The Books

The Books

The Books are an American experimental electronic duo from New York, formed in 1999 and active until 2012. The group consists of Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong, and their work combines electronic music, folk elements and found sound. Zammuto plays guitar and sings, while de Jong plays cello. They meet through a friend in New York City and build their early recordings from shared interests in acoustic music and taped and collected sounds.

Recordings and labels

The Books release their debut album, Thought for Food, in 2002 after encouragement from Tom Steinle of Tomlab Records. The following year they relocate to Hot Springs, North Carolina, and record and issue The Lemon of Pink. They move again in 2004 and record in an old Victorian house in North Adams, Massachusetts. Their third album, Lost and Safe, appears in 2005, and all three albums are released on Tomlab Records. Their final album, The Way Out, comes out on Temporary Residence in 2010, and a compilation titled A Dot in Time is released in 2012.

Live work and visual style

The Books are known for live performances that include synchronised video compositions. The visuals draw on home movies and ephemeral films bought from thrift stores, matching the many samples and acoustic sounds used in the music. One example is the track A Cold Freezin' Night, whose audio samples come from Tiger Electronics Talkboy tapes also found in thrift stores.

Later projects

In early 2012, Zammuto announces the end of the duo and begins a solo project called Zammuto. Paul de Jong later releases two solo albums. In the late 2000s, the group also announces the addition of a third member who plays violin, guitar and electronics.