Receiver | Kieran Morris
Receiver is an electro-acoustic instrument inspired by fringe audio devices used to detect Electronic Voice Phenomena. Morris was inspired by the abundance of ghost stories and accounts of spirit encounters that have occurred over the past nine years at Elsewhere. Relying on primary-source testimony, electronics from Elsewhere's collection and weeks of experimentation, Morris devised an instrument-hybrid for sythesized music, RF processing, audio scrying, and real spectral communication.
R E C E I V E R I. Spirit Receiver is an electro-acoustic instrument inspired by the fringe audio engineering practiced by deep listeners tuning in to the worlds of Electronic Voice Phenomena, as well as natural radio. As a project and platform for aural exploration, it as equally inspired by the creative misuse of consumer electronics as it is by the magical worldview persisting around electromagnetism. As with other unique instruments at Elsewhere, it may create wretched sounds in the hands of bad listeners and those subconsciously pining for the total automation of all interfaces. Quiet practice, a light touch, and internal receptivity are encouraged. The player becomes the receiver, component of a process, but not a character or performer. Receiver is an interface for RF processing, audio scrying, and real spectral communication. II. Physique A modified AM/FM transistor radio drives a speaker enclosed inside an 8” x 6” masonite/wood echo chamber. The internal vibrations are amplified by two condenser microphones (one being a former telephone earpiece), which are placed at different reverberant locations inside the chamber. The microphones can then be mixed to the internal or external speaker. Each microphone and the radio have a ¼’’ mono output that can be sent to an external amp, tape recorder, or mixer. Experiment by scanning manually at different speeds, set to a dead frequency, adjust radio and microphone gains to transform noise into sensibility. Scanning to the lower range of the AM band creates a synthesizer. The classic “Raudive diode” circuit mentioned in Konstantins Raudive’s 1971 book, Breakthrough, is also included for use at the discretion of only the deepest listeners. III. Archival Conduit and Process The entire interactive endeavor of Receiver was inspired by the abundance of ghost stories and accounts of spirit encounters that have occurred over the past nine years at Elsewhere. The machine that emanated from the collection was the culmination of an intentional listening process that took place during the months of July and August of 2012. What came forth was a wide array of stories and theories, and a modest amount of speculative evidence. In conjunction with the installment of the machine, a small archive will be added to the collection. It includes: Receiver’s Manual of Use, three audio interviews concerning spirit life at Elsewhere, an evening of pre-eviction recordings taken in the ghost room, a very good mix tape made by Maurice Torrenado in 1985, and other artifacts. To be installed in the third-floor Reliquary as an invitation to relevant parties to return to departure.
