No Need for You To Cry: Transmission 410, 2018 May 30

The previous week's cold still hung over me during this program, and you can tell by the frog that I can't seem to extract from my throat. But it also left behind a trace of its magic, for this is another excellent iteration of the Bombast thing, whatever that is. (Four hundred shows and I am still figuring it out.) The added bonus is that on this night, there is no Featured Artist that Lady Catharsis cannot stand! Or is that a subtracted bonus?

In non-musical news, my work life is coming into sharp focus. Too sharp, frankly. I am entering a seven-week period in which I have to be "on" all the time. I will wake up in the middle of the night with thoughts of tasks I have to complete. At the same time, little of it is truly within my control. Such is the life of a summer camp coordinator. Bringing it back home--what does this mean for the program? Chances are it will get really good or really bad, as psychologically much will depend on it. It's my anchor.

BOMBAST playlist, 2018 May 30, 2100-2300:

1. "Too Young To Rock'N'Roll" | Calamita | Calamita | Ruptured
2. "On the Radio - Intro" | OOFT! | Intricacies of Modern Life | FOTO Recordings
3. "Light Pours from the Hollow" | Kensington Gore | Hexagon | More than Human
4. "Vague Memories 4" | Irrelevant | Vague Memories 2 | Fauxpas
5. "Unsystematic Waves" | Potter Natalizia Zen | Shut Your Eyes On The Way Out | Ecstatic
6. "Conversation Policy - Illum Sphere Remix" | Night Christ | Conversation Policy | All City Dublin
7. "Put a Smile on Your Face" | Durand Jones & The Indications | You and Me b/w Put a Smile on Your Face | Colemine - Dead Oceans
8. "Herdhya" | Gwenno | Le Kov | Heavenly
9. "VIII" | Colin Fisher | V Le Pape | Geej
10. "People Are Blind" | Sworr. | Sworr. | Fair Weather Friends
11. "l8r h8r" | Terekke | Improvisational Loops | Music From Memory
12. "Let That Sink In" | Ant Orange | Right There | Karaoke Kalk
13. "Gazing Into Diamond Mirrors" | Weirding Module | A Newer Age | Joyful Noise Recordings
14. "Red Cow" | Brian Harris | Red Cow | self-released
15. "Main Sequence Phase" | MIS+RESS | S/T | Somewherecold
16. "Laying in the Sun" | Anemone | Baby Only You & I | Fat Possum
17. "Privacy" | XJ | FAMILY ALBUM 2018 | Boomarm Nation
18. "Blissters" | Chris Carter | Chemistry Lessons Volume 1 | Mute
19. "the catalyst of delusion" | Captain Wardrobe | Kronosphere | self-released
20. "Proxima - 12" Mix" | Opal Sunn | II | Planet Sundae
21. "Hardingfele (Release)" | Zoe Mc Pherson | String Figures | SVS
22. "Oloddumare" | Silvio Astier | FAMILY ALBUM 2018 | Boomarm Nation
23. "MetaGoth" | The Breeders | All Nerve | 4AD
24. "Give Dem (Style)" | SKRS | Paradise Magic Traxx | Ancient Monarchy
25. "The Illusion (End Credits)" | Phantoms Vs Fire | Swim | Hypersoma

signs that read "free hugs"

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Got the Tools but Don’t Know the Rules: Transmission 409, 2018 May 23

Another week and another "industrial" record is the feature. I didn't plan it this way, but certainly none of my long-term acquaintances would be surprised. I just do what I do, I guess, circumstances notwithstanding. On this night, the circumstance was a fever (I am just getting over the accompanying cold). Am I really this dedicated? No, I had to visit the station in any case, and figured I might as well do my show, as scheduled. Someone told me once that the only reason to miss a show was on account of death--your own. I'm not that dedicated.

It certainly didn't feel like it on the night, but this is a masterful program, if I say so, and I do. I can see, listening to Black Light District, why Lady Catharsis hates Coil so much, and maybe it stems from this very album. It's not for everyone. But it goes with everything. This would seem to argue against its greatness, according to my oft-cited theory. But, let's be honest: I have no theory, only good taste.

