This is quite unique!  I like it.     I found it to be just the thing to use as a background sound for my working at home.

A great selection of Indian filmi songs & instrumentals, Iraqi choubi, and Thai molam. RIAFC 006 originally broadcast on Resonance 104.4 FM (London, UK) October 1, 2018 and on Delgado's Dolphin Radio - WXDR 99.1 FM (New Orleans, Louisiana) October 7, 2018.

India | Iraq | Thailand (RIAFC 006)

RIAFC 007 - Shortwave Radio Surfing
A mesmerizing mixtape of lo-fi shortwave radio transmissions arrived in our mailbox today from the Italian tape label Artetetra. And it’s a doozy! Produced exclusively for Radio is a Foreign Country, Italian scavengers of obscure exotica, Luigi Monteanni and Matteo Pennesi, explore the surreal world of shortwave radio.
 
“As a mix of functional signals and sounds, incomprehensible codes and intrusive skits, which rely entirely on the technical efficiency and power of the machine as a catalyst, not to mention the capacity and experience of the listener-user to tune into different frequencies, shortwave radio is a continuous adventure into undisclosed territories of sound that literally becomes, at any given moment, an unrevealed foreign country.

Historically, shortwave radios have been used mostly for communication, commercials, propaganda and illegal broadcasting, which is often related to political needs that require evading the normal laws of censorship and intellectual property. Unable to listen uninterrupted, one must hunt continuously for tunes, acrobatically zapping through jungles of white noise and wastelands of abandoned frequencies. Shortwave radio is therefore a kind of shadow box containing part of our sonorous heritage in the form of haunting and recurring uchronia, where different geographies, eras, and technologies fuse in a polymorphic structure of displaced signals and sounds – for example, Guglielmo Marconi and the Cape Verde islands, jungle from the 90s and Latin radio plays from the 70s. If there is anything that illustrates Artetetra's concept of Quinto Mondo, it is without a doubt shortwave radio.” 

But enough bs! Just dive right into this medianic lo-fi mix, carefully crafted by the Italian scavengers of calembouristic sonic paradises.

Shortwave Radio Surfing (RIAFC 007)

Beautiful old field recordings of xylophone orchestras and electric thumb piano from the Congo; a selection of radio recordings featuring hypnotic thumb piano master Ekuka Moriss Sirikiti from Uganda (courtesy of Nyege Nyege Tapes); and a mixtape of the phenomenal balafon magic of Molobali Keita from Mali.

RIAFC 009
Misengu (Salampasu) recorded by Jos Gansemans (Congo, 1973)
Mutomboko and Luwendo (Luba) recorded by Hugh Tracey (Congo, 1957)
Kutomboka Dance, Mulopwe Ensemble (Lunda) recorded by Jos Gansemans (Congo, 1970)
Unknown, Orchestre “Bana Luya” Niengele Tshibangu recorded by Bernard Treton/Guy Level (Kinshasa/Congo, 1978)
Ekuka Rework, Ekuka Moriss Sirikiti (Uganda, 2018)
Kwon Otino Anyira, Ekuka Moriss Sirikiti (Uganda, 1978-2006)
Omaro Cil Pacu, Ekuka Moriss Sirikiti (Uganda, 1978-2006)
Pwoc Bot Lira Dpi Miyo Pikipiki, Ekuka Moriss Sirikiti (Uganda, 1978-2006)
Molobali Keita Mixtape (Mali, ca. 1990s)

Radio is a Foreign Country

African Xylophone Orchestras & Thumb Piano (RIAFC 009)

A selection of mesmerizing Kink Gong remixes created & compiled by Laurent Jeanneau.

PLAYLIST
Example #1 Cambodia
Example #2 Indonesia
Example #3 Vietnam
Example #4 Yunnan China
Example #6 Thailand
Example #10 Tibet
Example #6 Mouthharp
Example #7 Space (Kink Gong plays accordeon)
Example #12 China
Example #13 Xinjiang/Syria/Japan

Kink Gong (RIAFC 012)

Cut-ups and layered sounds of radio, field recordings, and a stray cassette assembled for Radio is a Foreign Country by visual/sound artist and musician Jesse Paul Miller. You will hear ceremonial and other music, radio playing and re-recorded on location, direct radio captured using a small portable “shortwave,” and a bit from a purchased audio cassette, some un-altered and others cut up and layered combining multiple locations. Source recordings gathered in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand, 2008-2017, and assembled now 2019. You can find more of Jesse’s extensive collection of field recordings from Southeast Asia here: https://jessepaulmiller.bandcamp.com/ and here http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/products/576333-a-distant-invitation-ceremonial-street-recordings-from-burma-cambodia-india-indonesia-malaysia-and-thailand.

