No-one, least of all Steve Davis and Kavus Torabi themselves, expected the six-time former World Snooker champion and a British-Iranian underground rock musician to become one of the most trusted brands in British alternative music. In their weekly radio shows and as two-thirds of The Utopia Strong, they set out to do exactly that. Part sonic memoir, part Socratic dialogue, part gonzo mission to the heart of what makes music truly psychedelic, Medical Grade Music takes us from the snooker halls of Plumstead to the wildest shores of Plymouth's '90s thrash scene in the first work of joint autobiography to trace the evolution of a life-changing friendship through the discographies of Gentle Giant, Voivod and a host of deviant psychedelic avatars.
No-one, least of all Steve Davis and Kavus Torabi themselves, expected the six-time former World Snooker champion and a British-Iranian underground rock musician to become one of the most trusted brands in British alternative music. In their weekly radio shows and as two-thirds of The Utopia Strong, they set out to do exactly that. Part sonic memoir, part Socratic dialogue, part gonzo mission to the heart of what makes music truly psychedelic, Medical Grade Music takes us from the snooker halls of Plumstead to the wildest shores of Plymouth's '90s thrash scene in the first work of joint autobiography to trace the evolution of a life-changing friendship through the discographies of Gentle Giant, Voivod and a host of deviant psychedelic avatars.
‘Neuro-management’ (‘NM’), classifies ‘Happiness’ into: ‘Smart Happiness’ that comes transiently with a smart release of the happiness neuro-chemical Dopamine; ‘Short-lived’ or ‘Short Happiness’ where the happy experience is retained a little longer and then gets stored in the long-term memory storage, retrievable on demand; and, finally, ‘Sustained Happiness’ which is long-lasting. ‘Bio-musicology’ is an offshoot of ‘NM’. It deals with the impact of music on body, brain, mind and soul. This book discusses, with diverse examples, how music can have ‘magical’ effects producing both ‘Smart’ and ‘Short’ varieties of happiness. The author believes that, if properly applied with clear understanding of the patient’s pathology and the impact of the sonic vibrations, music can also serve as ‘medicine’ and provide ‘Sustained Happiness’.
'A brilliant book . . . brilliantly written. You really do need to read it' Adrian Chiles 'Mixing the sacred and the profane, high culture and low culture, the sublime and the ridiculous, Deep Pockets is the book this game of unfathomable difficulty and infinite mystery well deserves' Critic The game of snooker has a remarkable history. From humble origins, it blossomed spectacularly in the 1980s into the nation's most popular sport. Top players became celebrities. The papers were stuffed with snooker scandals. It even conquered the pop charts. In the twenty-first century, the game is still big news. Along with millions of British fans, a vast audience continues to grow across every corner of the world, from Europe to the Middle East to China. The global thirst for snooker has never been greater. But - strangely perhaps - snooker's deeper meanings have rarely been explored. It is a game that celebrates subtlety and mystery; a slow undertaking in a fast-paced world. Elegant and profound, snooker invites serious contemplation. Deep Pockets is a study of this uncharted territory - a love letter to snooker, and an impassioned journey into its soul. Because snooker, in fact, is more than a game. It is a belief set; a way of seeing; an entire philosophical system. In chapters that cover everything from time, truth, loss, luck and more, Deep Pockets explores how snooker can help us to trace the meaning of life itself.
A Times Book of the Year A Mojo Book of the Year A Louder Than War Book of the Year A Waterstones Book of the Year A Resident Book of the Year 'A beautifully written, meticulously researched account. 4/5.' - CLASSIC POP 1979. Months of industrial action throughout the winter have left the dead unburied and mountains of rubbish piling up in the streets. Punk has reached its bleak climax with the fatal heroin overdose of Sid Vicious while awaiting trial for the murder of his girlfriend. Unlikely alliances of outsiders prepare to seize power, set the political agenda and write the soundtrack for the years to come. Their figureheads are two very different kinds of dominatrices... As Margaret Thatcher enters 10 Downing Street, a handful of bands born of punk - Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division and the Cure - find a way to distil the dissonance and darkness of the shifting decade into a new form of music. Pushing at the taboos the Sex Pistols had unlocked and dancing with the fetishistic, all will become global stars of goth. By the time Thatcher is cast out of office in 1990, the arrival of goth will have imprinted on the cultural landscape as much as the Iron Lady herself. Forty years on, author Cathi Unsworth provides the first comprehensive overview of the music, context and lasting legacy of goth. This is the story of how goth was shaped by the politics of the era - from the miners' strikes and privatisation to the Troubles and AIDS - as well as how its rock 'n' roll outlaw imagery and music cross-pollinated throughout Britain and internationally, speaking to a generation of alienated youths. A fascinating social history, Season of the Witch tells the tale of an enduring counter-culture, one that steadfastly refuses to give up the ghost.
The Handbook of Music Therapy takes the reader on a journey through the historical and contemporary landscape of the field of music therapy, updated with the latest practical, sociocultural and theoretical perspectives and developments in music therapy. The second edition is divided into four parts: foundation and context; music therapy practice; learning and teaching; and professional life. This includes the trajectory of music therapy as a health, social and community-based discipline in the 21st century with an evolving evidence base that also acknowledges the growing edges in the field, such as perspectives around equity, inclusion and diversity. The editors have included practice-based chapters including contributions from music therapy specialists in the fields of autism, adult learning disability, forensic psychiatry, neurology, immigration and dementia. The second edition is thoroughly updated to showcase a series of new interviews with Elders in the music therapy field, a thoroughly revised first section of the book with new materials on values and principles, updated chapters on music therapy practice, online and print resources supporting music therapy practice including musical illustrations with new and revised examples, and an extensively revised final section with new chapters on professional life and research. Illustrated with rich case studies and practical examples throughout, The Handbook of Music Therapy covers a variety of different theoretical and philosophical perspectives. It will be invaluable to music therapists (novices, students, professionals), other arts therapists and practitioners such as speech and language therapists, psychotherapists, teachers, community musicians, psychiatrists and social workers.
My First Classical Music Book is a delightfully colorful introduction to classical music, designed to fire the imagination of children aged 5-7 years. Readers are asked to think about the different places in which we might hear music. Then, each of the major composers and musical instrument families are introduced and brought to life in a vivid and enchanting way. Throughout the book, children are referred to the accompanying audio CD so that they can hear examples as they read. This is the most exceptional book of its kind, providing an absorbing experience for both eyes and ears.
