HV006- Radio Dial

Hearing Voices from NPR®
006 Radio Dial: Signals from the Sky
Host: Barrett Golding of Hearing Voices
Airs week of: 2010-05-26 (Originally: 2008-04-09)

“Radio Dial” (52:00 mp3):

Radio stories about radio, then stories about radio stories:

These “Dueling Transmitters” are an atmospheric found-sound un-manipulated mix of Spanish ham-radio operators, slow Morse code, data squalls, and the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran. From the Shortwavemusic blog post “The Effects of Radiation.”

An FM radio station in Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, is called Urbana. It’s hip, bilingual, plays music from all over the world, and is famous in Uruguay for its 30-second sound portraits featuring the voices of famous people mixed over avante-garde music.

The Cuban a-capella ensemble approximates a radio dial with their vocal chords. From the group Vocal Sampling’s (site | space) CD Una Forma Mas.

Shortwave/music mixes by LA sound artist Myke Dodge Weiskopf, off his 30: a Retrospective 1976-2006

The government’s all-time all-the-time radio station goes commercial, voiced by former WWV announcer John Doyle.

A community radio station in Gondar, Ethiopia broadcasts health education programs on subjects ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention to the dangers of using dirty tattoo needles.

Another shortwave with music mix from 30: a Retrospective 1976-2006

We send our signals out into space, but space also sends us radio waves. The Sun broadcasts 24/7. You can even hear the Northern Lights, if you have the right gear, and recordist Steve McGreevey has a van full of it. These are his Natural Radio recordings, with music by Racket Ship.

The The Android lament the loss of the great Johnny Fever and the golden age of rockin’ radio.

Some rogue NPR commentators try to start a new series, but instead end up podcasting tales of lust, commerce, insanity, and inanity.

More Dueling Transmitters: this time it’s Radio Bulgaria versus the religious station, Family Radio International. From the Shortwavemusic blog post “Throwing Darts at a Spinning Globe.”

This tape was found in a Union, New Jersey Thrift Store. It comes to us from the WFMU program by The Professor, of found-sound, amateur recordings, and homestyle noise.

An interview with Douglas Flieshut, artist, inventor and co-founder of Language Removal Services: “”These frozen portraits of a person’s speaking habits outline a spirit or soul that underlies that language.”

Everyone’s favorite morning man is caught in a media manipulation; montaged with music by Jeanjacket Shotgun.

A radio classic on trying to make some money in commercial radio. Harper’s Magazine printed it as an article: “Working for the friendly man.” Originally made in 1996 for This American Life “Media Fringe” episode, and repeated in the one-hour TAL/Scott Carrier special “The Friendly Man.”