Patrick Clarke, photo by Sarah Cohen

Publisher Manchester University Press is launching a new series of short books, taking inspiration from the British Pop Archive (BPA), which is currently housed at Manchester's John Rylands Research Institute and Library.

The series of books, Manchester University Press said, will "unlock the hidden histories of music, popular and counterculture, from the city to the suburb," drawing on interviews, recordings, images, press clippings and other archival material featured in the BPA. "By delving into the untold stories, the series aims to entertain and enlighten readers, offering music aficionados the thrill of uncovering long-forgotten secrets and exploring the dusty corners of British popular culture," Manchester University Press' announcement statement added.

The first book in the series will come from tQ's Deputy Editor, Patrick Clarke, and will be published in September 2024. Titled Bedsit Land: The Strange Worlds Of Soft Cell, it will explore the work of the UK duo of Marc Almond and David Ball. Find more information about the book, and the wider series, here.