This is disorienting, in the best possible way.

This is a memory reel that will stay with this couple for the rest of their lives, and at the rate "progress" is going may not be reproducible by later travelers only 10 years from now! Reminds me of some sounds I heard from an American couple taking an amphibious jeep from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in 1956!

Daytrips

Radio transmissions and sound recordings from Indonesia, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Syria, Algeria, Niger, Iraq, India, Thailand, and Sumatra. An earlier version of this episode originally broadcast on Resonance 104.4 FM (London, UK) January 3, 2018 nd on  Delgado's Dolphin Radio - WXDR 99.1 FM (New Orleans, Louisiana) September 9, 2018.

RIAFC 001

The End of Dreams is the Dream of the System (RIAFC 001)

RIAFC 002

Asia | Middle East | North Africa (RIAFC 002)

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)

A selection of East African pop music (1960s-1990s), including rare Ethiopian electronica and urban azmariwotch on cassette, Somali dhaanto on VHS tapes of television broadcasts, and some great taarab records from Zanzibar/Tanzania and Kenya.

PLAYLIST
ENGENAÑELANE, BETSAT SEYOUM & ABBEBE FEKADE [ETHIOPIA] 
AGEREN AYEHUWAT, YISHAK BANJAW [ETHIOPIA, 1986]
LIBEY MA'ADULEY, YISHAK BANJAW [ETHIOPIA, 1986] 
TEZETA, MUNAYE MENBERRU [ETHIOPIA, MID-1970S] 
AHWAK, SOLOMON MAHMOUD [SUDAN, YEAR UNKNOWN] 
FATUMA GASSIM: WAIMALYMAFUN EFITTUBRA [SOMALIA, YEAR UNKNOWN] 
UNKNOWN, QADIIJO QALANJO [SOMALIA, YEAR UNKNOWN] 
DIRYAAN, QADIIJO QALANJO [SOMALIA, YEAR UNKNOWN]  
WAAYO, FAYNUUS (SOMALIA, YEAR UNKNOWN) 
MA HURDEE, (DUR BAND/SAHRA DAWO & MUKTAR "IDI" RAMADAN [SOMALIA, 1986] 
RAG WAA NACAB IYO NASTEEXO, AAMINA CAMAARI [SOMALIA, 1980S] 
YA ZAMANI, ZUHURA SWALEH [KENYA, 1981]
MPENDE ANAEKUPENDA, URSULLA & BLACK STAR MUSIC CLUB [TANZANIA, 1983]
CHOZI LANITOKA, SHARMILA & BLACK STAR MUSICAL CLUB [TANZANIA, 1983]
NDEGE KAA UFIKIRI, YASEEN MOHAMED [KENYA, 1960S]

RIAFC 008 - EAST AFRICAN MIXTAPE

East African Mixtape (RIAFC 008)

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)

"Imagine yourself trapped into a cheap hostel located somewhere in a far out obscure small town, with only a portable radio in your pocket and you find yourself switching through the radio stations" - Dragoș Rusu, the Attic Magazine
 
This special episode of the Attic Magazine's Into the Archives podcast comprises radio transmissions and vintage records from around the world (China, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Algeria, Ethiopia, Somalia and Tanzania), original Balinese gamelan recordings, Ghazal classics, film soundtracks, radio broadcasts from Kashgar, bootleg cassettes, shortwave radio recordings and more.

From the Archives: The Attic Magazine Mixtape (RIAFC 011)

A surreal and jarring train ride through contemporary India and Nepal. In 2012, Pablo Picco, from the Argentinian psychedelic folk/experimental drone group Ø+yn, and María Victoria Arener travelled through the chaotic Hindu faith city of Varanasi, the strange, mixed cultural landscape of Bhubaneswar, the lonely and romantic woods of Darjeeling, the introspective cityscapes of Kathmandu, the Buddhist temples of Pokhara, and many other vibrant and unknown places in between. This mixtape features cuts from their experimental travel film (Kalinga Utkal) and accompanying soundtrack, released by Power Moves Library & Sonido Atmosférico Ediciones, and their field recordings (The Bombastic and Repetitive Sound of Tashi Ling Buddhas in Pokhara, Nepal on the Greek label More Mars).

Kalinga Utkal Express [RIAFC 015]

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)

Sublime radio transmissions, field recordings, records & tapes from some of the least known corners of the Arab world, including excerpts from Mark Gergis’ mesmerizing audio expose I Remember Syria (ca. 1998) and Alan Bishop’s head-spinning radio montage Radio Palestine: Sounds of the Eastern Mediterranean (ca. 1985), both on the Sublime Frequencies record label, and much more. Intrepid listeners can expect everything from Syrian dabke, Jordanian reverb guitar, and Arabic pop music from Beirut to the traditional Nubian sounds of southern Egypt. Cover Image: Gamal Abdel Nasser listening to portable radio.

