11 numbered issues (circa 38-128 pp. each) in 10 fascicules (Vol. 2, No. 3/4 is a double-issue) comprising a complete run of the 1980s music and sound art zine. Quarto (10 3/4 x 8 1/4 inches). Original printed and illustrated side-stapled self-wrappers except for last issue, which consists of a tabloid-format journal and other loose items housed in a cardstock folder. Some scattered light toning and soiling, some discoloration around staples to older issues, overall very good. San Francisco: Unsound/Auto-Text Publications, 1983-1986.

A complete collection of the legendary Bay Area industrial sound art and experimental music zine founded by William Davenport (b. 1960), who at various times has been a documentary filmmaker, publisher, writer, teacher, and member of the experimental noise band Problemist. The zine was edited by Davenport together with his bandmate Chris Rankin and Tamara L.

According to an online article about the zine, Unsound "focused on the first wave of industrial music but covered a wide range of experimental, post-no wave music as well...Most of the issues of Unsound concentrated on artist interviews and cassette reviews, but a notable standout feature of the periodical was the detailed discographies of the artists covered therein - during a time of rampant EPs and tape-swapping, useful information indeed as well as hard to compile." (dangerousminds.net, 12/17/2017) The issues covered the industrial and experimental music scene, cassette culture, and mail art, and included reviews and interviews highlighting experimental bands and performing artists of the mid-1980s such as Swans, Test Dept., the Birthday Party, Sonic Youth, Psychic TV, Borbetomagus, Nurse With Wound, Coil, White House, Lydia Lunch, Negativland, Glenn Branca, Culturcide, Debt of Nature, Karen Finley, David Tibet, La Fura Dels Baus, and others. The issues are illustrated throughout with performance documentation, reproductions of album covers, film stills, and collage art.

Over the three years of its existence, Unsound extensively documented the blurring boundaries between avant-garde performance and sound art, DIY home recordings, and the Industrial music scenes of North America and Europe during the mid-1980s. It was also an important networking tool, with sections devoted to radio, other zines, record stores, mail art, and reviews. The final issue consists of a folder housing a tabloid issue, two booklets, and an audio cassette compilation.

A scarce complete run of this landmark music publication.

Book ID: 53362

Price: $2,500.00