David Topp Books

This rich collection of essays explores the intricate relationship between art and sound. In the 1970s, David Toop became fascinated by the idea that music transcended traditional audience dynamics—such as clapping and instant gratification. By viewing sound and listening as fundamental practices, he ventured into uncharted territory, encompassing stretched time, wilderness, video monitors, singing sculptures, weather, meditations, vibrations, interspecies communications, and performance art. Toop aimed to document the originality and unfamiliarity of these works from his unique perspective as a practitioner and writer, while navigating the challenge of not reverting to conventional music discourse. He acknowledged the vitality and hybridity of twentieth-century music as it intersected with art galleries and site-specificity. Focusing on practitioners, Toop highlights their compelling stories alongside the theoretical implications of their works. This collection, spanning over four decades, includes essays, reviews, interviews, and experimental texts, inviting readers into the world of artists and their concerns, while also honoring quieter, unsung voices. Ultimately, it serves as an exploration of sound's layers, where objects, thoughts, and air itself resonate as the inflamed invisible.