Listen to a sample
Party Lines
- Author
- Ed Gillett
- Narrator
- Ed Gillett
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Publish Date
- 3 August 2023
- Run Time
- 12 hours 45 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
A Guardian Guide Cultural Book of the Year 2023
An Irish Times Music Book of the Year 2023
'A deep, engrossing history' The Observer
'A fascinating deep dive' Jeremy Deller
From the illicit reggae blues dances and acid-rock free festivals of the 1970s, through the ecstasy-fuelled Second Summer of Love in 1988, to the increasingly corporate dance music culture of the post-Covid era, Party Lines is a groundbreaking new history of UK dance music, exploring its pivotal role in the social, political and economic shifts on which modern Britain has been built.
Taking in the Victorian moralism of the Thatcher years, the far-reaching restrictions of the Criminal Justice Act in 1994, and the resurgence of illegal raves during the Covid-19 pandemic, Party Lines charts an ongoing conflict, fought in basement clubs, abandoned warehouses and sunlit fields, between the revolutionary potential of communal sound and the reactionary impulses of the British establishment. Brought to life with stunning clarity and depth, this is social and cultural history at its most immersive, vital and shocking.
____
'Excellent' The Sunday Times
'Reminds us why the dance floor matters . . . fascinating' Telegraph
Critics Review
-
Ed Gillett’s excellent history of UK dance culture, moves beyond the saucer-eyed clichés of the raver’s epiphany and towards a sharper sort of revelation . . . the politics of dancing expertly laid bare.
Sunday Times
-
A fascinating deep dive into dance music's uneasy relationship with the establishment.
Jeremy Deller
-
Engrossing history . . . a wide and deep undertaking
Observer
-
[A] well-researched, meaty account of dance music in the UK . . . an engrossing piece of modern social history.
Independent
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
A deeply-researched and engaging new understanding of the interwoven soundtrack to the turbulence of modern Britain.
Luke Turner, author of Out of the Woods and Men at War
-
Reminds us why the dance floor matters . . . fascinating.
Telegraph
-
A truly thrilling journey through the politics, culture and successive social revolutions of British dance music: a landmark book, and a reminder that the dancefloor is always political.
Dan Hancox, author of Inner City Pressure
-
Essential reading.
Spectator
-
A passionately argued and intensively researched addition to the ever-evolving narrative of UK dance music culture.
Matthew Collin, author of Altered State
-
It has undoubtedly set a very high standard for other authors looking to write historical stories born out of the euphoria of rave and dance culture.
Louder than War
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Ed Gillett
- Narrator
- Ed Gillett
- Duration
- 12 hours 45 minutes
- Release Date
- 3 August 2023
- ISBN
- 9781529070637
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Genre
- Electronic music, History of music, Social and cultural history
Synopsis
A Guardian Guide Cultural Book of the Year 2023An Irish Times Music Book of the Year 2023'A deep, engrossing history' The Observer'A fascinating deep dive' Jeremy DellerFrom the illicit reggae blues dances and acid-rock free festivals of the 1970s, through the ecstasy-fuelled Second Summer of Love in 1988, to the increasingly corporate dance music culture of the post-Covid era, Party Lines is a groundbreaking new history of UK dance music, exploring its pivotal role in the social, political and economic shifts on which modern Britain has been built.Taking in the Victorian moralism of the Thatcher years, the far-reaching restrictions of the Criminal Justice Act in 1994, and the resurgence of illegal raves during the Covid-19 pandemic, Party Lines charts an ongoing conflict, fought in basement clubs, abandoned warehouses and sunlit fields, between the revolutionary potential of communal sound and the reactionary impulses of the British establishment. Brought to life with stunning clarity and depth, this is social and cultural history at its most immersive, vital and shocking.____'Excellent' The Sunday Times'Reminds us why the dance floor matters . . . fascinating' Telegraph
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.