Title: Improvisation Rites
Description: Printed  on 104 gsm white paper w/Gloss Lam cover. 35 colour photographs. Collective explorations in the field of improvised and experimental music in London. Review by Julian Cowley in The Wire 410

"Fascinating exploration of the aims and intentions of The Scratch Orchestra, collected and compiled here by one-time Slippery Merchant, Stefan Szczelkun. Traced thru’ e-mails, magazine reviews and radio programmes, all the way from Cornelius Cardew’s initial concept, circa 1969 ~ through to a series of contemporary revivals circa 2011-2017 ~ featuring a mix of original Scratch members and new blood, and a sold-out performance at Café Oto, and beyond.
An intimate overview of the collaborative process and how the original ideas and ideals have weathered forty years on. Keeping true to the spirit of the rites in Cardew’s “Nature Study Notes” ~ and how various channels and “powers-that-be” still attempt to homogenise free thinking, or repackage it as commercial product. Or, to quote the late George Melly: “Revolt into Style”. And how to resist that. 
Through Stefan’s notes and observations a picture emerges of a strong communal spirit, a sense of adventure, defiant in the face of assorted music moguls, oligarchs and newspaper proprietors who would keep us all subservient in our quiet little cages. Stefan Szczelkun is a firm believer in people, and The Scratch Orchestra’s dictum that anyone could participate, creating a freer dynamic between performers and audiences ~ all this comes across very clearly. I would advise anyone with an interest in English experimental music (and how this can question and challenge pre-determined rules) to investigate this wonderful book." Michael Kemp 2018

*Includes photo and/or text contributions (not including quoted 'rites' or 'songs') from the following people:*
Ali Warner, Portia Winters, John Tilbury, Jane Alden, Ben Harper, Carolyn, Phil England, Michael Parsons, Bron Jones, Hugh Shrapnel, George Chambers, Penny Homer, Geraldine McEwan, Emmanuelle Waeckerle, Matt Scott, Robert Barry, Carol Finer, Martin Dixon, Deirdre McGale, Stathis Mamalakis, John Hails, Charles Hutchins, Petri Hurinainen, Richard Duckworth, Robbie Lockwood, Howard Slater, Alexandra Dami, Achilleas Karagiannidis,
Subjects: Improvisation, experimental music, Process, communal, collective, The Scratch Orchestra, oppositional culture
Places: London, Cafe Oto, MayDay Rooms, Chisenhale Dance Space, Toynbee Studios Theatre
People: John Cage, Cornelius Cardew
Time periods: 1969 - 2017