1700 kc

So who is DJ Frederick and what are all his projects, anyway? Glad you asked!!

SELDOM HEARD RADIO is the title of my long-time core radio show. It consists of a mix of independent music from the 1950's to the present. On any given broadcast you might hear a freeform blend of world music, rock, jazz, psychedelic, acoustic, jam, funk, indie pop and all kinds of other music along with updates on the world of radio broadcasting and indie media. Seldom Heard Radio is broadcast on WSCS 90.9 in New London NH.

IMPROVE YOUR ATTENTION SPAN - my occasional program comprised (mostly) of tracks over ten minutes in length in all genres including classic rock, jam bands, jazz, classical, avant-garde, folk, and anything that fits and is music to the ears.

THE /WAVE PROJECT / SIGNALS - a series of low tech DIY zines I am writing, editing and publishing related to pirate radio, shortwave radio, community radio, broadcasting history, indie media and related topics. www.waveradio.blogspot.com

WHAT THE TREE SAID BOOKS - my once and future bookshop project. A long long story that I'll save for another post - maybe a book?

WARNER COMMUNITY RADIO - a recent dream of mine to create an internet based audio station specifically for my community and region. Check out http://www.warnercommunityradio.blogspot.com/ for ongoing articles and details.

Guitar Soli - Wayfaring Strangers

The Numero Group returns with more obscure beauty. Expanding their distinctive quality, Rob Sevier and company resound tastefully yet again,

but with a new reissue direction for a new year. Further strengthening their contention that esoteric is better, Wayfaring Strangers: Guitar Soli pulls selectively from the 15 transformative years between two guitar paradigms — American Primitive Guitar of the Sixties and New Age of the Eighties — showcasing lesser known innovators who challenged the narrative depths found in a 6 or 12 string guitar.

The song selection maps fingerstyle’s frontiers from 1966-1981, suggesting Numero as a label retrospectively in discussion with John Fahey’s Takoma Records and William Ackerman’s Windham Hill Records. Likewise, the life stories painstakingly detailed in Guitar Soli’s spirited 40-page booklet affirm the authenticity of the players alongside their compositions, thereby acknowledging both the stylistic traditions and regional environments that nurtured such songwriting — idiosyncratic American locales like Northern California or rural Wisconsin. From Ted Lucas playing sitar on Motown records to Brad Chequer never making it past Windham Hill’s slush pile, these literally unsung songs and players had a tangible presence in their day.

More than anything, Guitar Soli embodies a latter-day American folk aesthetic, when impressions of a changed and changing society evolved into verve and musical self-discovery. For instance, listen to this compilation’s bookends — two haunting compositions by Dana Westover and Dwayne Cannan — that function as Guitar Soli’s overtures, and yet feel just too powerful to be mere ruminations. Thriving on complementary opposites, these songs linger loudly and quietly, the players sounding out a self-determination that surely includes loneliness. The 14 voices on Guitar Soli shimmer with 14 personalized guitar stylings, each marked by an independence in composition through discipline and mastery.

Essential Listening #2

What??!!! Three Dog Night???!!!

I was watching an episode of "Lost" a few months ago when in a critical scene this song cranked over my speakers and once again into my consciousness after many years. The lyrics are spiritually healing and uplifting - a rarity in the music industry.

Wash away my trouble
Wash away my pain
With the rain in shambala
Everyone is helpful
Everyone is kind
on the road to shambala
How does your light shine
in the halls of shambala?

Since when has a pop song expressed this essence of hopefulness? Listen, immerse, and enjoy.

Essential Listening #1

I've decided to take a break from doing a "Release of the Month" for April and instead pose the question: if I had to grab a record or three from a burning building, what would they be? High on the priority list would be this 7" vinyl released by Bruce Licher's Independent Project Records back in the early 1990's in miniscule amounts. Half String's Oval / Sun Less Sea are sonic journeys that stay embedded in your consciousness. Sun Less Sea is one of my favorite songs of all time - starting off with a meandering but melodic jangly guitar line and building to a wall of sound crescendo that shows you how to soar with the gods before drifting slowly back into the atmosphere. Pure bliss. You could get lost here.

