1990–2000
THE DECADE THAT WAS HOUSE MUSIC
A memoir of house music, memory and becoming
A first-hand journey through the records, radio shows, record shops, clubs and friendships that turned house music from an underground movement into a global culture, and changed one life along the way.
EBOOK + AUDIOBOOK
AVAILABLE 1 SEPTEMBER 2026
“
An insightful and elegantly written memoir of a typical ’90s house fan’s evolution from inspired clubber to working DJ. James Bleakman gives us an evocative analysis of his social and cultural journey from bedroom to club.
“
Frank Broughton & Bill Brewster
Authors of Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
INSIDE THE BOOK
From a borrowed cassette and a first pair of decks to record-shop rituals, packed dancefloors and the rise of the superstar DJ, the book follows a decade of discovery through the moments that made the culture feel personal.
HEAR THE BOOK
THE RECORDING THAT STARTED IT ALL
In May 1995, a borrowed cassette containing Pete Tong’s Essential Mix from the Que Club changed the direction of my life. This surviving archive recording captures the moment Pete Tong introduces Crescendo’s “Are You Out There”, the track that opened the door to house music for me.
1995 ARCHIVE RECORDING
AUDIOBOOK EXTRACT
90s PLAYLIST / MIX
HEAR THE COMPLETE AUDIOBOOK
WHY THIS
STORY
MATTERS
01
A FIRST-HAND UK PERSPECTIVE
A lived account shaped by national radio, record shops, clubs and bedroom DJ culture.
02
THE VIEW FROM THE CROWD
A story for the thousands of people who were deeply immersed in house music without becoming household names.
For the people who were there, and the people who want to understand why it mattered
More than a personal memoir, this book is a first-hand account of a cultural movement that shaped a generation.
It's for everyone who lived it, loved it and kept house music alive.
03
MEMORY, NOT MYTH
An honest reflection on what the decade meant, without pretending everything was better or tidier than it really was.
IN
DEVELOPMENT
THE COLLECTOR'S EDITION HARDBACK
A premium physical edition created for readers who want to experience the story as an object to keep, revisit and display.
Alongside the complete 1990–2000 memoir, the Collector’s Edition extends the journey into 2000–2010: The Second Underground, exploring the smaller rooms, independent labels and deeper sounds that followed the superclub era.
FEATURES INCLUDE:
Expanded
2000–2010
epilogue
Archive
photography
and personal
artefacts
DJ and
Music
timeline
Label
reflections
and listening
maps
Premium
hardback
production
PLANNED FOR LATE 2026
Final release timing and retailer
availability will be confirmed.
In development. Final specification, content and release timing may change.
ABOUT JAMES
A lifelong relationship with house music,
from Birmingham to Sydney
James Bleakman is a writer, designer, DJ and lifelong house music devotee whose journey began with the chance discovery of an Essential Mix recording in 1995.
What started with a cassette tape became a lifelong relationship with record collecting, DJing, club culture and the search for music that could change the atmosphere of a room.
Today, he lives in Australia with his family and continues to write, collect vinyl, DJ and develop let’s go disco as a platform for books, mixes, apparel and photography.
DIscovers house music
First DJ residency
Discovers Buzzin' Fly
Relocates to Australia
Publishes 1990-2000
1995
1998
2003
2012
2026
“
The book looks back, but the relationship with the music is still active.
Explore the full story behind
the project, the creative journey and what comes next.
EXPLORE LET'S GO DISCO
The book sits at the centre of a wider house music project built around listening, making, collecting and sharing the culture.
Mixes
DJ mixes spanning deep house, classics and the sounds that continue to shape the let’s go disco identity.
Original Music
Tracks and releases from the let’s go disco archive.
Music, design and storytelling under one roof.
CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT
TO EXPERIENCE THE BOOK
Order the ebook or audiobook now, or explore the Collector’s Edition hardback currently in development.
Read on your preferred device from 1 September 2026. Choose from participating retailers in your region.
EBOOK
ORDER NOW
AUDIOBOOK
ORDER NOW
Hear the memoir in the author’s own voice from 1 September 2026. Available through selected audiobook retailers worldwide.
A premium physical edition with expanded editorial and archive content, planned for late 2026.
COLLECTOR'S EDITION
IN DEVELOPMENT
1 SEPTEMBER 2026
Global availability
RELEASE DATE
Ebook : Books2Read universal retailer link
Audiobook : INaudio retailer link
Choose your preferred retailer after clicking.
GLOBAL RETAILER ACCESS
AVAILABLE THROUGH LEADING RETAILERS
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