AMN Reviews: Sonologyst – Shortwave Spectrum (2023; Cold Spring Records)

This 2CD release from Sonologyst (Raffaele Pezzella) explores what are often referred to as “numbers stations” – shortwave transmissions of vocalized numbers, Morse code, or other patterns. They have been reported and recorded throughout the Cold War era, and are thought to have been used in spycraft. The messages were possibly encrypted with a one-time key to provide instructions to agents in distant locations.

On the first disc of Shortwave Spectrum, Sonologyst uses a set of transmissions recorded between 1982 and 2021 as the basis for six experimental ambient tracks. The musical aspects are highly oscillatory yet low-key, often providing a hazy and mysterious (if not haunting) atmosphere for the recordings. Sculpted static, loops, and effects accompany subtle synth drones.

The emphasis here is on the manipulation of sounds rather than the sounds themselves, giving these pieces a dark acousmatic nature. They evolve at a tectonic pace, which makes them seem to be ponderous-roiling monolithic slabs of noise at first. However, there are notable fluctuations and changes throughout in addition to the radio-based chirps and clicks.

The second disc consists of a single 42-minute track providing a raw version of the shortwave recordings accompanied by a stationary drone. The recordings are much higher in the mix than on the first disc, allowing the listener to fully appreciate the varied nature of the source material.

Shortwave Spectrum will be released on December 4 by Cold Spring Records. Deep listening at a reasonable volume is recommended.