Release of the Month: March 2008 - Mike Oldfield Music of the Spheres

Only Mike Oldfield could title an LP "Music of the Spheres" and not be accused of being pretentious. Though Oldfield has journeyed a long way since 1972's Tubular Bells, he can't seem to voyage away from the essential themes of his masterwork. Music of the Spheres borrows liberally from Tubular Bells but builds into an intricate work of orchestral beauty. This might be considered classical music, new age, or whatever label one might place on it - any new composition / recording from Mike Oldfield is a cause for celebration.

Release of the Month: February 2007 - North Sea Radio Orchestra

How can you *not* love a UK musical collective that call themselves the North Sea Radio Orchestra? Their name conjures images of staticy shortwave radio signals, rain-battered ships and formidable waves. Their music conjures images of a different nature - clean, well-lighted, intimate theaters and performance spaces. Neo-classical in tone, with a healthy mix of instrumentals and vocal based songs, North Sea Radio Orchestra is a rare gem ... akin to the American based neo-classical group Rachel's. Is it pretentious? If quiet is the new loud, this cd roars.

Relix Magazine is a Relic

I'm a paid subscriber to Relix Magazine, so I've decided that I'm allowed a critique of this granddaddy of jam rock magazines. After reading months of articles, I'm convinced that Relix is an infomercial in print. Jam packed (pun intended) with advertisements, fauning fanboy 'articles' and cd 'reviews', this is not what I'd expect from the Grateful Dead generation --- unless they've all gone into slick marketing. I have not read even one tepid review in Relix, nevermind mildly critical! All of those cds can't be masterpieces can they? While it is wonderful to celebrate the creation of music, only in zen circles is all music created equal (and this is a statement coming from a zen enthusiast and devoted music lover). As a reader, I want to know which musicians and cds are exploring new ground, pushing the conventional envelope, and are worth the investment of my time, money, and karmic energy. The one useful aspect of Relix Magazine is the monthly sampler cd which introduces the listener to a variety of new releases.


It is depressing that periodicals that have their roots in freedom of speech and living, evolving, organic music, like Rolling Stone, Spin, and Relix have abandoned journalism & become nothing more than shameless promotion for the corporate-owned music industry. They make a clear case for the need for more homegrown, independent media and zines. My advice: follow your ears, follow your heart. And save a tree & some bucks by avoiding these magazines --- like the plague.

Release of the Month: January 2007 - The Harpeth Trace On Disappearing

Following the eloquent and exceptional debut EP "Man and the Cousin", The Harpeth Trace has released a gem of haunting folk and psychedelia. In my mind's eye, I imagine the band rolling into a cramped studio around 3 am to start recording sessions in the quiet cloak of night. In fact, the word nocturnal comes to mind when swimming through their slowbeat haze of guitar, drums and bass. On Disappearing is the perfect title for the meditative, blues-tinged quality of Harpeth Trace's first full length cd ... one can almost fade into the shadows and silences in these songs. Not that The Harpeth Trace can't rock out ... as they do on "The Numbers in Your Hair".

All of their song titles are impressionistic, with hints of the Clientele's wordsmithing --- but The Harpeth Trace is uniquely it's own band, defying reference points. With On Disappearing they have created a masterpiece that flows and works its magic from track to track --- the way an album was meant to be listened to.

Release of the Month: November 2007 - ALBINO LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO

An explosive live set from the West coast's premiere Afrobeat act; their brand of West African funk oozes with hypnotic percussion, an enormous horn section, churning guitars, and rousing protest messages in the tradition of Fela Kuti.

The SF Music Award-winning ALBINO! is a 12-piece Afrobeat ensemble that honors the fiery legacy of Nigerian musical revolutionary Fela Kuti.

