Mechanical Fantasy Box

This book chronicles the life of Patrick Cowley, a pioneer in electronic dance music, through his vivid, personal journal entries.

In Mechanical Fantasy Box, readers are invited into the vibrant world of Patrick Cowley, a revolutionary figure in the realm of electronic dance music. Born in Buffalo in 1950, Cowley made his way to San Francisco in 1971 to pursue his passion for music. By the mid-1970s, he had established himself as a prominent composer and producer, notably collaborating with disco sensation Sylvester on the iconic track 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).' Cowley’s innovative synthesizer techniques gave birth to the Hi-NRG genre, affectionately known as 'the San Francisco Sound,' leaving a lasting impact on the music scene before his untimely death from AIDS-related complications in 1982.

Mechanical Fantasy Box serves as a deeply personal journal, offering a candid glimpse into Cowley's life from 1974 to 1980. This period marks his evolution from a lighting technician at the City Disco to a celebrated musician, culminating in his groundbreaking remix of Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love.' The journal is filled with vivid accounts of his experiences in the gay nightlife of 1970s San Francisco, including the exploration of sex venues in SoMA, euphoric moments in Buena Vista Park, and the creation of 'pornophonics' in his Castro apartment.

The book features 25 original illustrations by artist Gwenaël Rattke, alongside street maps and collages that enrich the narrative. Through Cowley’s eyes, Mechanical Fantasy Box captures the essence of gay liberation in the post-Stonewall era, portraying a life filled with passion, creativity, and an unyielding spirit of freedom.