Reaktion swoops for Cagney's 'electric' book of Berlin's club scene
Independent publisher Reaktion has swooped for Berghain Nights: A Journey Through Techno and Berlin Club Culture from academic Liam Cagney.
Pascal Porcheron, editor, acquired world English and European rights from Kate Walsh at United Agents. The book will be published in 2025.
Berghain Nights is a personal account of Berlin’s "legendary" club scene and the music, people and places which make it unique. It will also include interviews with leading techno DJs and artists.
The synopsis reads: "From kinky parties in the labyrinthine KitKat Club to the gloom of Tresor’s basement, from the verdant garden of Buttons to the psychedelic lab of Cocktail d’Amore, Berghain Nights not only captures the excitement of Berlin club culture; it asks how techno in a club context allows people to strip away layers of inherited hang-ups to access a realer self."
Cagney was awarded the Arts Council of Ireland Emerging Writer award and holds a PhD in musicology. He commented: "I wrote Berghain Nights to make sense of my club experiences, and to show the cultural value of techno clubs like Berghain. Reaktion right away got what I’m doing. They’re a fantastic home for music books and I couldn’t be prouder to join their distinguished list. I’m looking forward to working with Pascal Porcheron and the team and am grateful to my agent Kate Walsh."
Porcheron added: "Liam’s writing is electric. His book lays bare a world of hedonism and creative nonconformity in one of the most fascinating places in the world. It is destined to become a classic for ravers. And ex-ravers!"
