Ecstatic Peace Library
Ecstatic Peace Library is a book publishing imprint founded by Thurston Moore and Eva Prinz to release an exhibition catalogue by photographer Justine Kurland. The name is derived from Ecstatic Peace!, (also a music label run by Thurston Moore & Andrew Kesin), and an expression found in a passage from Tom Wolfe's book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. The company publishes a range of photography and art-related books about the early Norwegian black metal scene, experimental jazz from the 1970s.
Ecstatic Peace Library is a book publishing imprint founded by Thurston Moore and Eva Prinz to release an exhibition catalogue[1] by photographer Justine Kurland.[2] The name is derived from Ecstatic Peace!,[3] (also a music label run by Thurston Moore & Andrew Kesin), and an expression found in a passage from Tom Wolfe's book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.[4] The company publishes a range of photography and art-related books about the early Norwegian black metal scene,[5] experimental jazz from the 1970s.[6]
Founders
[edit]Thurston Moore is a musician best known as one of the founding members of the band Sonic Youth and now performs with various ensembles including his own band, The Thurston Moore Group. Eva Prinz started her publishing career in New York City at Taschen America. She held positions as Editor of Fine Arts at Rizzoli International Publications and later Senior Editor at Abrams Books. Prinz guest edited artist Peter Halley's Index Magazine (April/May 2005) and participated in curating exhibitions in New York City, including 'Radical Living Papers' [7] which was a survey of the underground press from 1960-75 at Gavin Brown's Passerby gallery space. Eva Prinz and Thurston Moore began working together on books at Rizzoli International Publications — their first book was on the subject of mixtapes entitled Mixtape: The Art of Cassette Culture[8] and was published on the pop culture imprint Universe Books, a division of Rizzoli.[9] Prinz and Moore collaborated on several books that focused on music for Rizzoli and Abrams and worked together for several years before founding their own imprint Ecstatic Peace Library in 2009.
History
[edit]Ecstatic Peace Library published their first publication, Justine Kurland's This Train is Bound for Glory, in 2009.[1] This was an exhibition catalogue for Kurland's show at Mitchell-Innes & Nash in New York.The publishing company has gone on to create artist books pertaining to music, from photography to monographs and further exhibition catalogues and continues to publish works inspired by music. [2]
On 5 September 2018, Ecstatic Peace Library announced the creation of their record label Daydream Library Series, with its premiere album Sistahs by the London band Big Joanie. The release was accompanied by a limited edition fanzine, edited by Moore, Prinz and Big Joanie.[10]
Subsequently, the label released Big Joanie's second full-length studio album, Back Home, in collaboration with the US legendary Riot Grrl label Kill Rock Stars. [11] Following Big Joanie's success with Sistahs and Back Home, the black, feminist, punk band attracted accolades from the likes of The New Yorker, which described the 'politically vibrant' trio's album as having a 'contemporary sheen'. [12]
In a continuation of the label's political infusion, Daydream Library Series released Miami grrl band Las Nubes' Enredados/ Drop-In, 7-inch with two singles, inspired by band members Ale Campos' compulsion to sing in Spanish, 'in an act of rebellion' against a fascist US Administration (2016-2020). [13].
Daydream Library Series also found a politically active music scene in co-founder Thurston Moore's birthplace of Miami, discovering 'Caribbean-Jazz Gaze' band Seafoam Walls. The label released their debut album XVI, which featured in Spin Magazine's 22 Artists to Watch in 2022 feature. [14]
In 2024, the label released Devon Ross' first EP, Oxford Gardens, which immediately charted on Billboard's 'Tastemakers Albums' and received high acclaim from the likes of Spin Magazine. [15]
Notable Publications
[edit]- This Train is Bound for Glory by Justine Kurland (2011)[16]
- You Should Have Heard Just What I Seen: The Music Photography by James Hamilton (2015)[17]
- Stereo Sanctity: Lyrics and Poems by Thurston Moore (2015)[18]
- The Death Archives: Mayhem 1984-94 by Jorn 'Necrobutcher' Stubberud (2016)[19][20]
- Adrian Henri: I Want Everything to Happen! by Catherine Marcangeli (2019)[21]
- Flutter Echo: Living Within Sound by David Toop (2019)[22]
- Linger On: The Velvet Underground by Ignacio Julià (2023)[23]
- Now Jazz Now: 100 Essential Free Jazz & Improvisation Recordings 1960-80 by Byron Coley, Thurston Moore and Mats Gustafson (2025)[24]
Daydream Library Series discography
[edit]- Sistahs by Big Joanie (30 November 2018)[25]
- Angeltalk by Katherina Bornefeld (21 September 2019)[26]
- Spirit Counsel by Thurston Moore (21 September 2019)[27]
- "Three Graces" by Thurston Moore (8 November 2019)[28]
- "Pollination" by Thurston Moore (8 November 2019)[29]
- "Leave Me Alone" by Thurston Moore (8 November 2019)[30]
- Trees Outside the Academy (Remastered) by Thurston Moore (24 July 2020)[31]
- By the Fire by Thurston Moore (25 September 2020)[32]
- "Hashish" by Thurston Moore (26 September 2020)[33]
- Lux Perpetua by Xopher Davidson (5 November 2021)[34]
- XVI by Seafoam Walls (12 November 2021)[35]
- Back Home by Big Joanie (4 November 2022)[36]
- Enredados/Drop In by Las Nubes (16 December 2023)[37]
- Oxford Gardens by Devon Ross (16 February 2024)[38]
- Flow Critical Lucidity by Thurston Moore (20 September 2024)[39]
- Once Around by Schande (27 September 2024)[40]
- Experience by Attawalpa (4 July 2025)[41]
- Pin-Ups by Devon Ross (6 March 2026)[42]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kurland, Justine (2009). This Train Is Bound for Glory. Ecstatic Peace Library. ISBN 9781616234881.