ALBINO's high-energy grooves and explosive stage show thick with hypnotic percussion, a heavy horn section, African dance, outrageous costumes, and infectious group choreography have firmly established the band as the West Coast's premier Afrobeat act.Live in San Francisco was recorded in July of 2006 during ALBINO’s performance at the Second Annual Afrofunk Festival. “We were amazed by how well the ecstatic energy of ALBINO’s live set was captured in this recording so we knew we had to release it as soon as we heard it,” says the band’s co-founder and tenor saxophonist Nathan Endsley .According to the SF Weekly "ALBINO's inspiriting percussive engine comes from a rhythm section of local all-stars; together, they form rhythms based in the West African tradition which holds at its heart the inseparable union of drumming and dance. Atop the band's rhythmic maelstrom ride tightly figured five-part horn lines. The section's 'heavy heavy' bottom end features a snarling dual baritone-sax yawp. This is world music that lives up to the name." In keeping with the revolutionary message central to Fela’s Afrobeat legacy, the majority of songs on Live in San Francisco offer scathing sociopolitical commentary and urgent calls to civic action. For example, “Deconstruction of the Transitional Movement” confronts the erosion of American civil liberties in the name of national security. “Are We Safe Yet?” questions our current administration’s misdirected military aggression in Iraq and its perpetuation of a culture of fear in the name of counter-terrorism. Furthermore, “No Go Sell Me” is a tirade against consumer culture and the advertising industry’s pollution of the media. Finally, “Puppet Boy” skewers a certain incompetent, fraudulently elected Chief Executive by pulling back the curtain to expose the ominous forces Roving behind this figurehead.

Danceable music that reverberates from your ears through your heart to your bones ... five tracks of unequaled funk & jazz. For more information check http://www.albinoband.com/

Release of the Month: October 2007 - PIRATE RADIO USA

If you've searched for Pirate Radio related documentaries on film, you'll know that less than a handful exist- if you can unearth them. They don't exactly atract lucritive distribution deals and glowing reviews from the mainstream press. Just in time to save us from the tedious monotony of this year's films, B-Side has released Pirate Radio USA on DVD.

DJ Him and DJ Her take bring the viewer on a live tour of the underground world of unlicensed broadcasting in America. Radio Davids battle Media Goliaths and find out the real price of freedom. This film immediately connects with the audience - the hosts are friendly, have a retro sense of humor, and know their subject intimately - they have been pirate radio operators for many years. Pirate Radio USA covers almost a decade from the 1996 Broadcast Act which spawned unprecidented media consolidation into the hands of a few mega corporations. DJ Him and Her narrate their personal quest to connect with other pirate radio stations, document the micro-radio coverage of the World trade Organization protests in Seattle, and educate us on the finer points of why free radio is so important to communites. This film is far from fair & balanced - but then, corporate media and the National Association of Broadcasters have million dollar lobbyists & countless media platforms from which to shout their stories.

I have a simple formula for whether a documentary is worth my time. Does the film hold my attention? Does it stimulate learning? Pirate Radio USA achieves both, proving that you don't need a budget to present an entertaining film on topics ignored by mainstream media.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

Release of the Month September 2007: Hobbyhorse - Break In the Clouds

This wonderful album opens with the swirling sustain of an organ, lilting percussion (bodhran?) quiet, precise guitar and earthy vocals & builds from there. Traditional in one sense, quietly experimental in others, Hobbyhorse's Break in the Clouds embodies the magic that is woven in the art of folk music - and by folk music I mean music that is authentic, spirited & manifest from the love of creation rather than 'music industry' profit motive. Each song is a delight of discovery.

Hobbyhorse is Annie Aronson and Phil Campbell. They have created an online music & art community at www.hobbyhorsecafe.com - an experience of sound and vision to explore and enjoy ... an online space to envision yourself sipping the most delicious cup of tea surrounded by mesmerizing beauty.

