Unsound Supplies: Noisy Matter and the Making of Modern Soundscapes

Author/Contributor(s):	Gribenski, Fanny
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Date:	12/15/2025
Binding:	Paperback
Condition:	NEW

Unsound Supplies investigates the hidden provenance of the materials that have shaped modern musical and audio technology. In ten detailed chapters, it uncovers the global, often colonial, sources of materials such as African ivory, Brazilian wood, and Indian shellac used in musical instruments and audio equipment. The book reveals the complex supply chains, labor conditions, and political and epistemic forces behind these resources, challenging a conventionally sanitized view of music production. Its critical perspective on the often-overlooked material foundations of modern soundscapes make it a thought-provoking read for those interested in music, history, and global trade.