- ^ a b "Justine Kurland: This Train is Bound for Glory" (Press release). Mitchell-Innes & Nash. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "The Archivist". Interview Magazine. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Huncwot.com. "Fluidity of Thought - Przekrój Magazine". przekroj.pl. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Pangburn, DJ (24 June 2016). "Thurston Moore on the Legacy of Black Metal Gods, Mayhem". Vice. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Ecstatic Peace Library / Thurston Moore & Eva Prinz - 1 Artwork, Bio & Shows on Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Nikolopoulos, Stephanie (8 February 2007). "Radical Living Papers". Gothamist. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Reel-to-Reel World: Thurston Moore's New Book Mix Tape Chronicles Our Cassette Obsessions | PATRICK SISSON". Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Rapp, Alan (17 August 2010). "Ecstatic Publishing: Thurston Moore, Eva Prinz Discuss Their New Venture". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ Clarke, Patrick (5 September 2018). "LISTEN: Big Joanie Announce Debut LP". The Quietus. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ Torres, Eric. "Big Joanie: Back Home". Pitchfork. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ^ Yorker, The New (30 June 2023). "The Politically Vibrant Indie Trio Big Joanie". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ^ Tracy, Liz (15 December 2023). "Las Nubes Is Back With New Music and a Long-Awaited Miami Show". Miami New Times. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ^ Staff, SPIN (26 January 2022). "22 Artists to Watch in 2022". SPIN. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ^ Appleford, Steve (27 February 2024). "Devon Ross Feels the Noise". SPIN. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ^ Rudick, Nicole (21 July 2010). "Talking To Justine Kurland". Vice (in Danish). Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Biondi, Elisabeth (17 November 2010). "James Hamilton: You Should Have Heard Just What I Seen". The New Yorker. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Thurston Moore Releases 'Stereo Sanctity' Book of Lyrics and Poetry | Exclaim!". Thurston Moore Releases 'Stereo Sanctity' Book of Lyrics and Poetry | Exclaim!. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "The Quietus | News | Thurston Moore On Mayhem". The Quietus. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Kim (1 June 2016). "Thurston Moore Is Putting Out Necrobutcher's Black Metal Book, 'The Death Archives'". Vice. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Woke up this morning, somebody rewrote the past | IT". Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Perfect Sound Forever: David Toop book excerpt". www.furious.com. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Read an extract from Linger On: The Velvet Underground by Ignacio Julià - The Wire". The Wire Magazine - Adventures In Modern Music. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Ruland, Jim (16 December 2025). "Thurston Moore documents his obsession with free jazz in a new book". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ "Sistahs by Big Joanie". The Guardian. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Angeltalk by Katherina Bornefeld". The Quietus. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Spirit Counsel". Pitchfork. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Three Graces by Thurston Moore". NME. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Pollination by Thurston Moore". NME. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Leave Me Alone by Thurston Moore". NME. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Trees Outside The Academy by Thurston Moore". Pitchfork. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "By the Fire by Thurston Moore". Pitchfork. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Hashish by Thurston Moore". Stereogum. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Lux Perpetua by Xopher Davidson". Touching Extremes. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "XVI by Seafoam Walls". Pitchfork. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Back Home by Big Joanie". Pitchfork. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ Tracy, Liz. "Las Nubes Is Back With New Music and a Long-Awaited Miami Show". Miami New Times. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ Ellie Rogers (19 February 2024). ""I've always picked up my dad's guitars, but I wasn't that serious about it. Then I realized it was natural to me – it was so deep in my soul I didn't have a choice": Thurston Moore loved her demos. Now Devon Ross is journeying from actor to guitarist". guitarworld. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ Georgi, Maya (20 June 2024). "Thurston Moore Announces Ninth Solo Album 'Flow Critical Lucidity'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ "15 questions | Interview | Schande | "Nottingham, we'll always have Nottingham."". www.15questions.net. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ Shafer, Ellise (17 September 2025). "Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore Signs Attawalpa, the Musical Project of Lena Dunham's Husband and 'Too Much' Co-Creator Luis Felber". Variety. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ Harbron, Lucy (6 March 2026). "Devon Ross covers Bob Dylan and more on new surprise EP". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2026.