A Sound Salvation (#104)
(Featuring all songs about Radio itself, including some valuable information from a professional DJ, originally broadcast on KPSU on 19 July 2009 and 7 January 2009.)

Going back to other show, 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!

This show largely stems from a pair of narrated cassettes that purported to explain how to become a Radio DJ (and how to make a Demo Tape).  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 their’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 my program, and while this isn’t a disclaimer (or even a warning), it seems worth mentioning that I’m hoping the juxtaposition and context fits the ideas of the program perfectly.  This is just my particular view of the musical universe, and I wouldn’t go so far as to claim that everyone can see how these songs fit into an experimental show. I will let that sit with you as you digest today’s program.

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.

Enjoy!

 

A Sound Salvation

Throughout this program there are excerpts from “How Radio Was Done I” by Don Joyce, “How To Become A Radio DJ” by Mike Staff, and “Amateur Radio” by Sonic Youth w/ Jim O’Rourke.

HOUR 1

Part I: Turn It On

01.) Austin FM Theme * Paco Jones * Austin FM Theme * Self-Released (2016)
02.) Turn It On * The Flaming Lips * Transmissions From The Satellite Heart
03.) Radio Nowhere * Bruce Springsteen
04.) Radio Song * Jet
05.) Radio Song * R.E.M.

Part II: God Is In The Radio

06.) Radio Friendly Unit Shifter * Nirvana * In Utero * DGC Records
07.) Please Play This Song On The Radio * NOFX
08.) God Is In The Radio * Queens Of The Stone Age *
09.) Radio Schitzo * Rudimentary Peni

Part III: Transmission

10.) Capitol Radio One * The Clash
11.) Transmission * Joy Division
12.) Radioland * Kraftwerk
13.) Radio 4 * Public Image Ltd.
14.) 7 January 2009 [Excerpt] * Austin Rich

HOUR 2

Part IV: On The Radio

15.) Radio Transmissions * Man… Or Astro-Man?
16.) Video Killed The Radio Star * The Buggles
17.) Mexican Radio * Wall Of Voodoo
18.) On The Radio * The Selecter

Part V: Blasting Radio

19.) Radio Silents * Young Marble Giants
20.) Blasting Radio * Desperate Bicyles
21.) Radio * God Is My Co-Pilot
22.) Radio Gra * Unwound * Leaves Turn Inside You * Kill Rock Stars

Part VI: I Heard It On The Radio

23.) I Heard It On The Radio * Ornette Coleman.
24.) The End Of Radio * Shellac