The art of darkness, John Robb
The art of darkness, John Robb
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The art of darkness
The history of goth

Author: John Robb

Narrator: John Robb

Unabridged: 27 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/21/2023

Synopsis

This is the first comprehensive history of goth music and culture. John Robb explores the origins and legacy of this enduring scene, which has its roots in the post-punk era. Featuring sound and original music, and read by the author in his distinctive narrative style, this is a truly atmospheric audiobook that takes you right into the heart of the history of goth. Drawing on his own experience as a musician and journalist, Robb covers the style, the music and the clubs that spawned goth culture, alongside political and social conditions. Reaching back further into history, he examines key events and movements that frame the ideas of goth, from the fall of Rome to Lord Byron and the Romantic poets, European folk tales, Gothic art and the occult. Finally, he considers the current mainstream goth of Instagram influencers, film, literature and music. The art of darkness features interviews with Andrew Eldritch, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, The Cult, The Banshees, The Damned, Einstürzende Neubauten, Johnny Marr, Trent Reznor, Adam Ant, Laibach, The Cure, Nick Cave and many more. It offers a first-hand account of being there at the gigs and clubs that made the scene happen.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Satyros on July 02, 2023

There's so much to love about this book. And so VERY much to criticize. From what I've heard (and I don't know how accurate this is, but it makes sense), The Art of Darkness was intended to be an in-depth history of the British post-punk scene in the late 1970s and early 80s, with an overview of its......more

Goodreads review by Russell on May 12, 2023

A real slog reading this, not very well-edited at all, lots of good info and history but not really collected into a readable whole. A real shame as there is a great book hidden in here. Lots of sloppy errors as well, ie Conny Plank didn't record at Hansa studios, Play Dead (who get one measly parag......more

Goodreads review by Jim on June 02, 2024

Well I wanted to like it a lot more. The good is that there as a very good run down of post punk music, including interviews, insights and regional information. His knowledge of the scene and relationships with key figures lift the material well. The not so good? It struggles between an academic int......more

Goodreads review by Chelsea on July 26, 2023

DNF. I really tried with this book, having a strong interest in the Goth subculture and keen to know more - but, although it is very comprehensive and eloquent, I found it beyond tedious reading. It's extremely lengthy and dense and often reads a bit like a university thesis rather than a book. I ge......more

Goodreads review by Robert on November 24, 2024

A mention of this book in The Economist on the goth-industrial-fashion complex and being a retired goth from the mid-1980s sparked this read. If you are a goth or geeky-goth curious, this is a good book to read, but it has several issues. First, Robb seemed driven to make it longer than The Holy Bib......more

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