This volume investigates the state of the British contemporary music scene during the 1985-86 season to determine the breadth and vitality of new compositions. Michael Finnissy, a prominent composer and academic, curates this collection to provide a snapshot of the era's creative output. The book utilizes a combination of critical essays, composer profiles, and original musical scores to argue that British contemporary music is a diverse and evolving field worthy of international attention.

Experts and musicologists regard this text as a valuable primary source for understanding the mid-1980s British avant-garde climate. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the specific utility of the included musical scores for historical research.