Keep the faith

There are very few electronic music magazines out there whose journalists really feel passionately about the subject matter. There used to be some: Magic Feet, Overload (which as far as I know is now still going as a pure internet play at Spannered) and, in its pre-London incarnation, Jockey Slut. Nowadays, most magazines in this sphere are dependent on advertising revenue to survive, so it follows that they keep the highest bidder happy with flattering content. Even in the online sphere, magazines' editorial policies are 'advertising-driven' and even the hipsters' favourites are compromised by the dollar sign. Does anyone really want to read a Sander Kleinenberg feature? Thought not. However, there are still a few notable exceptions: De:Bug is excellent (and it helps me keep my Deutsch in good shape), as is London's Fact Magazine - although they need to keep the cosmic disco noodle content a bit lower. Remaining in the UK capital, another thoroughly enjoyable read is Faith, published by the people who run the parties of the same name. Presented as a fanzine, eg layout skills aren't their forte , and difficult to obtain in this part of the world - even though we're just across the Irish Sea - it is available for free in some online record stores and in some real ones across the UK. What appeals to me about Faith is that it restricts its coverage to a fairly tightly knit, albeit global community - house music. Faith is not the publication to turn to if you want to read about the latest Paul Van Dyk album, but it is the only place where I've read a feature on facial hair for DJs (written by Mr Weatherall) and a history of Shoom in the same issue, alongside interviews with Seve Bug, Luciano and Theo Parrish. Sure, at times it has too much of a Junior Boys/old school London acid house network, 'we were playing Phuture back in 1987, it's not as good as it used to be' mentality, but the fact that Faith also doesn't take itself too seriously - there are only so many wordy, Wire-style navel-gazing pieces one can read before the sick bucket beckons - and that it knows the roots as well as the current state of house inside out - unlike the clueless scribes who can only relate to something if its new and by that narrow-focused definition, good - means that it's an essential read for anyone who is passionate about electronic music, an increasing rarity in the print and online worlds.

Comments

[tom/pipecock]

i have to say for online stuff that Discopia is pretty excellent for dance music, though obviously rooted heavily in disco they have talked about rhythm and sound as well as many others. even with such slim pickings, you guys have it better than we do in the US where there are no good dance music publications at all. i feel you on the wire as well, its not bad but definitely a little pretentious. though i guess that is understandable as their audience is mainly "experimental" kinda music fans....

[Brophy]

Tom, yeah, Discopia is very good, I need to add it to my links. is there nothing good from the us that's print-based? xlr8r? there is very little on this side of the pond too. the uk mags are not up to much, apart from faith and fact...