Written by Berlin-based author, podcaster, and DJ Paul Hanford, the book aims to debunk the perception that Berlin is a “techno ground zero.” Instead, Hanford wants to show the “true diversity and richness that make up the city,” according the book’s description. To give readers context, he interviewed a wide range of subjects including Love Parade Cofounder Danielle DePicciotto and a Syrian refugee who found a home in Berlin’s club culture.

The book is being released through U.K. publisher Velocity Press. Founded in 2019 by writer-editor Colin Stevens, Velocity focuses on publishing print and digital literature specializing in electronic music and club culture. Its goal is to come across “like a trusted record label in its integrity and vision to deliver exciting stories to serious electronic music fans who enjoy good literature,” according to their website. Stevens himself has roots in the Bristol jungle scene, having copromoted shows at a club called Ruffneck Ting in the ’90s.

Those interested can find out more about the book, including how to preorder a paperback edition, on its product page.

Goldie (pictured above), Andy C, Ragga Twins, DJ Hype, and Krome & Time, are among the commentators recruited for the book in which a total of 36 songs will be broken down by their creators. With 174 pages and a hardback cover, author Paul Terzulli‘s words and Eddie Otchere‘s images make Who Say Reload a nice coffee table book for fans of the genres. The official description shares that Otchere was a photographer at Goldie’s Metalheadz nights and his unreleased pictures from the events will be included.

On the book’s official store page, Terzulli touched on why he decided to create Who Say Reload. He explained the mystery surrounding the genres and demonstrated how finding new music years ago was much more difficult than it is now. He went on to say that he sought to bring together the stories instead of leaving them dispersed across the internet.

“Despite the impact jungle had when it first hit, there was always an element of mystery about the music and its creators,” Terzulli wrote. “You could experience it through vinyl, tapes of raves and pirate radio and, assuming you were old enough, going out to the raves themselves.”

“However, finding out more about the creators of these futuristic soundscapes was a different task altogether,” he continued. “I felt that the stories of those responsible should be collated and presented in one place, rather than scattered across podcasts, YouTube videos and obsolete websites, or as anecdotes flickering past on a social media timeline.”

Who Say Reload will release in March and is priced at £20.00. You can pre-order the upcoming book on the Velocity Press’ website.

According to the book’s blurb, it will offer a “directory of every major synthesizer, drum machine and sampler made between 1963 and 1995.” Each entry includes its own hand-drawn illustration in addition to statistics and facts pertaining to the device.

“This book has grown out of a life-long obsession with synthesizers and electronic music, and it’s fantastic to be able to share this with my fellow synth obsessives and electronic music fans who celebrate the synth’s role in modern music,” said Freke in a quote obtained by DJ Mag.

Velocity Press has published a number of books about electronic music, including Join the Future by Matt Anniss and State of Bass by Martin James. In December, they will release The Secret DJ Book Two, the follow-up to a 2019 tell-all by an anonymous author.

Pre-order Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back) on the Velocity Press website.

Image credit: Anton Shuvalov