Not Necessarily "English Music" - curated double CD

Double CD curation
This curated CD compilation with published essay, also released separately as 2-CD compilation by Electronic Music Foundation (2001), was commissioned by Nicolas Collins, editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed Leonardo Music Journal. Volume 11 focussed on British experimental music from the 1960s to the present. Toop assembled audio tracks to support these texts. The approach was to represent a comprehensive view of experimental music of the time, since previous studies have restricted themselves to specific genres, such as composed music, improvisation, sound sculpture, rock or jazz without contextualising each specialist tendency, or identifying interconnections between groups and individuals. Previous research provided a framework, including preparatory material for book publication Ocean of Sound, and experiences as musician, curator, and writer within experimental music from 1970 onwards.

Examples of music/sound from 1965 to 1977 were selected, since much important work from this period was undocumented and many original LP releases are now unavailable. Because of this neglect, the recorded works of ensembles of major historical significance such as the Scratch Orchestra, Gentle Fire and The People Band, along with composer Daphne Oram and sound poet Bob Cobbing, haven not been easily accessible. In his essay to support the CD selection (ultimately expanded to become a 2-CD set) Toop argued that the defining characteristic of British experimental music during the chosen period was informality. This informality contrasted with much experimental sound work in Europe and the USA, where systems and theories were perceived to be crucial for the development of contemporary music.

This research was developed further in article Sound Body: The Ghost of a Program, published in Leonardo Music Journal, Vol. 15, 2005, pp. 28-35, a study of the voice as a transformative instrument in 20th century art.