Tape Leaders – A Compendium of Early British Electronic Music Composers

Tape Leaders is a richly illustrated and meticulously researched reference guide to the pioneers of British electronic music—a vital piece of cultural history for anyone fascinated by sound, tape, and early experimentation.

For the first time, author Ian Helliwell documents every known composer and group working with tape and electronic sound in the UK during the 1950s and 60s. Spanning the spectrum from household names like Brian Eno, Joe Meek, and William Burroughs, to the deeply obscure innovators like Roy Cooper, Edgar Vetter, and Donald Henshilwood, this book reveals a hidden history previously left out of the narrative.

Each composer receives an individual entry—creating a unique compendium of British innovation at the intersection of art, science, and sound. Also included are entries on EMS, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and experimental work by bands like The Beatles, Hawkwind, and White Noise.

Highlights include:

• 224 beautifully laid-out pages with heavyweight 130gsm paper

• Dozens of rare photos and archival images

• Six years of research and interviews distilled into one compelling volume

• A 15-track CD of rare and mostly unreleased tape and synthesizer works—available exclusively through Velocity Press

Whether you're a synth enthusiast, music historian, or artist inspired by early analog sound, Tape Leaders is an essential addition to your bookshelf and a powerful document of the roots of electronic experimentation in Britain.

Hardback format: 22.7cm x 17.7cm, 224 pages
Includes exclusive 15-track CD