homemade noize

Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings is one of the better non-fiction books I have read. Its a good read for anyone recording their one music or anyone interested in the history of recorded music. The book travels from the 50’s to present day by following the producers that changed music. It is very non-technical which I feel makes it a enjoyable for anyone interested. It probably is no accident and maybe the nature of genius but all of the covered producers are real characters. i mean the book begins with Phil Spector and then moves on to Brain Wilson and Martin Hannet later. even George Martin is a interesting human being even if he is not wierd in the Phil Spector kind of way. A professorial figure in stark contast to the the fab four in their psychedelic phase.

The thread running through the entire book is all the produces in the book disregard rules and convention. Whether they have a sound in their mind or the artist they are working with wants a certain sound they find a way to get it what every it takes. Also it is interesting how there different personalities lead them to there goals in different ways.

It is a great read i highly recommend.