Music Book of the Year 2013 in the Guardian andNME
Isle of Noises features brand-new, exclusive, in-depth conversations with twenty-seven of the UK's greatest living musicians. Artists discuss their individual approach to writing, the inspiration behind their most successful songs, and the techniques and methods they have independently developed. It is an incredible musical journey spanning fifty years, from 'Waterloo Sunset' by Ray Davies to 'The Beast' by Laura Marling, with many lyrical and melodic secrets revealed along the way.
Original handwritten lyrics from personal archives and notebooks (many never-before-seen) offer a unique glimpse into the heart of the creative process, and some of the greatest names in photography, including Jill Furmanovsky, Pennie Smith and Sheila Rock, have contributed stunning portraits of each artist.
The combination of individual personal insights and the breadth and depth of knowledge in their collected experience makes Isle of Noises the essential word on classic British songwriting - as told by the songwriters themselves.
'Rachel is a really intelligent, clued-up and musically astute interviewer and his book is worth more than its hefty weight' Weekend Sport
'A fascinating book'
Miranda Sawyer, BBC Radio 4
'Revelations abound. This is a must for all songwriters and lovers of song' Paul Zollo, author of Songwriters On Songwriting