This book investigates the cultural, political, and social significance of electronic dance music and the persistent societal hostility directed toward the sensory pleasure it provides. Authors Ewan Pearson and Jeremy Gilbert analyze the transatlantic evolution of dance genres over twenty-five years, utilizing a framework that bridges musicology and cultural theory. They argue that the resistance to dance culture stems from historical biases against music as a purely physical and ecstatic experience rather than an intellectual one.

Scholars and music critics frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the academic study of electronic dance music. Readers often note the dense, theoretical nature of the prose, which effectively contextualizes club culture within broader political and sociological frameworks.