US. Although often labelled as a progressive rock band, Porcupine Tree constantly changed style. Beginning by playing psychedelic music, Porcupine Tree experimented with space rock, dance, trance and melodic pop as well as prog rock. In their last few albums, the band created a new hybrid of progressive metal riffs, melodic strength and rich vocal harmonies, with strong lyrics and powerful concepts. This aspect of the band has provided their most enduring legacy. This book analyses all Porcupine Tree’s studio albums and EPs in forensic detail, providing illuminating insight into the band’s music for existing and new fans alike.

The Byrds were just a little bit ahead of their time. By releasing six genre-defining albums in three years, their transformative powers took electric guitars to traditional folk music, brought jazz into psychedelic pop and helped introduce what we now know as Americana, being the first major rock band to embrace the sound of Nashville. They were heralded as the pioneers of folk rock, acid rock and country rock, not to mention space rock, abstract electronics and all the inter-genre crossover material that defines most of their albums. They influenced so many of the musical movements that followed as they constantly progressed, hungry to push the boundaries of popular music. This book examines each one of the band’s 12 studio albums, highlighting the many high points, especially from their mercurial 1965 – 1968 era, and the less successful later years when the law of diminishing returns took over. Also discussed within the ‘Connected Flights’ part of each chapter, are the band’s contemporaneous non-album singles and B-sides. Previously unreleased tracks that were later released as part of their extensive reissue campaigns will also be covered, making this book one of the most extensive guides to The Byrds’ music yet produced. Andy McArthur is a retired teacher, who, in a previous life, worked in finance. He now works part-time in the education charity sector. Having always loved writing, he previously contributed to a national newspaper’s football fanzine section. This is his first book. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, Karen, and daughters, Amy and Zoe. When not walking Mojo the dog up the Braid Hills, Andy loves listening to music, watching Ayr Utd and drinking zesty ales in pubs (where he bores people by telling them how The Byrds changed popular music three times in the space of three years).

For four decades, Depeche Mode dominated electronic music, from the naïve melodies of 1981’s Speak & Spell through to 2023’s Memento Mori. Through changing line-ups featuring Vince Clarke, Alan Wilder, and Andy Fletcher, singer Dave Gahan and main songwriter Martin Gore have been the band’s core. Starting as teenagers and now in their 60s, they have survived worldwide fame, addictions to drink and drugs, and near-death experiences, while continuing to innovate as technology and the music business evolved. An acclaimed live band, it is through their fifteen studio albums that Depeche Mode have best expressed themselves, from the industrial darkness of Black Celebration (1986) to their popular breakthroughs with Music For the Masses (1987) and Violator (1990) and the emotional upheaval of 1993’s Songs of Faith and Devotion. The band survived the chaotic fallout from that album and tour in the mid-1990s, with Gahan experiencing a near-fatal drug overdose, to regroup with Ultra (1997). They continued their explorations of love, death, sex, and politics on acclaimed albums Playing the Angel (2005), Delta Machine (2013), and Spirit (2016). Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, proven survivors Depeche Mode have their story told here in song-by-song detail. Brian J. Robb is the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling biographer of Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, and Brad Pitt. He has also written books on silent cinema, the films of Philip K. Dick, Wes Craven, Laurel and Hardy, the Star Wars movies, Superheroes, Gangsters, and Walt Disney, as well as science fiction television series Doctor Who and Star Trek. His illustrated books include an Illustrated History of Steampunk and Middle-earth Envisioned, a guide to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings (Winner, Best Book, Tolkien Society Awards). He is a Founding Editor of the Sci-Fi Bulletin website and lives near Edinburgh, UK.

AC/DC are a global rock institution and big brand name. The secret to their success has always been that they are a rock ‘n’ roll band, pure and simple, undiluted by trends with a solid authenticity and no frills or pretentiousness. Chris Sutton examines the recorded output of the band in detail, helped by new interview material with former members, collaborators and friends in manager Michael Browning, drummers Peter Clack, Noel Taylor and Tony Currenti, engineer/producer Mike Fraser, logo designer Gerard Huerta, bassist Ian Hampton and engineer Dave Thoener. They have one of the world’s biggest-selling albums in Back In Black, but is it their best album, and which are their best songs? As well as commentary and analysis of every track on every studio album, space is also given to B-sides and out-takes, while the live albums and box sets are also discussed. The background to each album is also covered as the band navigate tragedy and setbacks with a determination to keep going – rock or bust! Whether you wish to revisit old favourites or learn about those gems you missed, AC/DC On Track is the essential guide to this legendary band’s music. Chris Sutton manages Smethwick Heritage Centre Museum and has written several publications for them. He has also written several plays. This book is his fourth for Sonicbond Publishing, with several more to follow. He lives in Great Malvern, UK.

Extravagantly opaque, willfully vaporous - Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Volume II, released by the estimable British label Warp Records in 1994, rejuvenated ambient music for the Internet Age that was just dawning. In the United States, it was Richard D. James's first full length on Sire Records (home to Madonna and Depeche Mode) under the moniker Aphex Twin; Sire helped usher him in as a major force in music, electronic or otherwise. Faithful to Brian Eno's definition of ambient music, Selected Ambient Works Volume II was intentionally functional: it furnished chill out rooms, the sanctuaries amid intense raves. Choreographers and film directors began to employ it to their own ends, and in the intervening decades this background music came to the fore, adapted by classical composers who reverse-engineered its fragile textures for performance on acoustic instruments. Simultaneously, “ambient” has moved from esoteric sound art to central tenet of online culture. This book contends that despite a reputation for being beatless, the album exudes percussive curiosity, providing a sonic metaphor for our technologically mediated era of countless synchronized nanosecond metronomes.

Publisher Description

The Music and Art of Radiohead provides compelling close readings of the English band's music, lyrics, album cover art and music videos as well as critical commentary on interviews, reviews and the documentary film Meeting People is Easy. Established and emerging academic scholars engage with Radiohead's music and art via concerns of broader implication to contemporary cultural studies. Topics range from the band's various musical and multivalent social contexts to their contested situation within a global market economy; from asking the question, 'how free is art?' to considering the band's musical influences and radical sonic explorations. Together, the essays form a comprehensive discussion of Radiohead's entire oeuvre, from Pablo Honey to Hail to the Thief, with a special focus on the critically acclaimed best-selling albums Kid A and Amnesiac.