For this review, I’m going to review a SoundCloud album by artist Kevin Dooley. This album, called Radio Waves, is an interesting mix of original tunes, sound collage music, and found sounds from shortwave radio. All of the recordings are technically lo-fi in quality. I listened to the almost all of this album yesterday, but it is time for me to review the full thing.
The tracks:
“Petty Crimes”-This 31-second intro consists of a sample from an old record talking about “petty crimes committed by little people”, backed by a droning electronic buzz.
“Interlude 2: John Zorn, Morse Code, and Typewriters”-An interesting collage of the samples described in the title, which mostly makes me think of relaxing cowboy music being interrupted by alien electronics that transforms into a busy workplace accompanied by an old Christian radio broadcast.
“Mr. Ed”-A collage of samples from the Mr. Ed television show, with bouncy, video game-style electronic background music.
“Righteousness”-A warped and distorted recording as captured by shortwave radio.
“A Side of Glass”-An original electronic composition, performed on programmed synth and surf music-style guitar, as dedicated by the performer to the famed composer Philip Glass.
“No Facts”-A shortwave radio collage of music and advertising that is interfered by some strange radio noises.
“Carpenter’s Close to You-KD Remake”-A post-punk-style cover of the classic hit by the Carpenters, featuring a drum machine, distorted electric guitar, almost-shouted vocals, and synthesizer. In some parts, it sounds like a 50’s-style rock n’ roll tune, and there’s some experimental guitar solos in other parts.
“January Mood”-An original modern classical synthesizer composition that also features some experimental acoustic guitar noodling.
“Everybody’s Scared”-A shortwave collage of old-school religious music, pop, and talk radio.
“Transformers”-An instrumental medley featuring backwards synth bass, an experimental synthpop jam, and an industrial synth tune with droning sounds playing in melody.
“Interlude 3 (Bill Frisell in Shortwave Radioland”-A collage of Bill Frisell samples and shortwave radio.
“It Was No Accident”-A sound collage consisting of “easy listening, instructional records, organ music, shortwave radio, and FM radio… Blue Velvet, Berger and Brothers, noise, chatter, instructions on how to build a sewing machine table, bad 80s rock song, radio DJ with teenager on phone”. An interesting number that is a mixture of old fashioned music, radio ads, and arena rock!
“Half a Paragon”-A folk number with acoustic guitar and flanged synthesizer that I believe was recorded on a cassette tape, due to the massive amount of tape hiss on this recording, as if it came from the late 1960’s or early 1970’s.
“Interlude 4”-A collage of found shortwave radio sounds and random sound effects. You can hear a lot of cars zooming by on the road in this recording.
“Negativland Time Zones Remix”-A collage of radio recordings, piano, and Negativland samples, particularly from the track “Time Zones” off of their 1987 album Escape from Noise, and two tracks off of the band’s 1980 self-titled debut album.
“The Faith (JFK Remix)”-A collage of experimental dance music, a John F. Kennedy speech, and baby sounds.
“Elements”-A modern classical composition filled with string arrangements, conducted in a baroque-style manner.
“Gone Fishin-Orchestral Tribute to the Andy Griffith Show Theme”-A completely orchestral version of the theme song for The Andy Griffith Show.
“Pull That Handle-Bill Frisell Meets Instructional Record”-A collage consisting of “an old radio program on sales tactics, sound effects, organ music and music by Bill Frisell.”
“Draw Nigh Unto Elohim-A Mix with Sunday Morning Religious Talk Radio”-A shortwave radio collage of church radio programming.
“Somewhere: Bernstein Mixed with Grateful Dead, the Carpenters, and Ken Nordine”-This also features samples from FM radio and cable TV.
You can find this fantastic collage of randomness at: https://soundcloud.com/kevin-dooley/sets/radio-waves
The Crazy Mind of Tré Roland 