Release of the Month - August 2007: Psalters

Here is a first ... or maybe a second: the 2nd Christian oriented cd to move my heart and soul this year ... not bad for an old heathen. The Divine Liturgy of the Wretched Exiles needs to be experienced rather than explained. If I ask "What would Led Zepplin sound like if they were Christian punks born in the Middle East?" this query doesn't do Psalters justice : primal, tribal, ecstatic, zealous, infectious, bone rattling, shouting and wide-eyed with praise and awe. My advice? All ye of little or overflowing faith - find this music NOW. www.psalters.org

Release of the Month - July 2007 - Think13: Episode One

San Francisco duo Christoph & Dee have created a masterful EP with "Episode One", a five song recording the embodies musical diversity and the indie spirit. Each track has its own mood and craftsmanship. "Atone" is a psych-folk sitar kissed instrumental that could have wound through the time votrex from the early 70's. "I Turn On Me" features an insistant, tribal energy. "Starting Over" is a beautiful folk-pop ballad with strings. "Amores Lejanos" weaves into flamenco folk territory with precision guitar, dreamy jazz brush strokes and sultry female vocals. The EP ends with the downtempo indie pop song "Eve". Think13's Episode One will require repeated listenings. For more info check out thinklive.com

Release of the Month June 2007 - Trembling Blue Stars

Singer/Songwriter & emotionally confessive Bobby Wratten has lifted the veil on another dark, soul-bareing masterpiece. These twelve songs witness Wratten maturing from his previous work with his projects The Field Mice and Northern Picture Library, moving toward a deeper level of songcraft and sonic excursion. The Last Holy Writer is as emotionally honest as indie pop gets. Plus, one of my weaknesses is for new releases on vinyl - this one is a double 10" record set. Beautiful, mesmerizing, not to be missed.

Seldom Heard History: Pirate Station WUMS 1925 – 1980

Proctorville Ohio is a community located at the southernmost point of Ohio along the Ohio River, across the river from Huntington, West Virginia. Proctorville is the home of one of the earliest American pirate radio stations – WUMS. The federal government worked for decades to shut the station down to no avail.

Captain Paul Thomas had a reputation for being an exceptional ferryman on the Ohio River. He operated a busy ferry schedule between Proctorville and Huntington for years.
At times floods disrupted ferry service and the shipping activity along the river, not to mention creating hardship in local communities. In 1925, Capt. Thomas’s son, Dave Thomas, came up with the idea of utilizing radio during the floods. His station, using the call letters WUMS, took to the airwaves on November 16th that year transmitting flood information, music, news and advice to area residents about managing the flooding emergency. The WUMS studios were located on one of Capt. Thomas’s ferries. WUMS reportedly stood for both “We’re Unknown Mystery Station” and “We’re Unlicensed Marine Station.”

For a few years, no one knew the station’s location or who the operator was. The government refused to license even though Dave Thomas applied to become a legal broadcaster. By the early 1930’s WUMS started broadcasting openly and was a well known “outlaw” station. WUMS could be heard on 1560 kHz (regular broadcasts) and 2004 kHz (floods and emergencies) transmitting with only a few watts. Dave Thomas also took the operations of WUMS mobile, broadcasting from churches, schools, theaters, and local events.

Tensions with the FCC continued throughout WUMS’s history. In 1942, after the FCC had denied WUMS a license yet again, Dave Thomas wrote: “One of the first rules of the FCC is that radio be used for safety of life and property, and a few more things that should / would grant a permit to anyone who is working emergency times for no personal gain and has saved thousands of dollars for others during past floods. I have always tried to play ball with you and seek permission so that I could operate in a legal way. I do not want to operate as an outlaw station but when floods are raging over the Ohio Valley this station will come on the air. I’ve asked for nothing impossible for you to grant and I’ve asked for nothing personal except to serve the people of this locality.”