Leftfield Asia (RIAFC 016)

Radio transmissions and vinyl records from the Andean highlands (mostly Peruvian huayno music and Ecuadorian sanjuanito), including a 1980s pirate radio broadcast, cows, old Quechua records, radio streams of huaylía (sometimes spelled waylía) recorded off the internet (and associated with the end-of-the-year ritualized fights called takanakuy pictured on the cover), Ecuadorian slide guitar and carnival music, and a casio keyboard track.

Radio Andino (RIAFC 018)

A brilliant cover of "Not Great Men" (Gang of Four) by a Javanese gong ensemble, haunting folk gong magic from the mountains of Vietnam, hypnotic village party gong orchestra recorded by Kink Gong, a vintage gong record from Borneo, obscure international surf, dreamy vintage radio pop from SE Asia.

1. ID/Bumper: Excerpts from A Day in the Sun is Like a Radio to Me [John Thayer/Power Moves Library, 2017] & Asian Radio Environments [Jesse Paul Miller 2014].
2. Not Great Men, Sekar-Melati [Java, 2011].
3. La Danza de Fuego (edit), Los Relampagos [Novola ‎– N-603, Zafiro ‎– N-603, 1966].
4. Blondie In Khmer Camouflage. Radio Phnom Penh [Alan Bishop/Sublime Frequencies, 2005].
5. ID/Bumper: Exploding Briefcases of Cairo, Radio Palestine (Alan Bishop/Sublime Frequencies, 2004) & Fade, Air Tapes (Phong Tran/Power Moves Library, 1996/1997). 
6. Original Music From Golden Dragon VHS Cassette (excerpt), Golden Dragon Band [Cambodian Cassette Archives, Sublimes Frequencies, 2016].
7. Noe Euy Srey Noe (Lady Named Noe), Eueng Nary & Pen Ran [Cambodian Cassette Archives, Sublimes Frequencies, 2016].
8. Gongs & Bamboo Tubes, Kavet Ratanakiri Cambodia [Kink Gong, 2014].
9. Indagine, I Marc 4 [Nelson Records – G.L.P. 1008, 1971].
10. Rubber of High Quality (excerpt), Radio Thailand: Transmissions from the Tropical Kingdom [Alan Bishop & Mark Gergis, Sublime Frequencies, 2006].
11. Unknown, Radio Thailand: Transmissions from the Tropical Kingdom [Alan Bishop & Mark Gergis, Sublime Frequencies, 2006].
12. The Theme From the Black Cat, Scotty McKay [Falcon, 1967].
13. Shortwave Radio, Uyghurs/Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China [Fausto Caceres, Shirley & Spinoza Radio].
14. Montagnard Gong Ensemble
15. Hiway Xpress, Lata Ramasar [K.D.R. Records, 1980].
16. Pamanabil [excerpt), Los Nativos [Private Mexican Garage Surf, 1965].
17. Isan Lam Plearn), Angkhanang Khunchai & the Ubon Phatthana Band [EM Records, 2014].
18. Pinakang [Borneo, ca. 1970s]. Recorded by Guy Saint-Clair [Playa Sound], ca. late 1970s/early 1980s].
19. Estroncio 90 (excerpt), Locos del Ritmo [Orfeon, 1961].
20. Classic Rock-Country Oldie, Radio Myanmar (Burma) [Alan Bishop/Sublime Frequencies, 2008].
21. 20 Pop Music (Tin Tin Oo) Radio Myanmar (Burma) [Alan Bishop/Sublime Frequencies, 2008].
22. Unknown Burmese pop son. ဘလခငလနမငသ ပလ

RIAFC 027

Folk Magic Radio (RIAFC 027)

An intense psychotronic journey through the South American backlands with Los Siquicos Litoralenos. You can expect lots of turbulence so tighten your seatbelts. And don't let your dopamine thirsty digital anxiety win you over because this one builds little by little – marching bands, cows, unforgettable Andean wonders, experiments in radio disruption, psychophasic Bolivianity, tunes from the Argentine Littoral and other great mysteries of the Southern Cone, subliminal messages and psycho-paranormal revelations. 

Many thanks to Rogelio Kukumente. Germen de Trigo, DJ Surubi, Capitán Pixel, Dr Multiversal, Coco Xixi, and Don Pifostio. Produced by Nicola Kokote. Photo & cover design by Elizabeta de los Montes.

