Completely dazzling. Your show is always excellent, but this is over the top!

Laurent Jeanneau (aka Kink Gong) has spent years recording rare and obscure ethnic music from all over southeast Asia. He also collects video compact discs (VCDs), the most widely available format in Asia for everything from kung fu movies to pop music videos. Laurent recently dug into his VCD collection, most found in the markets of small, rural towns throughout the region, and selected some great Khmu and Lao folk music from Laos for your listening pleasure. All of the songs selected for this mix feature the 16-tube bamboo reed or mouth organ (khene). Listen closely and you’ll hear different singing styles and patterns typical of the country’s two major ethnic groups and geographic zones, the Khmu in the north and the Lao in the south. All of the tracks are raw and intimate, recorded on location, and feature the occasional chorus of crickets and other ambient sounds and noises typical of rural Laos. Tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, etc are Khmu, and tracks 2, 4, 6, 8 etc are Lao. 

Check out Kink Gong's bandcamp page here: https://kinkgong.bandcamp.com/

Make sure to check out our 24/7 radio platform at https://www.radioisaforeigncountry.org.

Laotian Folk Music on VCD (RIAFC065)

A mesmerizing mixtape from Greek musician Tasos Stamou. Bouncing back and forth between his recent retro Balkan folk-wave album for the Akuphone label and some of the styles and sounds that inspired it. Vintage combo keyboards, a folk instrument used in a contemporary context, long sustained krautrock and beyond.

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Balkan Express Mixtape (RIAFC097)

An immersive and head-spinning collage of radio broadcasts and field recordings made on location in Syria in 2007 by Jahmorinz. You’ll hear street and market sounds, muezzins, local radio transmissions, local dabke bangers, cats and frogs, a killer Omar Souleyman recording, the eerie groans of a noria or hydropowered wheel, and more.

Suonds from Sourya (RIAFC099)

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)

Vintage Pakistani film music from the extraordinary vinyl collection of Danish collector Mads Nimann Jensen. Expect some great records from Noor Jehan, M.A. Shad, M. Ashraf, Mohd Rafi, Mehnaz Begum, Tafo Brothers, and LOTS of Nahid Akhtar.  

PLAYLIST
1. Noor Jehan - Char Chofere Naqli Chehre (1975)
2. Bumper/ID/Title Music (Na Chhura Sako Ge Daman), M.A. Shad (1974)
3. Dance Music (Man Ki Jeet), M. Ashraf (1972)
4. Main Hoon Tash Ki Rani, Mehnaz (1977)
5. Jan Pahechan Ho, Mohd Rafi (1964) 
6. Bumper/ID/Bura Honda Juwariyan Da, Tafo Brothers (1976)
7. Aankh Meri Tum Se, Nahid Akhtar (1978)
8. Akh Jadon Kardiye, Nahid Akhtar (1976)
9. Banto Mintan, Nahid Akhtar (1978)
10. Bolo Kuchh Munh Se Bolo, Nahid Akhtar (1977)
11. Bumper/ID/Some Love One, Some Love Two, Nahid Akhtar (1979)
12. Koi Dilbar Koi Qatil, Nahid Akhtar (1978)
13. Pyar Ka Koee Shola, Nahid Akhtar (1976)
14. Pyar Se Mukj, Nahid Akhtar (1976)
15. Yeh Aaj Mujh Ko Saya, Nahid Akhtar (1975)

RIAFC 22

Pakistani Film Music (RIAFC 022)

Catfish trumpets, chainsaws, bullroarers, haunting flute ensembles and voice distorters from the Río Negro, Orinoco, and Upper Xingu; Yanomami shamans snorting hallucinogenic snuff, shrieking and growling, sneezing and spitting, hocking up phlegm (lots of phlegm), and mumbling secret spirit languages into the night; a lush 1980s Italian experimental collage of Amazonian field recordings & electronic sounds, and more. 
 