BOMBAST playlist, 2018 May 23, 2100-2300:

1. "Tejo" | P. Adrix | Album Desconhecido | Principe
2. "Clean Mind" | The Skull Defekts | The Skull Defekts | Thrill Jockey
3. "Scratches and Dust" | Coil Presents Black Light District | A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room | Eskaton | "Physical Evidence"
4. "Stealth Technology" | Black Meteoric Star | No More White Presidents | Modern Obscure
5. "The Green Plain, Pt. 2" | C. Diab | Exit Rumination | Injazero
6. "Trapped in Atlanta" | Marco Wachs | Diversity EP | IWW
7. "Blue Rats" | Coil Presents Black Light District | A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room | Eskaton | "Physical Evidence"
8. "Hunros" | Gwenno | Le Kov | Heavenly
9. "Changes" | CHAPPO | DO IT | Votiv
10. "Green Water" | Coil Presents Black Light District | A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room | Eskaton | "Physical Evidence"
11. "You and Me" | Durand Jones & The Indications | You and Me b/w Put a Smile on Your Face | Colemine - Dead Oceans
12. "What - Interlude" | OOFT! | Intricacies of Modern Life | FOTO Recordings
13. "Chalice" | Coil Presents Black Light District | A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room | Eskaton | "Physical Evidence"
14. "In My Garden" | K2 | Loss of Gravity | Vibraphone
15. "Babe in the Egg of Blue" | Creta | Creta | Karl
16. "Red Skeletons" | Coil Presents Black Light District | A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room | Eskaton | "Physical Evidence"
17. "Wise Bird" | D.K. | Mystery Dub EP | Second Circle
18. "Too Much Choice" | The Galileo 7 | Tear Your Minds Wide Open! | Damaged Goods
19. "Sent" | Afriqua | Aleph EP | R & S
20. "050315 A" | Rumore | Life in the Cloud | Hot Haus
21. "Die Wolfe Kommen Zuruck" | Coil Presents Black Light District | A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room | Eskaton | "Physical Evidence"
22. "Astral Trails" | Deep'a & Biri | Dominance | Black Crow
23. "Laying in the Sun (Dnb Remix)" | Anemone | Baby Only You & I | Fat Possum
24. "Cold Dream of an Earth Star" | Coil Presents Black Light District | A Thousand Lights in a Darkened Room | Eskaton | "Physical Evidence"
25. "Mangrove Dawn" | Joe Morris | Jacaranda Skies | Pleasure Unit

catalyst of delusion

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Circa Nineteen-Eighty-One: Transmission 408, 2018 May 16

This program finds us back in the usual Wednesday night slot, "our special time together." I was already somewhat tired from the night before--like I said, I am too old--but emotionally amped, at least, because I would be playing a cherished record, about which more below. The show begins, though, with an embarrassing gaffe as neither Andrea or I can force the second tune--which is playing--to make a sound. I should be better than this. Apologies to Ant Orange, whoever you are. Anyway, in the interest of full disclosure, I have edited some of that silence out.

But let's talk about what we do hear. Bourbonese Qualk is a rough listen, with skips and pops aplenty, but that record has been loved. Even a perfect copy would be decidedly "lo-fi" and have its dynamics all over the place, but I think that's what its creators wanted. Why is it so dear? I feel like the home recording puts it squarely in the category of "you too can do this," and indeed it sounds in places like things Mr. D and I were trying to do back in the day. I think that, too, is intentional. I remember listening to this record a lot during a six-week period one summer when I was unemployed (how quaint that it felt like an endless stretch at the time).

Anyway, regardless of those considerations, you could do a lot worse than "Pipe Dreams," and god knows many people have done worse.

BOMBAST playlist, 2018 May 16, 2100-2300:

