An introduction to numbers stations

 Interludes, shortwave  3 Responses »
Jan 192011
 

A subject that was touched on in Phantom Circuit #51 (and which is alluded to in some of the music which has cropped up in other shows) was numbers stations, those mysterious shortwave radio broadcasts consisting of lists of numbers being read out for unknown purposes (although espionage is the standard explanation). These transmissions are not heard as readily now as they were in the 1980s, but have sustained currency in electronic music.

Here’s a short report on numbers stations. Notwithstanding the silly preamble in the studio before the report itself starts, it’s a concise introduction to the subject at just over three minutes.

Examples of numbers stations abound. Most famously the Conet Project compiled many such recordings, which can now also be downloaded for free.

Vote for ‘Mixcloud Best of 2010′

 Interludes  Comments Off
Jan 092011
 

mixcloud-vote.jpg

If you have an account on Mixcloud, please vote for Phantom Circuit in Mixcloud’s “Best of 2010″. Just click the big button on the top left of this page. There is surely no chance of the show competing with the big players, but no vote is wasted, since, as Mixcloud puts it: “you can vote for as many as you like, so vote early, vote often – VOTE NOW!”.

If you want a Mixcloud account, it’s easy to sign up at mixcloud.com.

A quick look back and then onwards we go…

 Interludes  Comments Off
Dec 312010
 

Phantom Circuit has had a busy and successful year and it seems appropriate to mention some of the highlights, especially for anyone who missed them the first time around. All the shows can be heard via the Mixcloud streaming service – and it’s worth stating that, without their licensed (that’s in terms of music licences rather than beer) service, the show would not have returned. As it is, Phantom Circuit rushes into 2011 looking forward to bringing you more features and exclusives.

All of the following shows can still be heard: just follow the links and enjoy…

Since its return in April, Phantom Circuit has featured live music, interviews or other specials from Sarah Blasko, The Octopus Collective, Daidono, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Yantantethra, Shengi, Claire Marshall’s Cheyenne, Doors to Nowhere, Thee Moths (#45, #47), Silver Apples, Charlemagne Palestine, SouthBank Gamelan Players, (Péron and Diermaier’s) Faust, Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle, Carter Tutti), John Richards / Dirty Electronics Ensemble, Miss Hypnotique, Mr. Underwood (#36, #49), Joanna Quail, Matt Howden (Sieben), Jim Jupp (Belbury Poly), Julian House (The Focus Group), Moon Wiring Club and Clutter.

Don’t forget to make use of our email list and RSS feed feed so we can let you know when new shows are available.

Happy new year and thanks very much for listening.

Ah, listeners…

 Interludes  2 Responses »
Nov 222010
 

A few days after Phantom Circuit #53 was made available, the count of listeners suddenly went crazy and, by the end of its first week of being online, show #53 had clocked up over 200 listeners. An audience of 200 might seem pretty low compared to say, a YouTube video of someone sharpening a pencil or indeed a show playing more mainstream music… but for a DIY showcase for generally obscure music, an audience of such a size is really pretty good – and was certainly unprecedented in the case of Phantom Circuit. So what had happened?

It turned out that some thoughtful people had been recommending the show through various means again, and that one of them this time was a well-known writer, whose blogged and tweeted words were heeded and echoed by others. Of course, we don’t know what percentage of those listeners will be back for more but it’s encouraging that so many gave Phantom Circuit a chance. For those who have newly decided to follow the show – whether by RSS, Twitter or the email list – and to those who continue to recommend Phantom Circuit, thank you.

Two new music videos

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Sep 212010
 

We’re not going to start a regular video review section – we do radio, remember? – but a couple of contrasting promo videos came our way and we would like to share them with you, just for a change.

Jo Quail – The Falconer

Jo Quail, who was featured in Phantom Circuit #35, has pointed us towards her latest promotional video, which you can watch on YouTube or Vimeo. Moving away from the imagery of her recently disbanded project SonVer, she has stepped out of the shadows into a sunlit stately garden for the video for her new track ‘The Falconer’. Director Tom Robinson paces the video so it is in sympathy with the dynamics of the languid music (with just a couple of subtle time-effect flourishes) and makes Jo’s unique electric cello and beloved loop effects pedals look as though they are in their natural habitat. Jo herself is as always the model of elegance – and, let’s face it, these days if you’re classically trained and don’t capitalise on your glamour you’re shooting yourself in the foot – but, as a nice personal touch, a hint of a smile can be spotted here and there. After all, if you’re not enjoying yourself, what’s the falcon point?

John Callaghan and Hypnotique – You Lack Discipline

These two should not be allowed to play together. They are a public menace. Watch this and then watch out.

Radio 4 to channel Radio Spiritworld

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Aug 052009
 

Peter Serafinowicz has announced Radio Spiritworld, a new comedy series which he is writing with Robert Popper and which is to be broadcast by BBC Radio 4. A pilot edition in podcast format has already been produced and you can enjoy that on the RSW Web site. It’s very nicely done.

Although they are different kinds of shows, Phantom Circuit and Radio Spiritworld share certain trappings and interests (is it just down to the polter-zeitgeist?) such as short-wave radio, ghostly voices and haunted technology. Considering the far wider exposure that RSW will receive, we might need to give some thought about the future style of Phantom Circuit. We don’t want to come across as (at best) a poor relation!

Nevertheless, since going on air in October of last year, Phantom Circuit has always been primarily about exotic and neglected music, so we don’t want to get too worried about the window-dressing. To be realistic, many of the themes to which the style of the show alludes will be lost on listeners anyway? Still, it would seem a shame to stop mining an interesting set of subjects which so far we have barely scratched. These fields are perhaps big enough for a multitude of approaches: for other examples, you might try Strange Frequencies Radio and Anomaly Radio, although they are more serious in their endeavours!

As for Phantom Circuit, well, as always, we shall have to see…

Sham Shortwave Shockwave

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May 282009
 

shortwave-radio.jpgTrans Oceanic by Tom Ellard is a nostalgic synthesised evocation of imperfectly remembered shortwave radio transmissions. You will need Flash to play the SWF audio.

Quote:-

While I was growing up, my father used to enjoy taking his shortwave receiver out on to the front verandah. He’d raise the aerial like a fishing rod and go out into the shortwave spectrum fishing for the odd stations that he could pick up from around the night air.

There was a time when shortwave radio was a prime source of listening material for those of us who liked electronic sounds. That era inspired the work of Kraftwerk (notably their album Radio-Activity) and of other electronic musicians. The shortwave radio bands are emptier these days but there is still much to hear, some of it still of a mysterious nature.

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