PLAYLIST
Kulirrina Trumpets, Wakuenai. Recorded by Jonathan Hill at Gavilán, Río Guainía, Venezuela [The Archive of Indigenous Languages of Latin America, University of Texas at Austin, 1981]. 
Double Duet of Yapurutú and Tsikota Flutes. Recorded by Jonathan Hill at Gavilán, Río Guainía, Venezuela [The Archive of Indigenous Languages of Latin America, University of Texas at Austin, 1981]. 	
Ritual & Seasonal Initiation Night Music, #4, #1, and #3. L'Expedition Orenoque Amazone, 1948-1950. Recorded by Pierre Gaisseau [Musée de l'Homme, 1953].
The Bark Horns of the Piaroa (Caña Fruta, Upper Orinoco). World Library of Folk and Primitive Music, Vol.9: Venezuelan Folk and Aboriginal Music. Recorded by Pierre Gaisseau [Columbia, 1954].
Deforestation, Amazonian Loggers. Amazonie: Contes Sonores [Archives Internationals de Musique Populaire, Musée d'Ethnographie de Geneve, and Disques VDE-GALLO, 2016].
Agua (Outro Xingu) & Flautas (Upper Xingu, Mato Grosso, Brazil), Povo Mehinako [Collection Petites Planètes, 2017].
Aije: The Sound of the Bull Roarers. Brazil: Bororo World of Sound. Recorded by Ricardo Canzio [Folkways, 1989].
Urua, Kamayura (Upper Xingu, Mato Grosso, Brazil). Indiens et Animaux Sauvages d’Amérique du Sud. Recorded by Richard Chapelle, 1963-1975 [Unidisc, 1977].
Yakwa: The Banquet of Spirits (excerpt). Directed by Virgínia Valadão. [Centro de Trabalho Indigenista, 1995].
Ambience du Yaunkwá, Ronde, Ronde Instrumentale & Dialogue of the Voice Distorters, the Enauené-Naué. Brésil: Enauené-Naué et Nhambiquara du Ma [Archives Internationales de Musique Populaire, Musée d'Ethnographie de Geneve, and Disques VDE-GALLO 1994].
Ritual Flutes of the Kitaunhlú I, the Nhambiquara. Brésil: Enauené-Naué et Nhambiquara du Ma [Archives Internationales de Musique Populaire, Musée d'Ethnographie de Geneve, and Disques VDE-GALLO 1994].
Social Dance Song, Female Jivaro Singer. Music of the Jivaro of Ecuador. Recorded by Michael J. Harner [Folkways Records, 1972]. 
Distant Snail-Shell Flute. Music of the Tukano and Cuna Peoples of Colombia. Recorded by Brian Moser & Donald 
Tayler (Rogue Records, 1987).
Children’s Songs & Musical Bow. Indianmusik Från Colombia. Recorded by Lars Persson (MNW, 1973). 
Caberima Nights & Tayari-Teri – Shamans Healing (#1 & #2), the Yanomami. Lost Shadows: In Defence Of The Soul (Yanomami Shamanism, Songs, Ritual). Recorded on location in southern Venezuela by David Toop. Sub Rosa. 
Amazonia 6891 (excerpts), Pit Piccinelli, Fred Gales & Walter Maioli (Sound Reporters, 1986). 
Pêche, mort et séduction (excerpt). Recorded by M. P. Baumann. Mixed by Nicolas Field. Amazonie: Contes Sonores [Archives Internationals de Musique Populaire, Musée d'Ethnographie de Geneve, and Disques VDE-GALLO, 2016]. 
La chasse et la Guerre (excerpt). Recorded by M. Lewy. Mixed by Nicolas Field. Amazonie: Contes Sonores [Archives Internationals de Musique Populaire, Musée d'Ethnographie de Geneve, and Disques VDE-GALLO, 2016].

NIGHT MUSIC OF THE AMAZONIAN LOWLANDS - RIAFC 025

Night Music of the Amazonian Lowlands - RIAFC 025

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)

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)

Balkan/Romani psych from the former Yugoslavia (1980s-1990s), including the phenomenal Sasa Petrovic, Veseli Romi, Sasa Mutic, and Dehran Raimovic.

TRACKLIST
Medicinka, Sasa Petrovic 
Japanka, Veseli Romi 
Robot, Veseli Romi 
Grcka Ciganska Noc, Veseli Romi
Zov Gitare, Veseli Romi
Brankov Cocek, Veseli Romi
Zoranov Cocek, Veseli Romi
Romska Gajda, Veseli Romi
Miletove Gajde, Veseli Romi
Razijin Cocek, Veseli Romi
Nazin Cocek, Veseli Romi
Moj Mihone, Veseli Romi
Mercedes 500 S Cocek, Veseli Romi
Zoranov Cocek, Veseli Romi
Cocek Tri Puta Tri, Veseli Romi
Ninetov Cocek, Sasa Mutic
Medicinka, Dehran Raimovic 
Imas Malo Para, Veseli Romi & Dzemail

BALKAN PSYCH

Balkan Psych (RIAFC 038)

Kink Gong (aka Laurent Jeanneau) is known for his collection of surreal soundscapes made from augmented field recordings. With “Take Off DJ”, Kink Gong returns to the airwaves at Radio is a Foreign Country with a uniquely raw and intense exploration of the pakhawaj drum and other rhythms.

RIAFC 040 - Take Off DJ - Kink Gong

Take Off DJ - Kink Gong (RIAFC 040)

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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Pakistani Film Music (RIAFC 022)

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