Critical Review Set 2- # 1

Musicologist Les Back in the 8^th chapter, “Inglan, Nice Up! Black Music, Autonomy, and Cultural Intermezzo”, of his book Racism and Working Class Leisure attempts to map out how due to certain patterns of racial exclusion, different leisure traditions, specifically within the realm of music, have arisen. The first section of the chapter focuses on the rise of the “Sound System” amongst Afro-Caribbean immigrant populations (largely Jamaicans). Back explains the nature of the scene, the practical exigencies that were met in its birth, its dynamic social character, the way it incorporates a more broad worldview already saddled with socio-cultural and political compromises and the way in which it in turn influences these. Back then switches focuses abruptly to write about the rise of the South Asian music scene through its representative music, Bhangra. Using a similar ethnographic methodology, Back charts the dynamics of Bhangra and the cultural allegiances it engenders. Back makes a point of hitting all the standard notes for this sort of ethnomusicological writing by addressing the interplay of the music and gender, the socio-economics of the musical production, and the marginalization of his protagonists. Finally Back briefly touches on the rise of Jungle, and certain musicians, that meld the music of both the South Asian traditions and the earlier "Sound System" dub. Back’s chapter suffers from a lack of focus both in its structure and its distracted nature. Sometimes Back gets caught proffering certain musicological buzzwords without really justifying his usage. In this way, the chapter’s thesis is all but clear.