Profile: Radio Massacre International

Radio Massacre International are a trio from England following the path laid down by Tangerine Dream on releases like "Rubycon" "Phaedra", "Encore" and "Ricochet". The group includes Steve Dinsdale (synths), Duncan Goddard (synths) and Gary Houghton (guitar). While RMI did not invent the vocabulary of spacemusic, they certainly do know how to execute it. Using guitar and both modern and vintage (most notably Mellotron) gear, RMI utilizes the live environment to "feel" their way through a concert. Often with lengthy improvisational encounters, they demonstrate an almost telepathic connection and offer the audience a window into one of music's most intimate experiences, the free-form jam. RMI's concerts usually last well over an hour - as long as it takes to arrive at their sonic destination. This is a very refreshing concept; to experience a concert where the outcome is not exactly known - even to the performers. Through improvisation, RMI chart new sonic territory each time they play, the best part being that they take the audience with them. Attempting to offer insight into the group name, Steve Dinsdale muses on Radio Massacre International's outlook, "I think our music has an edge and an attitude to it that is organic. It has rough edges. We try to reflect the world in this way and not in a horrible glossy 'new-age' way which ignores chaos and energy... Our music can be very disturbing and I think the name helps to reinforce this feeling".

"Berlin School" references are common, but Dinsdale feels that RMI offers something else, "...our influences are more universal than that... we simply see it as working with an established form the way you would if Jazz or Folk was your thing. As long as you come across with a strong personality of your own there's no more to be said. I think RMI are readily identifiable and distinguishable from everyone else". RMI's musical relaizations are lengthy, atmospheric, dense realizations owing much to the inspiration of the moment during live improvisation. On the medium of the live performance space, Dinsdale offers some insight, "...there is an immediacy that is captured when music is happening live in the here and now. Musicians behave differently when they are on the spot and improvising rather than playing through a rehearsed piece. This is exaggerated when there is an audience there too".

Radio Massacre International has released eight albums through Centaur Discs Ltd, as well as several limited edition "private" releases on their own. The group is well known for their part in preserving Europe's Electronic Music scene with legendary performances as part of the KLEM Dag, Alfa Centauri and EMMA festivals and concerts for the Jodrell Bank and Hampshire Jam series. Completely at home in the concerthall, RMI performances are described as to be made up of, "...complex, gradually developing sequencer patterns, otherworldly atmospherics, analog synthesizers and soaring guitar work". .

Radio Massacre International's stateside concert debut happened in November 2002 at the ProgWest festival held in Claremont, CA; Followed by their East-Coast appearance in Philadelphia at The Gatherings Concert Series on 16 November 2002. Immediately following this performance, RMI played on into the night with a live in-studio radio concert on the 11.17.02 broadcast of STAR'S END. Their album: Solid States is an audio document of their bi-coastal 2002 tour of the USA, including the track "nov(embers)" recorded live on STAR'S END. A previously unreleased excerpt from their 11.17.02 on-air STAR'S END concert appears on the STAR'S END 30th Anniversary Anthology CD. Radio Massacre Int'l returned to Philadelphia on 8 May 2004 for a performance at The Gatherings Concert Series, followed by an in-studio radio concert live on the 05.09.04 broadcast of STAR'S END. Radio Massacre Int'l plays in Philadelphia at The Gatherings Concert Series on Saturday 17 November 2007 and then later (taped for broadcast) on the 11.18.07 edition of STAR'S END.

Radio Massacre International - live on STAR'S END 17 November 2002 .   Radio Massacre International - live on STAR'S END 9 May 2004 . Radio Massacre International - taped for broadcast 14 November 2007

STAR'S END 30th Anniversary Anthology CD To mark 30 years of continuous broadcast of STAR'S END, WXPN is releasing the STAR'S END 30th Anniversary Anthology CD. This double CD contains over 120 minutes of live music from 12 renowned artists. The unique performances were culled from on-air in-studio radio concerts by some of our community's greatest talents. Included on the disc are previously unreleased live selections donated by: The Ministry of Inside Things, Orbital Decay, Ian Boddy, AirSculpture, Radio Massacre International, Robert Rich, Rudy Adrian, Jonn Serrie, Jeff Pearce, Saul Stokes and Steve Roach. STAR'S END 30th Anniversary CD Anthology Duncan Goddard phoned in from the UK on the 5 June 2005 broadcast of STAR'S END and spoke about the genesis of Emissaries by RMI and the album's connection to STAR'S END. Along with background on the concept of RMI's performances, Goddard also gave some insight into what feelings he has on the spirituality he experiences while at the center of his band's profound aural explorations. Listen to the 13 minute interview excerpt by clicking the link below: Duncan Goddard interview: Lo Fi Version ~ Selected Reviews : Radio Massacre International The God of Electricity (2001) "...screeching effects producing an uncompromising edge which is prevalent at many stages throughout the album. This subsides to leave subtle effects, beautifully recorded and the dimensions of the soundstage are immense. The effects are marshalled into a discordant sequence which gathers pace and stretches into a trademark sequence run..." - Graham Getty Zabriskie Point (2001) "...Without any rhythm, harmony or melody to speak of, the listener becomes absorbed and lost in RMI's reference-less sonic spell. Dark analogue synth tones colour the mood, carefully played electric piano notes speak of place and the ever present processed guitar, wailing, churning, moaning and breathing its accents and leads stretches the elasticity of the session". - Chuck van Zyl Upstairs Downstairs (2000) "...the sequences start to really flow, multilayered and complex they weave around the effects and mellotron touches. Searing synth motifs and scorching guitar, pitched perfectly into the mix, then vie for dominance. The tempo is then upped as a more forceful sequence grabs the attention. It lasts for an all too short period before more effects and textures grab the focus. The sound field becomes intense, building tension as the sound of distant explosions and wailing sirens fill the air..." - Graham Getty Borrowed Atoms (1998) "...plenty of material which relies heavily on complex multi-layered sequencing. And when I say complex, I mean complex! These guys are producing patterns which even after numerous plays are difficult to fully appreciate..." - Graham Getty Organ Harvest (1998) "This album is a slight departure for RMI, in so much that it is the most structured and composed release to date. A conscious decision to display versatility perhaps, but it also serves to show how spontaneous ingenuity and composed reflection can to be combined to produce EM of faith inducing proportions". - Graham Getty Knutsford In May (1997) "...a beguiling nature which cajoles the listener into pondering matters related to time and space. The sequential structures could almost be the pin point reference map of a star strewn galaxy, while the sublime mellotron and ethereal guitar work weave a nebulous cloud of sound which constantly changes shape and focus..." - Graham Getty Republic (1996) "Each of the three pieces begin with a drifty, floating section followed by mellotron washes and/or electric guitar solos over intricately crafted sequencer patterns, giving way then to a dramatic closing section. The whole experience is very cinematic in that while listening one can easily visualize any number of possibilities". - Chuck van Zyl Frozen North (1997) "...This album is not merely a recreation to Tangerine Dream at their peak, it's more a testament to RMI's ability to capture the spirit and excitement of that era and inject it into their own work". - Graham Getty Related Links: The Radio Massacre International Official website: http://www.radiomassacreinternational.com Cuneiform Records RMI webpage : http://cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/rmi.html Krautrock Towers interview with Radio Massacre Int'l Eurock Interview with Radio Massacre Int'l STAR'S END Reviews of music by Radio Massacre Int'l Centaur Discs Ltd webpage: http://www.cd-services.com/centaur.htm Radio Massacre Int'l at The Gatherings Concert Series in Philadelphia: http://www.thegatherings.org Artists Index