The federal government took Dave Thomas to court in 1948. After an initial conviction of operating without a license, upon appeal the FCC lost the case and charges were dismissed. As a consequence of legal concerns, after 1948 WUMS operated less frequently and stopped sending out advance notice of broadcasts. However, as late as 1980 Dave Thomas wrote that the station was still alive, just rarely on the air. The story of WUMS is a chronicle of courage, advocacy, perseverance and standing up to a government that doesn’t want us serving our communities through the airwaves unless we are subject to federal approval and control. Why? What is the FCC afraid of? There have been incidents of serious gas leaks, fires, and other emergencies that what remains of local media didn’t even bother to report. There are rural and suburban communities where there is no local media whatsoever. The internet could be an incredible local news resource yet even in 2007 not everyone is or wants to be connected to the internet. Not everyone owns or wants a television. And not many television stations broadcast to or for the local community. Radio is one of the most effective methods of communication and community building, along with zines and non-commercial local papers. Radio is inexpensive, portable, can be used anywhere. Dave Thomas showed the way for broadcasters to serve their communities, license or no license. Long live mystery stations!

Ringing Down the Years

Oh man. I was borned & razed in manchester new hampshire and managed to drop out of high school while I could still think for myself. As soon as I got my hands on a friend's car I remember haunting the local record shops of Southern NH and Northern MA looking for unknown (to me) bands and obscurities. One day I found a 7" vinyl by Jonee Earthquake Band. I recognized Jonee from manchester, and thought - I have to buy this. One listen confirmed I was right - it was a slice of pure guitar joy, a rockin' rave-up ode to vinyl records called Black Plastic and a reggae tinged tune called Batten Down the Hatches.

While digging through the vinyl archives at WNEC, where I somehow hold the miraculous title of Community Program Director, I came across four vinyl gems by Jonee & krew. Looking up the interweb I discovered his website & sent a few dineros for some very inexpensive cds. Holy fuck, local punk/folk music lives with a vengeance. This dude is a still a brilliant songwriter, and thats no shit - one listen to "Up With Piracy" and I'd discovered a theme song for Seldom Heard Radio. As long as no one listening to WNEC turns me in to the FCC. Or as long as no wizard turns me into the FCC. There are worse fates but I can't think of them at the moment. Read this: FU FCC. Thanks for stealing our airwaves and selling them to Clear Channel, etc.

Cruise over to joneeearthquake.com. Don't be such a recluse like ye olde DJ here, go see a show, or at least fork over some bucks for some cds. Most of them include bonus tracks by other bands.

The /wave project zine

The /wave project is a series of small zines I have written solo up until now related to shortwave pirate radio. In 2007 I am widening the scope of the zine and am looking for people to contribute articles / thoughts / journaling / creative writing related to any of the following topics: free/pirate/microradio, FM community radio, anything related to shortwave, DIY media, listening experiences/favorite programs, low-tech radio or studio technology, DIY music, free speech issues or anything wonderful and unique that seems to fit. For more info please read the /wave project blog at www.waveradio.blogspot.com

Please send submissions electronically to: DJFrederick via singinggrove@conknet.com Thanks!

Release of the Month May 2007 - The Christ Tree

My personal history with religion is checkered at best. I was raised a mainstream protestant christian, had brushes with the Unification Church and born-again fundamentalism, converted to anglican catholicism and had a brief existance as a third order monastic, became an atheist after some emotional upheaval, then finally a quiet pagan. Now, I believe that there is no way that god and goddess don't exist (oops, double negative) ... God as We Understand God To Be is too deep to fit inside one limited set of beliefs called a religion.

Imagine my delight upon hearing The Trees Community The Christ Tree and not just tolerating the christian references, but revelling in them. This is music like no other - meditative, prayerful, organic, joyous, ponderous, a full-on masterpiece of the mid 1970's era. From the Trees Community's website: "80 Acoustic instruments and more are nestled in the Christ Tree. Starting with an initial collection of Indian Sitar, Tamboura and drums, Venezuelan folk harp, American Guitar, French Flute, Austrian Zither and Tibetan Gongs, we began to add more and more instruments. Everywhere we went people gave us full blown instruments or noise makers, ranging from finger cymbals to Japanese Koto; from African Belanji to American Dulcimer".