1. "Smallbig" | The Micronaut | Contrast | Freude am Tanzen
2. "A Frozen Lake" | Ant Orange | Right There | Karaoke Kalk
3. "Critical Path" | Abyss X | Pleasures of the Bull | Danse Noire
4. "Saturn" | A Certain Ratio | I'd Like To See You Again [reissue] | Mute
5. "Stand Above the Streams, Pt. 2B" | Jason Sharp | Stand Above the Streams | Constellation
6. "Play" | Fritz Kalkbrenner | Drown | Different Spring
7. "Skin Walker" | Insect Ark | Marrow Hymns | Profound Lore
8. "Translucent" | Ismo Laakso | Ofelia | Sahko
9. "Mean Street" / "Always There" | Bourbonese Qualk | Bourbonese Qualk | New International Recordings | "Physical Evidence"
10. "LOD" | Hrtl | Sugarlump EP | Wolfskuil Limited
11. "Magma" | Inigo Kennedy | Magma / Mantle | Token
12. "Hypeway 101" | Duccio | Late Night Swing | Greta Cottage Workshop
13. "Shock Corridor" | Bourbonese Qualk | Bourbonese Qualk | New International Recordings | "Physical Evidence"
14. "Motorik" | Frank Bretschneider | Lunik | Shitkatapult
15. "Prism" | C.A.R. | PINNED | Ransom Note
16. "Dummy-Run" / "Unknown Trk" / "C2V" / "Obsession" | Bourbonese Qualk | Bourbonese Qualk | New International Recordings | "Physical Evidence"
17. "Glory" | Liz Phair | Girly-Sound to Guyville | Matador
18. "Blues at the Acropolis" | The Breeders | All Nerve | 4AD
19. "The Dance" | The Skull Defekts | The Skull Defekts | Thrill Jockey
20. "Zlota Skala Dub" | JANKA | Krzyzacy | U Know Me
21. "Mora" | Answer Code Request | Gens | Ostgut Ton
22. "Untitled" / "Black and Blues" / "Pipe Dreams" | Bourbonese Qualk | Bourbonese Qualk | New International Recordings | "Physical Evidence"
23. "Kitsch Is the New Atonality" | Gosheven | The Harvest of a Quiet Eye | Opal Tapes
24. "Colony" | Ian Boddy / Erik Wollo | Meridian | DiN
25. "Mantodea vs. Furcifer Pardalis" | Sign Libra | Closer to the Equator | Antinote
26. "Illusion" | Pure Confusion | Fuzzy Feelings Collection | The Blog That Celebrates Itself
27. "Mr. Bikinis" | MIS+RESS | S/T | Somewherecold
28. "Nothing New to Trash Like You" | The Brian Jonestown Massacre | Don't Get Lost | A Records

my unlimited love to y'all

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Every Fool Will See His Madness Crowned: Transmission 407, 2018 May 15

Here is a rarity: an "unscheduled" appearance of the program. It is strange to think of it as an unusual thing (as we shall see), but "it is what it is." It was Andrew Eldritch's birthday, something I'd meant to observe three years ago (I think) but my chance was too late in the day: 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. I think of that as the day I decided I was "too old." (One could think of it as the day I officially became a flake, but that was a long time ago.) In 2018, we're probably past the point of anyone's caring, least of all Mr. Eldritch himself, but I don't like to leave business unfinished, so here we are. I may have been in a bit of a mood, but I think I was enjoying myself, and the segues aren't too bad. I had meant to play Spacemen 3 at the end of it all--I wasn't "giving up"--but I was bad at math on this night, so we get an excerpt.

This program's being the first time in five months that I had made a substitute appearance does not stop my past from being a burden. Back when I lived and breathed WRFI (almost literally!) I would jump at the chance, almost any chance, to do radio. We were desperate for programming in the old days, and the station always seemed on the brink of going off-air for whatever reason. If I remember correctly there was one year when I made 91 appearances! Ye gods. Anyway, between getting older, getting busier, learning my limitations, deciding on further limitations, and so on, I've been much better at limiting myself to my allotted airtime--except, I guess, for that brief, wonderful period last year when Catharsis Junior wanted to do radio with me on the regular. Anyway, people think I am still like my old self! At a meeting recently, when we were doing introductions, I said that I do radio on Wednesday nights, and a colleague added "and on demand, apparently." Shots fired! DJ Andrea, who is going on "indefinite hiatus" from the Free Pile, says that she will take sub shifts from time to time, "if you don't take them all." OUCH. I guess it is my destiny, in this and other ways, not to escape my past. But this night was worth it.

I wonder what I "live and breathe" now? That is a mystery.

BOMBAST playlist, 2018 May 15, 2100-2300:

