Al compás del mundo is a multi-cultural radio program on streaming platform Radioactiva.TX out of Tequisquiapan, Mexico. And when I say “multi-cultural” I mean what I say! In the program’s Spanish language intro I point out “You never know what you’re going to hear.” In an effort to feature something different every week, past programs include music from Colombia, Black and White blues, psychedelia, jazz and complements, bluegrass-folk, 1950’s rock ‘n roll, the music of French speakers, South and North Africa, Cuba, Eastern Europe, New Orleans sounds, Latin American protest music, the British rock invasion, Palestinian and Arab music, and much etc. When I don’t focus on a particular region or style, I will throw out a potpourri of everything under the sun. In short, eclectic is the byword. List for show #209, 11-27-25 - Iran and Kurdistan Today’s program will present an hour’s worth of the music of Iran (Persia and Iran are synonymous and each has ancient historic roots.) I...
Leon Theremin and the Orchestra I’m showing my age with today’s Al compás del mundo playlist. Most all the music represented here is from 20-50 years ago. A couple exceptions are Iranian-Canadian Sina Bathaie and Chile’s Föllakzoid, both a nod towards rave culture…which has its origins in the mid -1980s, an old school trip out which lingers on to this day. Experimental music has been around for who knows how long. Rebels always come out of the woodwork when popular taste imposes limitations. And electronics have influenced and become the medium as far back as the theremin, invented circa 1918. There’s one more ringer in this group (experimental yes, electronic, no) and that’s Steve Reich’s piece, an excerpt from “Pulse.” The chorus and instruments are organic and live – no recorded sounds and no overdubs. That this sort of music has drawn devotees in great numbers and from all parts of the world would make a case for a commonality in human artistic perception and acceptance. Who s...