I only wish I had been adventurous and purchased the 4 cd box set before it went out of print. This one cd version includes:

1. Psalm 42

2. The Parable of the Mustard Seed

3. Psalm 45

4. Invocation (O Little Town of Bethlehem)

5. Village Orchestra

6. Jesus He Knows

7. I Will Not Leave You Comfortless

8. Chant for Pentecost

9. Psalm 46

10. Bird Song

11.Lift Your Weary Hand

12.Your Name...is an ointment poured forth

13.Raga*

14.Psalm44

15. Annunciation

16. Symphony of Souls*

17. Baptism

18. There is Such a Love...that steals into the heart, planting a kiss on deep wounds

* previously unreleased, not included on the box set

Praise the Lord and pass the headphones. Pray that more recordings are forthcoming from this psychedelic christian commune. For more information see www.somedarkholler.com

Release of the Month April 2007 - Kevin Hume

This morning I listened to a cd that inspired me to start a new feature on this blog & in my radio broadcasts ("Release of the month") that may inspire me to update this blog more frequently.

When the first track started spinning in my cd player, my musical attention was immediately caught, probably for the first time since New Year's ... and I have listened to a lot of new releases since then. Warm morning sunlight filtered through my windshield as I drove South on Route 89 toward work. At first I thought ... this is curiously different, then a few moments later ... wow, this is closing in on sustained brilliance. I was transported back to the first time I'd heard the Penguin Cafe Orchestra more than 20 years ago --- hearing something that felt entirely fresh, a blush of discovery. Kevin Hume's The Truth About Ants and Aphids is an astonishing piece of work ... musically adventurous in every respect. His music weaves in elements of guitar, mandolin, glockenspiel (my favorite instrument of late), cello, violin, harp, flute, trumpets ... these songs embody both the fragile beauty of Spring and the melancholy haze of night. Thematically coherant yet transcending boundaries of folk, jazz, and classical music, The Truth About Ants & Aphids is easily one of the most intriguing releases of the year ... one that will receive numerous spins (all tracks!) on my WSCS and WNEC broadcasts.

Check out www.premiumfantasymusic.com for more information.

398 zine

I don't review enough zines in this blog. Yes I'm 20+ years older than most zinesters but zines have been my passion since I was a wee lad back in the (gasp) 1970's! When I discover a zine as wonderful as 398 I smile for hours afterwards. Elizabeth has created a work of art full of magical realism, cool drawings and photographs. Her storytelling style is enchanting. Stop wasting time reading this & go find a copy of her zine. I found mine at www.fallofautumn.com.

Sound of Birds

Sound of Birds has released a generous sixteen track
cd of "home demos & such" with beautifully crafted songwriting by Michael Red. The atmosphere on Home Demos & Such ranges from acoustic meditations to bone-crunching downtempo melancholy. This band takes shoegazing one step further - right through the stage floor. A DIY ethic infuses this CD with incredible energy.
This cd is one to listen to in the late nights or hushed mornings.

For more information visit myspace.com/soundofbirds.

Unlucky Atlas - a brief review

The seven tracks on the Unlucky Atlas EP play like an extended suite - a journey into forested influences of an autumnal dusk. Elements of post-rock, folk-drone, Balkan moonlight, modern acoustics and Amerikan cultural observation merge into an organic mindmeld of song. Unlucky Atlas consists of Andre Foisy on mandolin, guitar and fiddle, Kelly Rix on cello, Erica Burgner vocals and autoharp and Terence Hannum on vocals, 12 string & 4 track. Dust off your inner traveler's atlas, this EP is totally worth the trip.

Check www.unluckyatlas.com for more information!

DJ Frederick's Top 5 releases of 2006

It's about time for my semi-traditional "best of" list for the year ... in no specific order.