1. "Curfew, Gaza" | Muslimgauze | Zul'm | Extreme
2. "Jihad" | The Sisterhood | Gift | Merciful Release | "Physical Evidence"
3. "A Newer Age" | Weirding Module | A Newer Age | Joyful Noise Recordings
4. "7 Sweet Nation Army Dreams" | Brian Harris | 7 Sweet Nations | self-released
5. "Paix/Paix" | Kaazi | Silk to Dry the Tears | 100% Silk
6. "Colours" | The Sisterhood | Gift | Merciful Release | "Physical Evidence"
7. "Finality" | Harrison BDP | Confusion of Sound | Piff
8. "20:02 [3] starts logging #public" | Jung an Tagen | Agent Im Objekt | Editions Mego
9. "Wounds and Water" | Melentini | Zrsha; Fundus Uterus | United We Fly
10. "Little Love" | Primitive Trust | Little Love | Aus
11. "Giving Ground" | The Sisterhood | Gift | Merciful Release | "Physical Evidence"
12. "The Truth Lies" | Suns of Arqa | Land of a Thousand Churches | Arqa Sound
13. "Finland Red, Egypt White" / "Rain from Heaven" | The Sisterhood | Gift | Merciful Release | "Physical Evidence"
14. "An Evening of Contemporary Sitar Music Pt. 1 [excerpt]" | Spacemen 3 | Dreamweapon | Superior Viaduct

not attempt to captivate or fascinate

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Sees the Stars at Lunchtime, Says He Has a Plan: Transmission 406, 2018 May 9

Last time out, I mentioned that I normally listen to these mixtapes at the gym. As I write this, I am calling that practice into question. My therapist, you see, has told me that she thinks that my exercise is "proxy relief from total self-hatred." ("Also," she says, "that would be a GREAT album title." I'm inclined to agree on both counts.)

Let's just assume for a moment that it's true. In that case, listening to a good mixtape serves the purpose and listening to a bad mixtape probably mitigates the effect. So either I need to improve to the point where I am only ever doing good shows--5 years in, it doesn't seem likely--or, just to be safe, I need to find some other exercise jams. OR maybe it is exercise itself that is now expendable, since maybe I should be looking for ACTUAL relief from total self-hatred. In these latter two scenarios, I don't know when I would actually listen back to my program, since I rarely have large chunks of unoccupied time. So get ready for even more sporadic posting--either that, or more "who the hell knows what happened on this night" type posts. You have been warned!

BOMBAST playlist, 2018 May 9, 2100-2300:

1. "Showcase" | A Certain Ratio | I'd Like To See You Again [reissue] | Mute
2. "Mr. Music" | Pete Astor | Spilt Milk | Slumberland
3. "Bloom" | Akasha System | Silk to Dry the Tears | 100% Silk
4. "Roman Litter" | Felt | The Strange Idols Pattern and Other Short Stories [reissue] | Cherry Red
5. "Birds of America" | Lake Ruth | Birds of America | Feral Child
6. "The Saddest Music In The World" | Soft Riot | The Outsider in the Mirrors | Possession
7. "Pandora (For Cindy)" | Cocteau Twins | Treasure [reissue] | 4AD
8. "Eligible Receiver" | MIS+RESS | S/T | Somewherecold
9. "Not Sure What To Do (Variation Zoning 4)" | Octo Octa | Silk to Dry the Tears | 100% Silk
10. "2.2" | Nicklas Sorensen | Solo 2 | El Paraiso
11. "Just 15" | The Buff Medways | 1914 [reissue] | Damaged Goods
12. "To Medicine (Biased Advice)" | EXEK | Ahead of Two Thoughts | W. 25th
13. "Howl at the Summit" | The Breeders | All Nerve | 4AD
14. "420" | Death Pedals | Death Pedals | Hominid Sounds
15. "Psycho Killer" | Brian Harris | 7 Sweet Notions | self-released
16. "Sharon & Vida" | Unknown Mobile | Sharon & Vida | Normals Welcome
17. "Hotmachine" | Fast Times | Silk to Dry the Tears | 100% Silk
18. "Fear of a Luminous Shadow" | Weirdest Dream | White Worms | Dopeness Galore
19. "The Border Crossing" | Dirtmusic | Bu Bir Ruya | Glitterbeat
20. "Kosmos 1680" | Harrison BDP | Confusion of Sound | Piff
21. "Iginition" | Ripperton | Sight Seeing | ESP Institute
22. "I Don't Think I Should Shout" | Jing | Adularescence | 6dimensions
23. "A ta merci" | Fishbach | A ta merci | Blue Wrasse
24. "Out of Control" | Blushing | Lovelife, A Homage To Lush | The Blog That Celebrates Itself
25. "I Like the Way You Talk (A.R.Kane Mix)" | The Veldt | Thanks to the Moth and Areanna Rose | self-released
26. "Brock Tune" | Natural Magic | FAMILY ALBUM 2018 | Boomarm Nation
27. "Sky's Falling" | The Orb | Pop Ambient 2018 | Kompakt

from the Queen of England to the hounds of hell

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