RIAFC 019

Transmissions from the Eastern Mediterranean (RIAFC 019)

chOOn!! is an arts collective that began life as a notoriously wild radio show on Subcity Radio (Glasgow, Scotland), 2012-2019, and is now about to launch as a newly formed reissue label. Radio is a Foreign Country is thrilled to share chOOn!!’s warped take on a bewildering range of retro folk and popular styles spread throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Prepare your earballs for loads of gamelan funk, Javanese electro, discoid degung, queasy quasidah modern, Sumatran devil-synth, hyper footwork jaipong, cosmic calung, plasmic pop-Sunda, and drum-machine dangdut. You can hear the extended version of this mix at https://soundcloud. com/radio-choon.

chOOn!! would like to thank Romain de Ferron for generously sending his wonderfully curated tape of Sumatran gems culled from his journeys throughout Indonesia; VK and his generous gifts from Malaysia; the digging savant Herpi and his expertly curated selections; and to the ever-reliable grotto of Indonesian delights that is Madrotter - thanks Henk!

PLAYLIST
Break Pong Medley, Yayah Ratnasari & Karawang Group
Jalma Dengki, Darso & Detty Kurnia
Wening, Becky Wilson & Nano. S. Kasmaran
Disco Medley Jaipong (Extract), Nus. S.
Tari Pasambahan, Sanggar Syofyani
Pariaman,  Fetty
Asih Can Laas, Detty Kurnia
Kunci 2 Asmara, Ety Yulianty
Tahun 2000, Nasida Ria
Jangan Putus Asa, Orkes Gambus Al Hadid
Imut Nu Ngajalanan, Detty Kurnia
Ginggiapeun, Titin K. Somantri & Odang Sundara
El Sahara, El Sahara Group
Bonus Cinta, Becky Wilson & Nano. S. Kasmaran
Cucu Deui, Darso
Instrumental Jaipong (excerpt), Nus. S.

CALUNGA CHOON (RIAFC 024)

calunga chOOn!! (RIAFC 024)

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)

Thai-Khmer Border Music
A 60-minute mix of kantruem (modern and traditional), bilingual luk thung/molam, pop/rock and sound-truck music put together by Peter Doolan, the man behind the magnificent Monrakplengthai cassette blog. https://monrakplengthai.blogspot.com/

01. lueang borisut - khuen lap fa
02. narongdet chueamueangphan - kantruem kanchan chek
03. namphueng mueangsurin - anre
04. chaloemphon malakham - kantruem ramwong
05. bunrot khitchop - sommanong.. muea
06. samanchai & phimpha - phleng mongkhon
07. thai soi band - padaei khmer prapuan sim
08. darkie & somwang - [untitled]
09. noknoi phetsaraphi - wan don ta
10. achan om & the wari sin isan sound-truck - kaeo ro rin (live in nang rong district, buriram)

Thai-Khmer Border Music (RIAFC 028)

Hypnotic (and historic) gong records from the mountains of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Kalimantan, and the Philippines. You'll hear amazing gong orchestras among a number of ethnic minorities, including the Jorai and other Montagnards, Kenyah, Modang, and Badjao recorded in the field by Georges Condominas, Jacques Dournes, Jose Maceda, Patrick Kersale, David Blair Stiffler, and Laurent Jeanneau. Many thanks to Vincenzo Della Ratta, Laurent Jeanneau, Yasuhiro Morinaga, and Cutri Giuseppe.  Cover images is taken from Patrick Kersale’s “Gongs Vietnam-Laos” (CD - Playasound #PS 65256).

PLAYLIST
Ensemble de Gongs Cing Arap, Georges Condominas (1982)
Gongs of Every Power (exceprt), Patrick Kersale (2004)
Montagnard Gong Ensemble (VHS tape posted to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtXVCdA0Kqs
Gongs of Every Power (exceprt), Patrick Kersale (2004)
Jeu de Six Gongs Plats "cing ting" – Village de Hang Kroc, Georges Condominas (1965-1966)
Gongs of Every Power (exceprt), Patrick Kersale (2004)
Ensemble de gongs musique pour le sacrifice aux génies de la maison commune (1-2 #4). Recorded by Patrick Kersale (VDE-Gallo, 2001)
Gongs of Every Power (exceprt), Patrick Kersale (2004)
Ensemble de gongs musique de funérailles (4-7). Recorded by Patrick Kersale (VDE-Gallo, 2001)
Gongs of Every Power (exceprt), Patrick Kersale (2004)
Ensemble de gongs musique de réjouissances. Recorded by Patrick Kersale (VDE-Gallo, 2001)
Gongs of Every Power (exceprt), Patrick Kersale (2004)
Jeu de Gongs, Music of the Kenyah and Modang in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Recorded by Jose Maceda (1977).
GongASide (excerpt), Kink Gong. Recorded by Laurent Jeanneau (Discrepant, 2014)
Brao Kavet 1 Village Party, Gongs Ratanakiri. Laurent Jeanneau (Kink Gong 2004)
Kulintang - Badjao or Yakan Gong. Recorded by David Blair Stiffler (Numerophon, 1988)

GONGS OF EVERY POWER (MIXTAPE) (RIAFC 032)

Gongs of Every Power (Mixtape) (RIAFC 032)

A radio collage from Kathmandu, Nepal, including radio bumpers, radio dramas, commercials, news, folk & pop music, static, sound anomalies, and more. This is an abridged compilation of Aaron Dilloway’s three volumes of radio tapes, originally released on CD as Radio Nepal, Vols. 1-3 (Hanson Records, 2006).

RADIO KATHMANDU (RIAFC 035)

Radio Nepal (RIAFC 035)

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Kalinga Utkal Express [RIAFC 015]

RADIO IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY

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