The Varieties of Ecstasy Experience (Sean Leneghan)
Dancecult January 1, 2004 DOI: 10.12801/1947-5403.2014.06.02.06 via OpenAlex
Summary
This book, written by a longtime insider of the international underground electronic music scene, resists the process of historification, which the author compares to museification and death. The author, a DJ, label owner, composer, novelist, and performer, offers a firsthand account of the scene's culture and ethos, aiming to preserve its living spirit rather than reduce it to a historical artifact.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Psychology Psychiatry |
| Key finding | The book's primary aim is to resist historification of the underground electronic music scene. |
Abstract
An absolute insider of the international underground electronic music scene for 20 years or so, Riccardo Balli is the best conceivable Charon for those who weren't there and want to get at least a flavour of what it was-and still is-all about. But beware, Balli is neither a music critic nor a music historian. Rather, a DJ, label owner, composer, novelist, live performer and, above all, a relentless experimenter in every domain of cultural production, Balli has now released a book whose main aim is to resist historification-a process which, as anyone acquainted with the Situationists knows, is inherently akin to museification and death (or, worse, sell out).