State Laughter

This is a book about records considered ‘in themselves’. It is not about musicians, or music, or design, or music history — though all those things are considered at various points. This book tries to cast light on the unique role played by records in western culture in the late twentieth century. Records deeply penetrated everyday life and encompassed entire worldviews through their combination of sound, design and modern mythology. In this book a diverse group of people reflect on their relationship to a specific vinyl record, and in the process reflect the diversity of human connections, needs and aspirations that records can represent. In addition thematic essays by contributors look at specific kinds of records and their significance to popular culture, providing a broader context in which to consider the personal stories that form the core of the book.
credits
released May 10, 2024

Featuring contributions by:
Lee Borrie, Jo Burzynska, Stella Corkery, Jon Dale,
Kiran Dass, Richard Francis, James Goggin, Christopher L. G. Hill, Lisa MacKinney, James Meharry, Gwynneth Porter, Bruce Russell, Luke Shaw, D Thomas Herkes Tekai, Ariana Tikao, Tama-Te-Ra Tikao, Tuha Tuimaka,
and Luke Wood.

Published by Ilam Press 2024
Book design by Luke Wood
Printed by Luke Wood & Luke Shaw at Ilam Press
Covers screenprinted by Danny Knight Baré
Cover image by Christopher Supranowitz