The Way We Listen Now, and Other Writings on Music by the music critic and composer Bayan Northcott, edited by Christopher Wintle, was published in May this year by Plumbago Books. Over the last forty years Bayan Northcott has written music criticism for the New Statesman, the Sunday Telegraph and the Independent. The book discusses aspects of composition, composers such as Philip Glass and Judith Weir, world music and Oasis. plumbago.co.uk

Sound Targets: American Soldiers and Music in the Iraq War by Jonathan Pieslak is published by Indiana University Press. Pieslak interviewed returning veterans about the place of music in the Iraq War and in contemporary American military culture in general, exploring themes of power, chaos, violence and survival in the metal and hip-hop music popular among the troops. iupress.indiana.edu

Music in Words: A Guide to Researching and Writing about Music by Trevor Herbert is published by Oxford University Press and addresses the issues that students and professional musicians may be confronted with when undertaking a writing task, whether it be a programme note or a thesis. oup.com

The Philosophy of Improvisation by Gary Peters was published in May by University of Chicago Press. According to Peters, improvisation is usually either lionized as an ecstatic experience or disparaged as the thoughtless recycling of clichés. He turns to major thinkers within philosophy and their reflections on improvisation. press.uchicago.edu

Perfecting Sound Forever: The Story of Recorded Music by Greg Milner is published by Granta Books. It tells the story of recorded music from Thomas Edison’s claim, in 1915, that he could perfectly capture the sound of a live performance, to the digital tools which create the illusion of performances that never were. granta.com

The Rise and Fall of EMI Records by Brian Southall is published by Omnibus Press and includes interviews with EMI executives, managers, music journalists, financial analysists and rival record company executives. The result is an account of the company’s travails and an exposé of the speed at which the music industry has changed. omnibuspress.com

Roger Scruton’s Understanding Music, published by Continuum, explores the fundamental elements that constitute a great piece of music, from Wagner to Boulez and Hoagy Carmichael. The book ends with a devastating chapter on pop music. continuumbooks.com

The Natural Musician: On Abilities, Giftedness, and Talent by Dina Kirnarskaya is published by Oxford University Press. It asks what are the psychological qualities that can turn some people into great musicians, telling the story of how people become composers, performers, or just discriminating listeners. oup.com