The Coalition of Chaos

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Elizabeth Sandifer

Elizabeth Sandifer created Eruditorum Press. She’s not really sure why she did that, and she apologizes for the inconvenience. She currently writes Last War in Albion, a history of the magical war between Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. She used to write TARDIS Eruditorum, a history of Britain told through the lens of a ropey sci-fi series. She also wrote Neoreaction a Basilisk, writes comics these days, and has ADHD so will probably just randomly write some other shit sooner or later. Support Elizabeth on Patreon.

16 Comments

  1. Anton B
    May 21, 2013 @ 1:34 am

    Well, bizzarely it seems I might just be the target audience for this. I loved TG in the Seventies and Eighties and had a number of encounters and correspondences with Gen P. both through performance and socially (He lived in my home town, Brighton, for a while). I also made industrial/experimental music with my band EJK454F and my flatmate still does in various guises. I now teach Drama and Performance and am still obsessed with 'the interplay between the margins of the avant garde and mainstream popularity, and the way in which radical thought, whether aesthetic or political, must endlessly traverse that gap in order to make any sort of progress.' 'checkI' ll check this book out. Thanks.

    Reply

  2. elvwood
    May 21, 2013 @ 2:49 am

    Hm, my brother-in-law might be interested. I'm not very up on the musical boundaries: does it cover electro-industrial like Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly? If so I can see a potential birthday present.

    I've never understood what he sees in it, myself, but I don't judge him for that. As almost the only person I know who loves Hawkwind (other than Internet acquaintances) – and certainly the only one who is also into Tangerine Dream, Fairport Convention, Judas Priest, and P.D.Q. Bach – I have decided that personal taste is just that. Personal.

    Reply

  3. Elizabeth Sandifer
    May 21, 2013 @ 3:23 am

    It does, in fact, cover both thoroughly.

    Reply

  4. mechanicoid
    May 21, 2013 @ 3:41 am

    Having amassed a sizable collection of Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire, I feel it is highly necessary to acquire this book on one of my favorite genres of music. Hopefully there are some more obscure artists covered. I’m always looking for more music to fill up space.

    And for the guy who likes Tangerine Dream and P.D.Q. Bach, you're not alone.

    Reply

  5. elvwood
    May 21, 2013 @ 4:46 am

    Hooray! 🙂

    Reply

  6. elvwood
    May 21, 2013 @ 5:34 am

    Thanks – I shall suggest it to my wife…

    Reply

  7. Theonlyspiral
    May 21, 2013 @ 6:14 am

    Normally when you tell me to go read something Doctor S I go out and find a copy right away (still working on finding a good copy of Christmas on a Rational Planet). You have never steered me wrong.

    But to be honest, I HATE industrial music. I like some NIN but that's mostly Year Zero and mostly because I found the ARG surrounding it fascinating.

    On the other other hand the world could always be a stranger and more fascinating place. WISHLISTED!

    Reply

  8. Elizabeth Sandifer
    May 21, 2013 @ 6:17 am

    I freely admit that part of the appeal of the book is that you get all the intellectual pleasures of industrial music without any of the unfortunate business of listening to it.

    Reply

  9. S. Alexander Reed
    May 21, 2013 @ 6:33 am

    Why didn't I think of THAT as my main marketing angle?

    Reply

  10. Matthew Blanchette
    May 21, 2013 @ 7:33 am

    I'm afraid I can't help but imagine a Dalek shouting that title… 😀

    Reply

  11. Theonlyspiral
    May 21, 2013 @ 8:30 am

    In general I feel at least a small obligation to be familiar with the source material when reading criticism. Reading Medieval texts on classics from people who had never actually read the original was the most eerie part of my Undergrad.

    I have the Amazon page open right now and I fighting the urge not to spend the last of this month's entertainment budget on it. I do so love the phrase "All the intellectual pleasures of industrial music without any of the unfortunate business of listening to it."

    Reply

  12. jsd
    May 21, 2013 @ 10:30 am

    Presumably the title is a reference to the classic Skinny Puppy track "Assimilate", in which case the vocals do indeed sound like a Dalek shouting the title. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtnTjvvT_ig

    This track is not that difficult to listen to either, it's almost synthpop/dance club music, just the vocals take a little getting used to. (They would indulge in much more difficult/noisy fare later on in their career.)

    Reply

  13. Matthew Celestis
    May 21, 2013 @ 10:09 pm

    Wow, sounds great. I love Industrial music. Great background music for reading the Virgin New Adventure novels!

    Reply

  14. Andrew McLean
    May 29, 2013 @ 2:05 pm

    Would it surprise you, elvwood, to know that Hawkwind were included on the first collection of industrial music I bought?

    Anyway, thanks for the recommendation Phil. I'm a fan of all the music mentioned in this thread (well, except Judas Priest, but there had to be an exception) and love critical analysis of music so this is going straight on my purchase list (along with the book on Flood).

    Reply

  15. Justin Patrick Moore
    June 6, 2013 @ 9:23 am

    I know… a bit late for a comment… but here goes anyways.

    I'm a big Doctor Who fan, so it was with delight when I was sent a link to this particular review, I discovered the main thrust of your page.

    What do you think about Delia Derbyshire as a proto-industrial musician? I think the incidental music from Doctor Who, especially Hartnell-Pertwee era, subliminally affected me, and that is why I love experimental, industrial, musique concrete and noise. Just a thought.

    Best,

    Justin

    http://www.peakofnormal.org

    Reply

  16. Kahlil Crawford
    March 11, 2020 @ 9:57 pm

    Dope book.

    Reply

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