A Sound Salvation (Radio About Radio) (Retrocast)
(Featuring all songs about Radio itself, including some valuable information from a professional DJ.  Originally aired 18 July 2009 on KPSU.)

Playlist & Footnotes: http://anywhereanywhen.com/2016/03/28/a-sound-salvation-retrocast

(Originally written in 2009, at KPSU.)

There was a time when our program was two hours every week, and the chance to pick up an extra hour these days causes me to look back to where I’ve been before. Going back to the first show I did this year, which could have been sub-titled “Radio About Radio,” I thought I would revisit the subject and attempt to put a new spin on it in the process. The results: “A Sound Salvation,” a two-hour audio-essay on the nature of being a Radio DJ itself, with special insight by none other than author and DJ Mike Staff! Want to get started in radio? Then this is the place to start!

Back in January, I was only able to fit in a handful of songs I’d found that all deserved airplay, and this show seemed like a perfect chance to put those other songs on the air. One thing I found was a pair of narrated cassettes that purported to explain how to become a Radio DJ (and how to make a Demo Tape).  I originally planned on including samples from these tapes in that first show, but a variety of factors left the tapes on the cutting room floor. One of the first things I reached for when I began work on this show were those tapes, and they make up the backbone of the show this week. This show could very well be sub-titled, “How To Become A Radio DJ,” but I feared that might create the wrong impression (either seriously, or sarcastically). I figured an Elvis Costello quote would not only send the right message, but hopefully put the samples in context.

I have to say, if it wasn’t already clear enough, this show forefronts my interest (and borderline obsession) with Negativland, and their own weekly radio show, Over The Edge. I’ve been a fan since the mid ’90’s, and have made an effort to listen as often as possible ever since. Over the years I’ve collected a number of recordings of their shows, and have often considered them a major influence on me. The problem is, to do a show like thier’s, you need a LOT of free time, and while I have made a lot of efforts to do something like they would do, it hasn’t always worked out that way. With a full week of free time at my disposal to prepare for this show, I was finally able to pick out and rehearse enough material to step up to the challenge. So, if you like what you hear, and you want to hear something weirder and / or more extreme, Over The Edge on KPFA (in Berkley, though they do stream and podcast it) is well worth your time and effort. Seriously.

This show includes a lot of music that wouldn’t normally appear on Blasphuphmus Radio, and while this isn’t a disclaimer (or even a warning), it seems that a bit of explanation might be in order. My musical interests range far and wide, and I’ve always imagined that at it’s most bizarre and cogent, my show enables a listener to draw a through-line between Bruce Springsteen, Shellac, Wall of Voodoo, Nirvana, Rudimentary Peni, Jet, Kraftwerk, Queens of The Stone Age, and Ornette Coleman. Of course, this is just my particular view of the musical universe, and I wouldn’t go so far as to claim that everyone can make those connections (or would even want to). For those more cynical than I, some of the cornier musical moments are included as “found sounds” that reinforce this Radio Essay; for those less cynical than I, the weirder and stranger moments are included as “found sounds” that, also, reinforce this Essay. I think the mish-mash makes perfect sense, if you consider the subject. Think about it…

I wanna thank Ricardo Wang for giving up his show this week so I could produce something like this, and Michelle Pecchia, Nil Admirari, Heather Hunt-Garrison, DJ Victrola, Steven Koriagin, Jennifer Howell, Shayna Proctor, Kyle Rich, Megan Kent, Reverend Marc Time (from our sister station, KWVA in Eugene), Alpha Protist, Heidi Stauber, Melissa Cooper, Jenna Lynn, Minded Rock Gate, and DJ Medusa, who all made suggestions for songs that should have been included in this show. If I didn’t use your suggestion, don’t sweat; I’ll probably use it next time. This series has some serious future potential.

See ya in seven.

*

A Sound Salvation

# Title * Artist * Album *
01.) How Radio Was Done I (Excerpt 1) * Negativland * Over The Edge Radio
02.) Excerpts Scattered Throughout * Mike Staff * How To Become A Radio DJ
03.) Turn It On * The Flaming Lips * Transmissions From The Satellite Heart
04.) Amateur Radio * Sonic Youth w/ Jim O’Rourke Clip 1
05.) Radio Nowhere * Bruce Springsteen
06.) Radio Song * Jet
07.) Radio Song * R.E.M.
08.) Amateur Radio * Sonic Youth w/ Jim O’Rourke Clip 2
09.) Radio Friendly Unit Shifter * Nirvana * In Utero * DGC Records
10.) Please Play This Song On The Radio * NOFX
11.) God Is In The Radio * Queens Of The Stone Age *
12.) Radio Schitzo * Rudimentary Peni
13.) Capitol Radio One * The Clash
14.) Transmission * Joy Division
15.) Radioland * Kraftwerk
16.) Radio 4 * Public Image Ltd.
17.) Amateur Radio * Sonic Youth w/ Jim O’Rourke Clip 3
18.) How Radio Was Done I (Excerpt 2) * Negativland * Over The Edge Radio
19.) Radio Transmissions * Man… Or Astro-Man?
20.) Video Killed The Radio Star * The Buggles
21.) Mexican Radio * Wall Of Voodoo
22.) On The Radio * The Selecter
23.) Amateur Radio * Sonic Youth w/ Jim O’Rourke Clip 4
24.) Radio Silents * Young Marble Giants
25.) Blasting Radio * Desperate Bicyles
26.) Radio * God Is My Co-Pilot
27.) Radio Gra * Unwound * Leaves Turn Inside You * Kill Rock Stars
28.) Amateur Radio * Sonic Youth w/ Jim O’Rourke Clip 5
29.) How Radio Was Done I (Excerpt 3) * Negativland * Over The Edge Radio
30.) I Heard It On The Radio * Ornette Coleman.
31.) The End Of Radio * Shellac