This week’s project explores invokes Morse Code for its rhythmic content. The instructions are as follows: Select a word or phrase. Encode that word or phrase by the Morse method. Record a rhythmic foundation in which the dash is represented by a long beat and the dot by a brief one. Use that rhythmic foundation as a loop for the length of your track, at the speed you desire — speed can vary over the length of the recording. Record accompanying drone/melodic material that takes the underlying rhythm as its compositional foundation.

CQ CQ CQ CQ DE KA0KAD KA0KAD KA0KAD CQ CQ CQ CQ

I got my first amateur radio license, the "novice" license as it was known in the day, in 1980 when I was about 13. This was in Des Moines, Iowa, and the local radio amateur club met at the Science Center. My call sign was KA0KAD (Kilo Alpha Zero Kilo Alpha Delta). I had to comprehend Morse code at 5 wpm and take an exam that dealt with antennas, power, and various customs. I got a rig and built antennas from shielded copper pairs. Soon after, I passed the then-second level license, the "Technician" license. The "Tech" license allowed me to speak on HF bands. At one point I thought about going for the "General" license, but the 13 wpm Morse Code requirement seemed a bit steep and anyway I was happy hanging out in the 2 meter HF bands, talking to local people, triggering distant repeaters, and calling home via phone patches, a nascent "cell phone-like" simplex telephone setup that was downright exotic in 1981.

Over time, interest waned. Especially once I was able to get a DJ spot on my school district's public radio station (KDPS 88.1 FM). I kept my ICOM 2AT 2-meter mobile, largely unused, until about 1993 when I sold it. Over the years I have renewed my license, but have done nothing with it. I am proud of my geeky past. It was fun. Pre-internet. Pre-anything. I took classes with my old friend Jeff O'Neal, was encouraged by a lawyer, James Cooney (now deceased), built antennas thanks to the generosity of Bob Heitman, and talked gadgets, electronics, and music with a blind student, Carl Owens. And of course my dad who collected old radios of different varieties, including those with shortwave bands on them.

My favorite piece of music of all time is David Sylvian & Holger Czukay's "Plight & Premonition" - Plight more than Premonition. Czukay working that shortwave. Picking up the Morse. I have certainly listened to Plight well more than 1000 times and it never gets old. There's always something new appearing.

Now that I've gone on a bit, how about I get to the recording?

Initially, I did the Morse in sub-bass, but that didn't work out, so I switched it to a bass drum and kick sample. "CQ" has a wonderful consistent beat. The "DE" ("this is" in shorthand) hints at a change. And my callsign KA0KAD, when tapped out on a desk or a Morse keypad, has a memorable jazz-like beat.

The layered amateur radio voice sounds come via HamSphere, an iOS app I downloaded to my iPad.

The atmospheric electronics are largely from recordings I've made using the Samplr iPad app in recent weeks, along with other recordings done in Ableton triggered with my Akai MPK Mini.

This was a lot of fun to create.

More on this 50th Disquiet Junto project at:

disquiet.com/2012/12/13/disquiet0050-morsebeat/

More details on the Disquiet Junto at:

soundcloud.com/groups/disquiet-junto/