Sufjan Stevens - Avalanche - leftover songs from the Illinois sessions! Equally as captivating and engaging.

Sufjan Stevens - Christmas Box Set - I never thought I'd include a Christmas cd on this list! This set of five EPs rocks! It's brilliant enough to banish the grinch and make holiday believers of all of us. Happy Solstice! Thank you, Sufjan.

Yo La Tengo - I'm Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass - the culmination of Yo La Tengo's 20 years of inovation in rock and pop all rolled into one 70 minute cd. Sonic wonderland.

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man - featuring an homage to the master craftsman and poet with interpretations by Antony, Rufus Wainwright, Teddy Thompson and many others. Each musician brings their own energy to Cohen's timeless songs. Perfection made manifest.

Bert Jansch - The Black Swan - 40+ years into his career, singer/songwriter /guitarist Bert Jansch (early of Pentangle fame) releases one of the strongest LPs in recent memory. Long live folk.

December 3 2006 Playlist

Seldom Heard Radio
Playlist WSCS 12/03/2006
DJ Frederick, producer / host


Califone ---- Sunday Noises ---Roots & Crowns
Califone ---- The Eye You Lost in the Crusades ---Roots & Crowns
The Boy With a Broken Leg --- Curls & Teeth – The Boy With a Broken Leg EP
The Boy With a Broken Leg --- Karsistina – The Boy With a Broken Leg EP
Songs of Green Pheasant --- Dear Prudence --- Aerial Days
Flower Clans --- Nova --- Trivialia
Flower Clans --- The End of Sally’s Flower Band --- Trivialia
Winter Flowers – Window of the Sun --- Winter Flowers
In the Pines – Dress on Fire – In the Pines
Argentina – In Other Fictions – Argentina
Wand – Behind the Veil – 7” vinyl
Jamie Clements – A Small Black Sock – Sleep Creases EP
The United States of America – Cloud Song – The United States of America
The Clientele – Tracy Had a Hard Day Sunday – 10” vinyl
U-Melt – 415 – The I’s Mind

Little Somebody Records

The psychedelic folk underground / aboveground / forest is alive with voices, guitars and bells. I'm just discovering Little Somebody Records, an independent label that has birthed releases by Arrowwood, The Joy of Nature, and novemthree.


Given time I may write more in depth reviews of these releases, in the interim, when you emerge from the mists, log onto http://www.myspace.com/littlesomebody for a delighful sample for the ears. Little Somebody Records plans releases by Cloud Temple & Green Mistletoe among others. We are truly blessed with new music of the woods.

The Boy With A Broken Leg

More proof that the revolution won't necessarily be broadcast, televised, or brought to you by corporate music industry behemoths. The Boy With A Broken Leg is from Lisbon, Portugal & a unique voice in the realm of indie music. His recordings feature hushed voices, otherworldly melodies, waking dreamscapes and an abundance of songwriting craft. I'm looking forward to introducing listeners to his music on my radio broadcasts.





For information & song samples check out
http://www.myspace.com/theboywithabrokenleg

New Hampshire college & LPFM stations

A brief guide to college, independent and LPFM radio stations in New Hampshire:


WUNH – 91.3 – Durham: University of New Hampshire – the granddaddy of all college radio in NH, this station has been on the air since at least the early 1970’s and has a fantastic digital signal reaching all of eastern and southeastern New Hampshire, northern Mass and southern Maine. www.wunh.unh.edu

WSCS – 90.9 – New London: Colby-Sawyer College – station where I have DJ’ed since 2000, sincere and energetic college radio for the Kearsarge Region of New Hampshire. www.colby-sawyer.edu/wscs

WPCR – 91.7 – Plymouth: Plymouth State University – commercial free listening as you drive North on 93 toward the White Mountains. Mostly hard rock but occasionally some classical! www.wpcr.edu

WKNH 91.3 – Keene: Keene State College – excellent variety and now broadcasting 24/7! www.wknh.org

WNEC 91.7 – Henniker: New England College – my little underground station!!! currently undergoing many transitions. Stay tuned.