RADIO SIQUICA EP80 (RIAFC 033)

Radio Síquica EP80 (RIAFC 033)

Obscure cassette of garage rock from Shan State (Burma/Myanmar). The information available to me lists the artist as Sai Ngao Luen (ၸႆၢးငဝ်းလိူၼ်). But some say this sounds like Saing Saing Maw.

SHAN STATE GARAGE ROCK (RIAFC 036)

Shan State Garage Rock (Myanmar/Burma) (RIAFC 036)

Strange military orchestras, surrealist regional poetry, outsider gaucho folklore, lost radio emissions, old cassettes, local noise-makers, weird chamamé mixes, low-fi rural psychedelia ..., Nicola Kokote (Los Siquicos Literaleños) explores the unusual soundscapes and music of his hometown Curuzú Cuatiá and surrounding Corrientes Province, Argentina. An earlier version of this mix originally broadcast on Radio CASo, a radio project of Centro de Arte Sonora (Argentina). 

Radio is a Foreign Country would like to thank Nicola Kokote, Panorama De Audioexperimentación Nacional (PAN), Radio CASo, Centro de Arte Sonora, and the Ministry of Culture (Argentina) for partnering with us to make this mixtape available to our listeners.  

https://centrodeartesonoro.cultura.gob.ar/
facebook.com/CASoCNB
Instagram: @centrodeartesonoro
Twitter: @CASoCNB

RADIO CASO CORRIENTES CURUZU (RIAFC 041)

Kuruzú Tape (RIAFC 042)

Recorded and assembled by Italian ethnomusicologist Vincenzo Della Ratta, this mixtape features a selection of field recordings made throughout southeast Asia, including a Dayak Benuaq gong ensemble, recorded over the phone one night in Borneo, playing a genre of funerary music called titi mati. And after you’ve listened to this, check out his Sublime Frequencies release Kwangkay: Funerary Music of the Dayak Benuaq of Borneo (SF106LP) and another great collection out on Akuphone called The Gamelan of the Walking Warriors: Gamelan Beleganjur andthe Music of the Ngaben Funerary Ritual in Bali (Akuphone).

Tracklist
1 Semut Megarang, from The Gamelan of the Walking Warriors (Akuphone, AKU1007).
2 Soundscape of Pleiku City (Vietnam, 2007).
3 Pak Viktor plays the gambus lute and sings (Kutai Barat, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia, 2011).
4 A Jarai gong ensemble playing in a funerary ritual (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2013).
5 A busker playing the saw duang fiddle (Luang Prabang, Laos, 2009).
6 A Black H’Mong woman singing a song (Sa Pa, Vietnam, 2007).
7 A funeral march played by a brass band (St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2007).
8 Titi mati, from Kwangkay: Funerary Music of the Dayak Benuaq of Borneo (Sublime Frequencies, SF106LP).
9 A gerantang bamboo xylophone player by the seaside (Pasir Putih, Bali, Indonesia, 2010).
10 An Ede gong ensemble playing in a communal ritual (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2013).
11 The Juar melody played by a Bahnar man on the ting ning tube zither (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2018).
12 The Juar melody played by a Jarai gong ensemble in a communal ritual (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2012).
13 A Dayak Benuaq gong ensemble playing during a healing ritual (Kutai Barat, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia, 2011).
14 A Black H’Mong man playing the jaw’s harp (Sa Pa, Vietnam, 2007).
15 A Rongao man playing the trung bamboo xylophone (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2020).
16 A Laotian man playing the khen mouth organ (Southern Laos, 2009).
17 A Dayak Benuaq gong ensemble playing in a healing ritual (Kutai Barat, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia, 2011).
18 Siu Khoi (ting ning tube zither) and Rochom Tih (koni spike fiddle with a mouth resonator) playing a well-known Jarai lullaby (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2016). 
19 A Bahnar gong ensemble playing in a communal ritual (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2019).
20 Kokuh porotok, a well-known Bahnar song, sung by Ksor H’Hoanh and Ksor Thuc, and accompanied by the ting ning tube zither, played by Siu Khoi (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2009).
21 A Jarai gong ensemble playing in a funerary ritual (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2012).
22 An old Bahnar man singing the classic French song Boire un petit coup (Central Highlands of Vietnam, 2019).

RIAFC 045

Sounds From Southeast Asia (RIAFC 045)

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Kink Gong (RIAFC 012)

RADIO IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY

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