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It's a fair point, and one that Dave Haslam takes on in this book, with an attempt to provide a more even handed and open view of the 1970's, rather than that portrayed by the incessant nostalgia programmes that plague the TV schedules, that of Abba, platform shoes, glam rock and Starsky & Hutch. What Haslam attempts to show is the development of human culture in spite of failing goverment, growing terrorism, racial tension and the Vietnam War, reinforced by the memoirs of people who were growing up during the grim decade. What actually happens is something different - though Haslam references culture in the popular and alternative sense, with his excellent writing style, he does try to cram too much into his commentary, and at times, it's apparent that the depth of his research is limited, and has to fall back his own knowledge (music, societal changes in the North-West) to build a picture of the events at the time. This is a shame, because his previous books - Manchester, England and The Adventures On The Wheels Of Steel - are excellently written, focusing on key elements to build a chronolgy rather than trying to get absolutely everything covered - by doing so, what should read as a fluid commentary on certain key aspects instead comes across as a collection of rushed snippets on all that may have hit the headlines in that time. If Haslam had kept his theme of picking key aspects of his subject and reflecting on them, then Not Abba would have been a much better read, however, as always in life, once someone stops doing what made them good in the first place, the quality slips. Let's hope that Haslam's next book will be a return to form. Amir Arezoo, September 2005 Read this, want more? Try: Jon Savage - England's Dreaming Paul Morley - Nothing Kevin Sampson - Awaydays
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