WSPS 90.5 – Concord: Saint Paul’s School – an awesome variety of music, great signal, but often on automation! Live DJ’s would be appreciated! http://wsps.sps.edu
WCNH - 94.7 - Concord NH - 80 watt classical music station heard mostly within Concord city limits. www.wcnh.org

WXGR - 101.5 - Dover NH - sister station of WXND. Great tunes. Automated 24/7 but does broadcast "Democracy Now" www.wxgr.org

WLLO - 102.9 - Londonderry NH: Automated mix of folk and rock music. Operated by the Londonderry School District.

WSCA – 106.1 – Portsmouth NH – the Seacoast's low power fm community station! www.wscafm.org

WXND – 107.3 – Lebanon NH – This station is always a treat to listen to! Although it is an automated station they feature an exceptional mix of music 24/7 which can be heard throughout the Upper Valley region of NH and Vermont and online at www.wxnd.org

and across the state line into Vermont ...

WOOL - 100.1 - fantastic community station based in Bellows Falls VT with local program hosts bringing the airwaves to the community and the community to the airwaves. www.wool.fm

Playlist June 3 2006

“a rainy freeform afternoon”


Artist/ Song/ Recording


35th Parallel – Io – The Green Vine
Scenic – Bossa Dune – Incident at Cima
Disco Biscuits – Caterpillar – The Wind At Four To Fly

Joanna Newsom – Bridges and Balloons - The Golden Apples of the Sun compilation*
Six Organs of Admittance – Hazy SF - The Golden Apples of the Sun compilation*
Viking Moses – Crosses - The Golden Apples of the Sun compilation*

Nobody & the Mystic Chords of Memory – La Semilla – 7” vinyl EP
Nobody & the Mystic Chords of Memory – The Seed - Tree Colored See
Nobody & the Mystic Chords of Memory – Decisions, Decisions – Tree Colored See

Seekonk – Air – Pinkwood
Josephine Foster – Little Life - The Golden Apples of the Sun compilation*
Espers – Byss & Abyss - The Golden Apples of the Sun compilation*
Jana Hunter – Farm CA - The Golden Apples of the Sun compilation*
The Clientele – Lacewings (live) - 7” vinyl
Gravenhurst – See My Friends – Fires in Distant Buildings

Sand Snowman – The Serpentine Suite – Moth Dream
Om – At Giza – Conference of the Birds
Languis – Citi of Lights – Other Desert Cities – EP

Mammals – Follow Me to Carthage – Departure
Brian Just – The Pieces We Put Together – Every Tree and Every Stone

* = featured recording this week

Nobody and the Mystic Chords of Memory

Recently I have been exploring new worlds of 7" vinyl and songs & sounds that delight my esoteric ears. One outstanding discovery is the new 7" single by Nobody and the Mystic Chords of Memory released on Earsugar Records http://earsugar.com.

These two songs "Memory" and "Broaden a New Sounds" are glimpses into their forthcoming cd Tree Colored See. Nobody (DJ Elvin Estella) collaborates with the Mystic Chords of Memory (Jen Cohen and Christ Gunst) on a sunshine-soaked folk pop masterpiece. If these two songs are any indication, the forthcoming cd will be timeless and a must have for any psychedelic pop music affectionado. Gunst's vocals are dreamy to the point where they float unassumingly over an immaculately balanced production while Nobody blends in bubbling shuffles of percussion as subtly as possible. Pure bliss.

Seldom Heard Radio special broadcast on shortwave!

A special broadcast of Seldom Heard Radio will be heard on shortwave in Europe on 6240 kHZ this coming week via Jolly Roger Radio International in Ireland. Thank you Joe Vincent! The photo at right is part of JRRI's broadcast studio. More shortwave transmissions will hopefully be forthcoming!