Books in the 33 1/3 Europe series

Modeselektor, the notorious Berlin duo consisting of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary, released Happy Birthday! in 2007. Engaging with this album, this book provides a unique lens through which to examine current trends in European pop and electronic music history beyond standard examples of German pop and electronic music, such as Kraftwerk and Rammstein. Employing theories of popular culture and electronic music in the 2000s, especially Simon Reynolds's books Retromania and Energy Flash,Happy Birthday! argues for an updated study of electronic music and rave culture in twentieth-first century Europe, with specific focus on German studies.

Upon its release, Don't Break the Oath charted fifth on the official British heavy metal album list and was supported by a two month long sold-out American tour in early 1985. The band's controversial stage appearance attracted the attention of the Parental Resource Music Center committee, ironically reassuring the band its position on the charts. But though the album was hugely popular in the anglophone metal scene, it was conceived in peripheral Denmark. This book discusses the relationship between center and periphery.

For decades, the state-run music industry in Hungary has artificially isolated musical worlds. The 2010 album I'll Be Your Plaything is a concept album comprising at times drastically re-imagined cover versions of Hungary's most popular hits from the socialist era. As such it is a testament to music as a medium's aptness to reflect on public and personal pasts. The album moreover exemplifies how rich and appealing synthesis of sounds and traditions can be concocted when folk, classically trained, rock, and jazz musical artists collaborate. Along with this freedom to blend and synthesize, the album opens up some long overdue space for women; playing with personas, voices, and singing styles, Palya reflects on issues of femininity, maternity, sexuality, and coupledom across generations.