A look at The BBC Radiophonics Workshop
On this week’s A Different Nature, a look at The BBC Radiophonics Workshop.
Although best known today as the creators of the Dr. Who theme, The Radiophonics Workshop supplied delightfully strange music and sound effects for British radio, television and films for the better part of 40 years.

“The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, one of the sound effects units of the BBC, was created in 1958 to produce effects and new music for radio, and was closed in March 1998, although much of its traditional work had already been outsourced by 1995. It was based in the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios in Delaware Road, London, W9, UK growing outwards from the then-legendary Room 13. The innovative music and techniques used by the Workshop has made it one of the most significant influences on electronic music today.“

We took a look at their work, as well as some interviews and other ephemera from these Alchemists of Sound. Admittedly, it was a Delia Derbyshire-centric mix, as both Nate and I are huge fans of her work and felt she was the unsung heroine of the Radiophonic saga. Sadly, most of her acclaim seemed to have arrived posthumously, as she passed away in 2001.

This episode was hosted by Rich L. and Nate Mannan, of KOUG Radio program Noise Annoys.

Track Album Artist

“Intro” Alchemists of Sound (2005 TV Doc.) BBC 4

“TARDIS: Original Takeoff Sequence” Doctor Who At The BBC Radiophonic Workshop: Volume 1: The Early Years 1963-1969 Brian Hodgson

“Creating the Dr. Who Theme” Alchemists of Sound BBC 4

“Dr. Who Original Theme” Doctor Who At The BBC Radiophonic Workshop: Volume 1: The Early Years 1963-1969 Ron Grainer, Delia Derbyshire & Dick Mills

“The Sounds of Dr. Who” Alchemists of Sound BBC 4

“Musak” (from “Time In Advance”) Doctor Who At The BBC Radiophonic Workshop: Volume 1: The Early Years 1963-1969 John Baker

“Introducing John Baker” Alchemists of Sound BBC 4

“Structures” BBC Radiophonic Music John Baker

“20^th Century Focus” The John Baker Tapes Vol. 1 John Baker

“Introducing Delia Derbyshire” Alchemists of Sound BBC 4

“Pot au Feu” BBC Radiophonic Music Delia Derbyshire

“Ziwih Ziwih OO-OO-OO” BBC Radiophonic Music Delia Derbyshire

“Blue Veils and Golden Sands” BBC Radiophonic Music Delia Derbyshire

The Delian Mode” BBC Radiophonic Music Delia Derbyshire

“Time On Our Hands (Titles and City Music)” The BBC Radiophonic Workshop: A Retrospective Delia Derbyshire

“Towards Tomorrow” BBC Radiophonic Music Delia Derbyshire

“Way Out” The Tomorrow People Li De La Russe (Delia Derbyshire)

“Delia’s Theme” The Tomorrow People Li De La Russe (Delia Derbyshire)

“The Dreams (Running, Falling, Land)” Barry Bermange and Delia Derbyshire

“”The Black Mass: An Electric Storm in Hell” An Electric Storm White Noise (Delia Derbyshire, Brian Hodgson & David Vorhaus)

“The Legend of Hel House (Ending Theme)” The Legend of Hell House Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson

“Kroton Theme” Dr. Who at the BBC Radiohonic Workshop Vol. 1: The Early Years Brian Hodgson

“Amphitryon 38” The BBC Radiophonic Workshop: A Retrospective Daphne Oram

“The Ocean (Main Theme)” The BBC Radiophonic Workshop: A Retrospective Daphne Oram and Desmond Briscoe

“TV March” The BBC Radiophonic Workshop: A Retrospective Desmond Briscoe

“Frontier to Knowledge” Electrosonic Delia Derbyshire

“The Pattern Emerges” Electrosonic Delia Derbyshire

“Celestial Cantible” Electrosonic Delia Derbyshire

“War of the Worlds” Music from The BBC Radiophonic Workshop David Cain

The music of Art Ensemble of Chicago.. hosted by Rolf Semprebon. All vinyl, all music recorded in 1969 & 1970 or in 1972 & 1973.

Tonight on A Different Nature, a look at the works of Brion Gysin.
He is perhaps best known as a collaborative partner of William S. Burroughs and for introducing him to the cut-up technique.
Brion worked in painting, collage, calligraphic art, sound poetry and writing, but in his life never achieved the recognition that his peers did, despite his efforts latter in life and those of Burroughs, who frequently championed Gysin as his inspiration during what they called their "Third Mind" era.
Perhaps one of Gysin's most enduring - and curious - inventions is the Dream Machine. Part kinetic sculpture, part spiritual shrine, the Dream Machine was intended to create a drugless high and lead to mystic visions. Gysin hoped it would replace the television in people's homes and believed it was art taken to the logical apex - that it was the end of art. The Dream Machine remains an esoteric oddity among hipsters and is shrouded in mystery and intrigue to this day.
He also collaborated with many musicians, most notably Jazz saxophonist Steve Lacey.
Brion Gysin passed away in Paris in 1986.

Here's a link to an online, virtual Dream Machine: http://www.netliberty.net/dreamachine.html

Please note: This can cause Photosensitive epilepsy in some people, depending on the frequency chosen.

Playlist (Track/Artist - Album - Label):

Hour one:
In the Beginning Was the Word - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Thoughts on the BBC - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
I've Come to Free the Words - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Thoughts on Censorship - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Where's That Word - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
I Am That I Am - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Pistol Poem - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Pistol Poem Pt. 2 - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Recalling All Active Agents - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
No Poets Don't Own Words - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Thoughts on Jean Genet - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Readings at October Galleries - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Thoughts on Surrealists - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Thoughts on Modern Art - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Thoughts on the Value of Art - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Sound Poem - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics    
Duet - Recordings 1960-1981 - Perdition Plastics
Side A - Poems of Poems - Alga Marghen

Hour two:
Dream machine mix (excerpt from documentary Flicker mixed with Throbbing Gristle from Heathen Earth)
Thoughts on the Dream Machine - Brion Gysin - Recordings 1960-1981
Dream Machine - Brion Gysin - Self-Portrait Jumping - Made To Measure
Neglected Interview segment (1981 Staalplat cassette)
Kick That Habit, Junk Is No Good Baby, Somebody Special, & Blue Baboon- The Nova Convention
Role of an artist Interview segment (1981 Staalplat cassette)
Mutate Interview segment (1981 Staalplat cassette)              
Art as criminal act - Interview segment (1981 Staalplat cassette)       
Underrated? Interview segment (1981 Staalplat cassette)
Junk is no good baby (Permutations) - Steve Lacy Six with Brion Gysin - Lacy and Gysin: Songs - hat ART
Kick that habit man (Permutations)) - Steve Lacy Six with Brion Gysin - Lacy and Gysin: Songs - hat ART
I don't work you dig (Permutations)) - Steve Lacy Six with Brion Gysin - Lacy and Gysin: Songs - hat ART
What's your daily life like? Interview segment (1981 Staalplat cassette)
Kick - Brion Gysin/Ramuntcha Matta/Don Cherry - Self-Portrait Jumping
Junk - Brion Gysin - Self-Portrait Jumping - Made To Measure
Somebody Special - Steve Lacy Six with Brion Gysin - Lacy and Gysin: Songs - hat ART

filling in