Coming To Berlin

by Paul Hanford

Coming To Berlin reflects, through the lives and music of migrants, settlers and newcomers, how a constantly in flux city with a tumultuous history has evolved into the de facto cultural capital of Europe. And how at the heart of this, electronic music and club culture play a unique role. A plea for multiculturalism and a love letter to the borderless potential of music, the book breaks the tradition of Berlin’s perception as techno ground zero and shows the true diversity and richness that make up this city.

Told through Paul Hanford’s novelistic narration, Coming To Berlin mixes imagination and interview, psychogeography and narrative, humour and horror. Each chapter follows encounters with people who have made the city their own. Club legends Mark Reeder, Danelle DePicciotto and Monika Kruse. The journey of a young Syrian refugee who has immersed himself in DJing and UK drill.

We catch glimpses of the 1980s punk and art movement, the Genialle Dillentanten, and how it led towards the birth of modern club culture in the city. We follow the Turkish hip-hop scene on the streets of Kreuzberg. And under threat from gentrification, into the post-pandemic world where clubs, a thirty-year long pulse stopped, we hang out with artists reshaping electronic music into new genres and even new genders.

Genres: Music

185 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2022

Reviews

[An]

half an eyebrow and a neck piercing and you’re there in da clurb

[Costanza Brusutti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought it at a cafe in Neukölln, made me roll my eyes from start to end. Maybe interesting for someone who doesn’t live here, otherwise it just reiterates the idea that Berghain is the greatest techno club in the world, that techno culture must be preserved, that anyone can be a dj if they dare enough, that if you have the privilege to have an apartment in Berlin you can stay here amidst the harsh winters. It’s a collection of interviews that happened during lockdown with questionable local artists which were lucky enough to maintain their status quo, and that would have been a great media if the writing was more linear. I believe that the rating is a bit misleading putting compared to literature giants.

[apryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

hat mich gerade dazu gebracht, berlin (wieder) zu besuchen

[Matt Clement · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hanford arrived in Berlin just about the same time that I did, and it's interesting to see where our stories diverge and intersect. I'm familiar with many of the people and places that he name checks in book, which is a thrill, but it also made me see the city from an artist's perspective. That's valuable to me at the moment.

In terms of the writing itself, I found it be satisfactory, and sometimes evocative. I'd be interested to meet Paul in real life now.

[Spiceee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed reading anything about the Basic Channel, urban-dub sound, which is, in my opinion, the most recognizable façade of Berlin techno. But I valued how the author chose to include the effects of the covid pandemic on the city's life. This book will become an essential source of research for years to come!

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! It gave me so many insights about Berlin and made me curious about its past. Also the stories were nicely written and it did give a personal ambience as if I was there, at the time the author was meeting with the interviewees.

[Willemijn · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are interested in the history of Berlin's club culture, it's colourful figures and the fall of the wall, I recommend Der Klang der Familie instead. There are some interesting stories captured in this book but I didn't vibe with the writer's vibe.

[Borna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was enjoyable, went through it in a single evening. Not exactly systematic, but a nice collection of several interesting stories, which really make one want to go back to Friedrichshain

[Jade]

luke lent to me

[Eddie O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as pretentious as I initially thought and some good stories along the way

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt superficial in the sense that I didn't really get a grasp of the culture of the Berlin music and clubbing scene or any indepth explanation of how and why it happened.

[Helena Truchla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book could have used a bit more editing, but as a guide/chronicle/amuse bouche for this strangely amazing city, it works absolutely beautifully.

[Brigita Pet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring stories of Berlin immigrants. The only section I really enjoy was about east Berlin memories.