Electric Enigma: The VLF Recordings of Stephen P. McGreevy by Stephen P. McGreevy, and: R&D (1996), R&D2 (1998), Antiphony (1998), Al-Jabr (1999) by Disinformation, and: The CONET Project: Recordings of Shortwave Numbers Stations (review)

Leonardo Reviews 67 by their political leaders. After the Wall was pulled down, the huge serpentine scar of no-man’s-land running across the reunified city was developed as soon as possible. Not only should the city be prepared for its reinstatement as Germany’s capital, but—looking into the brave new future on yonder side of the millennium divide—it apparently wanted no reminder of recent history to remain. The most coveted part of this immense vacant lot, the Potsdamer Platz, was sold away to corporations who matched their bid with the dimensions of the high rises erected there. It is here that the irony kicks in: the new capitalist owners have erected fences around their property to protect their building investments. Again, the movements of the people are constrained, now by powers on the other end of the politico-economic spectrum. These fences are here to stay. Jon Rose likes to point out that since this recording was made, enmity has flared up in several places he portrayed on it. There is more to it than that, however —as dividing lines between people, fences manifest a mentality that is ingrained in our very being. Their erasure from the law has not removed them from individual hearts or minds, or indeed from society. The Fence is similar in its setup to other albums by Rose—it documents a radio play of his in which his music underpins a narrative that is replete with satire. What distinguishes it is the seriousness of the topic. Although Rose still directs your attention towards the absurdity of the human condition, he goes beyond merely poking fun at human folly. The juxtaposition of the serious and the absurd shines in the iridescence of the long strings. While Rose basks your ears in an alluring luster, he taunts your ease of mind like a gadfly. This piece is paired off with Bagni di Dolabella, which is rather more run-ofthe -mill Rose. The ingredients are similar —music (here real-time and sampled violin) with a satirical narrative built on top, consisting of a monologue and evocative sound effects. Based on “an original document found by the Rome City Sewage Department,” this radio play for Italian State Radio (RAI) transports you to Ancient Rome, where a masseuse guides you on a tour around the thermal baths, divulging the corruption of a top brass politician. Apparently nothing much has changed since those times. Although Rose’s playing is superb as always, The Fence reaches further and deeper as a composition and a narrative. In pieces such as Bagni di Dolabella, Rose is merely an observer from the sidelines, amused by the futility of human endeavor. The Fence seems to stem from genuine personal involvement , which makes the bite of its satire hit home. It is as if Rose has discovered something within himself that he is not at ease with. He has looked straight into it, and now offers it to the listener, saying, “And how about you?” ELECTRIC ENIGMA: THE VLF RECORDINGS OF STEPHEN P. MCGREEVY by Stephen P. McGreevy. London, UK: Irdial-Discs, 1998. R&D (1996) R&D2 (1998) ANTIPHONY (1998) AL-JABR (1999) by Disinformation. London, UK: Ash International. THE CONET PROJECT: RECORDINGS OF SHORTWAVE NUMBERS STATIONS London, UK: Irdial-Discs, 1998. Reviewed by René van Peer, Bachlaan 786, 5011 Tilburg, The Netherlands. E-mail: . When you wake up around sunrise during springtime, you may be greeted by the dawn chorus. In the still of morning , all manner of song-birds add their voices to a collective daily burst of energy . It is an intriguing notion that, around the same time (that is, when our planet turns from under the blanket of the night), electromagnetic activity in the atmosphere reaches a peak. Though inaudible, this activity can be picked up with antennas and then translated into sound. Like the collective singing of the birds, this is called a dawn chorus. It is part of a collection of electromagnetic waves and discharges from natural and man-made sources that constitutes the basic material of a number of recently released albums on the Irdial and Ash International labels. Electric Enigma is a double album on which California-based...