12.30pm - 14th November 2009

Continuing the recent ‘radio’ theme here’s my recent interview which was broadcasted on the stations below. I’m responding to questions from producer Karen Lauke (http://www.karenlauke.com). You can listen to Karen’s programme in full at any of the below or, http://www.archive.org/details/2009.11.08FrameworkRadio

It also features an excellent interview with the Ewan Stefani.

/*framework*/ - phonography / field recording; contextual and decontextualized sound activity presented by patrick mcginley

/*framework*/ broadcasts:

    - sunday, 10pm, london, uk on *resonance 104.4fm* (http://www.resonancefm.com)

    - tuesday, 2pm, london, uk on *resonance 104.4fm* (http://www.resonancefm.com)

    - wednesday, 12am, thessaloniki, gr on *cooradio* (http://www.cooradio.com)

    - wednesday, 3am, lisbon, pt on *radio zero* (http://www.radiozero.pt)

    - thursday, 7pm, lisbon, pt on *radio zero* (http://www.radiozero.pt)

    - friday, 1am, brussels, be on *radio campus 92.1fm* (http://www.radiocampusbruxelles.org)

    - saturday, 5pm, south devon, uk on *soundartradio 102.5fm* (http://www.soundartradio.org.uk)

*for general info, playlists, podcasts, or to stream the latest edition at any time: http://www.frameworkradio.net * *framework is supported by /soundtransit/: http://www.soundtransit.nl *

Framework and all of the stations listed above are excellent and deserve our support!

I became obsessed with listening to the propaganda broadcasts from Radio Moscow, it opened my ears to what I imagined (probably correctly?) as a dark and sinister world. Who else was listening? I remember one instance during the miners strike in the early 80’s when Radio Moscow constantly reported the ‘fact’ that despite a shortage of coal miners in the USSR productivity was nevertheless booming. It was fascinating, it was such an obvious agenda, surely no one, even me a western imperialist (as we all were according to Moscow!), could ever fall for such blatant propaganda.  Despite the fact that through the eyes of the Kremlin I was just another capitalist landowner (another popular phrase they used) The Voice of America just made me laugh even more. Not nearly as scary but even more blindingly obvious with its propaganda, which of course was the polar opposite to what was being reported and broadcasted by Radio Moscow.

I also discovered stations playing just Morse Code signals and those strange gongs which apparently derived from Stasi run radio stations in East Germany. On several occasions I stumbled across numbers stations, coded messages sent in the sideband of normal short wave programmes. How I managed this I’m still not sure, maybe the weather had something to do with it, or maybe I just struck lucky. I remember sitting in my room listening to the robotic listing of apparently random numbers and wondering what it was all about, who these broadcasts were meant for and whether I was perhaps listening to a message of great political and military importance. But let’s face the fact that if some kid in the home counties was able to listen to these messages then obviously those who understood the significance of such broadcasts would also be listening too.

This madness is an excerpt of a small part of a project I’m working on at the moment.

Air Traffic Control at –

EHAM Amsterdam - The Netherlands

EPWA Warsaw - Poland

LGAV Athens - Greece

LKPR Prague - Czech Republic

KBOS Boston (Tower) - USA

KHOU Houston - USA

JFK New York (Delivery) - USA

KJFK New York (Departure) - USA

VHHH Hong Kong Intl. - Hong Kong, China

SABE Buenos Aires - Argentina

SBBR Brasília - Brazil

TTPP Trinidad and Tobago - Trinidad

YSSY Sydney - Australia

Never mind, another beautiful sunset to enjoy when I got home…

The bustling city of Seoul is one of the worlds largest cities and with that comes traffic, lots of traffic. The one thing that’s most notable is the lack of Police car sirens, I didn’t hear one whilst I was there. I have to say that I felt the safest I’ve ever felt, whilst exploring any city in the world, and I wonder how much of this was due to the lack of this one sound. I was never aware of any crime or, the possibility that there was likely to be any.

It appears that Seoul is sadly losing its identity very quickly, every other shop seems to be a Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts or, Krispy Kreme (my downfall). It sadly feels far more western than Asian, a clone of any large city in the USA. It does still have a unique identity but you really have to search for this as it is quickly getting buried (and hidden away) under a vast array of American corporate identities.  

This recording was taken at 7am, on Saturday 19^th September 2009, from my 12^th floor hotel room at the Lexington Hotel in the heart of Seoul’s financial district.

Could this be any city in the world? What makes it uniquely Seoul? I sadly don’t know.

Latitude 37°32′14.15″N

Longitude 127° 3′18.07″E

8pm, 18th September 2009.

This hall is designated as Seoul City Cultural Treasure No. 127 and is the single largest floor hall in Korea.

This was recorded outside this amazing building.

I’ve just spent an excellent few days with wonderful people in Cabris. The weather was generally good, except for yesterday (Sunday 13^th September) when a storm hit in the afternoon, apparently this was the first rain since early June. Here’s the storm approaching which gave us all an excuse to go inside and play golf on the Wii!

The intermittent beep you here is the pool alarm and the young boy’s voice belongs to Finn….

Congratulations Neil and Sophe!

So, probably no ID Tags, which means that if you download this mp3 the following information is not included with the file but you agree (on this occasion) that this recording is ©2009 Steven Brown/Listen Hear Sound Projects/All rights reserved.

I’m still not 100% sure that the file remains mp3HD once it’s been uploaded as the size seems to change drastically….more experiments needed, more time needed….to play Backgammon and watch Come Dine with Me….

This recording is mp3HD encoded, further details here. I think!

This recording is mp3HD encoded, further details here. More mp3HD experiments soon…

Can anyone shed any light on this mystery recording of mine? Is there an obvious clue I’m missing? It could well be that it was recorded unintentionally and my recorder just happened to be on in my bag…

Still I enjoyed listening to it, despite my inability to remember the location, time, or date. Oh well it will, no doubt, remain forever a mystery.

16^th August 2009

12.00

Latitude 52° 8′10.58″N

Longitude 0°28′48.63″W

8th August 2009

18.05

However, if you ever find yourself on the island of Lefkas I would strongly recommend that you take the Sunset and Stars trip which leaves Nidri quayside every Wednesday evening. It is fantastic. You sail to a lonely and isolated beach away from any light pollution, lay back and the brilliant guide explains all that sparkles above you in the dark night sky. The night I did this we tracked the International Space Station and the Endeavour Space Shuttle across the sky and I (very luckily, as not everyone got the chance) saw Saturn (and its rings!) through the telescope set up on the beach. I was like an excited child, it truly is something so wonderful. The whole evening is highly recommended…in the words of that great Greek Goddess, Nike, Just do it! J

Here’s some of the boat trip back to Lefkas….at the end of one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on holiday.

22nd July 2009.

24^th July 2009.