Episodes
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BCB 132 - You Can Spoil Everything
It's all over the place, this one. Chris and Shawn talk Nathan Fielder, Michael Douglas, plot-twist cinema, Hypnotic Tango, Lacan, Stockhausen, and the professionalization of the DJ mix. JOIN THE PATREON patreon.com/basecampbeta
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BCB 131 - Lucky People Center with Jean Louis Huhta
Jean Louis Huhta joins us this week to talk about his incredibly long and varied career playing drums in punk and go-go bands in Gothenburg, his work in the ambient techno collective Lucky People Center, his jamming acid as Dungeon Acid, and how to make rent at the end of the month. Lucky People...
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BCB x109 - Spooky Season Spectacular PREVIEW
UNLOCK THE FULL EP ON PATREON patreon.com/basecampbeta It's a ghoulishly good time on BCB this week with Shawn and Chris discussing a socialist halloween, the films of Jean Rollin (yes, again), and who the most goth GRM composer is. We also touch on favorite halloween candies, the Friday the 13th...
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BCB 130 - In The Deep End with Chloe Alexandra Thompson
Artist, composer, and technologist Chloe Alexandra Thompson joins us this week to talk growing up in the early 00's Vancouver arts scene, chilling at tide pools, acoustic ecology, and defending indigenous and First Nations rights. Chloe on Acoustic Ecology...
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BCB 129 - gearz0ne: Roland TR-808
Shawn and Chris are back in da gear z0ne with an episode talking all about the most famous drum machine of all time - the Roland TR-808. We look at the many genres it birthed, its iconic sounds, and talk about some of our favorite 808 tunes. We also dive in to the DIY process a bit and talk about...
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BCB 128 - Conny's Studio
Shawn and Chris dive into the wonderful world of Conny Plank this week - talking about his studio techniques and what made him a great producer. Mostly we just list all the great records he produced - Cluster, Rita Mitsouko, Michael Ranta, Moebius/Plank, DAF, Eurythmics, Kraftwerk, Liasons...
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BCB x108 Preview - Fassbinder's Favorite Pizza
PREVIEW CLIP. Join our Patreon to get the goods, *uncensored, uncut*! http://www.patreon.com/basecampbeta In our tireless efforts to bring you, dear patrons, nothing less than the Most Premium of Content, we've frankensteined together some ramblings about Fassbinder, pizza, and electronic music...
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BCB 127 - At The Electric Café with Heidi Sabertooth
Heidi Sabertooth joins us this week to talk about her upbringing in Iowa, the electroclash moment in New York, and running Synth Library NYC - a lending library for synths and electronic music equipment that strives to make gear more accessible. Check out Synth Library NYC to get involved and to...
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BCB 126 - Spanish Italo Disco Freundschaft
This week we dive into the world of Spanish Italo Disco - sometimes called Paella Disco, sometimes the "Sabadell Sound" after the Barcelona suburb it mostly comes from. We talk about the distinct eras of Italo qua Italo and embrace the deeper cuts as well as the big cheesy ones. We also do some...
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BCB 125 - Gabber Conga Line with SSPS
Jon Nicholson aka SSPS aka DJ Porkchop aka Gigi Black aka part of Excepter joins us for a wide ranging trip. Jon is a fixture of the New York scene, but we spend the entire time talking about his early period in Chicago - Ron Hardy playing the high school function, skinheads and ravers, pool...
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BCB X107 - Geodesic Free Improv Dialectics PREVIEW
UNLOCK THE FULL EPISODE patreon.com/basecampbeta Shawn and Chris compare and contrast two legendary Italian free improv groups - Musica Elettronica Viva and the Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza - and spin out talking geodesic domes, west coast cybernetics, hippies, aquariums, the…
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BCB 124 - World Building with Jake Muir
Jake Muir joins us this week to talk about RPG-style world building with sound, field recording, Argeïphontes Lyre, and his unique approach to source material destruction. Check out Jake's work https://www.jakemuir.org/about and his latest record 'Pareidolia'...
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BCB 123 - gearz0ne: Compressors
Shawn and Chris are back in da gear z0ne with an episode talking all about Compressors - what they are, how they work, and how to use them. We look at some of the historically important compressors, talk about compressors as feedback devices, and naturally bring up dialectics. JOIN THE PATREON...
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BCB 122 - Finding It and Finding Out with ESP TV
Scott Kiernan and Victoria Keddie join us this week for a deep dive into the history of ESP TV, their long-running multi-disciplinary avant-garde public access variety show (say that five times fast!). We talk cross-country mobile broadcasting, the joys of setting up a 501(c), and the latent...
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BCB X106 - The Techno Album Trap PREVIEW
UNLOCK THE FULL EPISODE patreon.com/basecampbeta This week Shawn and Chris dive into the idea of the techno album and why it so often feels unfulfilling or like a paint-by-numbers exercise. We also talk about two examples of techno albums that succeed as exceptional albums - Regis' "Penetration"...
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BCB 121 - A Critique of Cracked Reason with FaltyDL
This week we're joined by our friend Drew Lustman aka FaltyDL to discuss the king of music software Reason, growing up in Connecticut, and about a million other things. Check out the video version of this episode at our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubvF_XA56_Q Check out Drew's...
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BCB 120 - A Brief History of ARP with Dina Pearlman
Dina Pearlman joins us this week to talk about one of the undisputed pioneers in synthesizer history - her father Alan R. Pearlman. We talk about Alan's early experiments in electronics instruments (the "Tactovox" from 1948), hanging with Timothy Leary, and chart the course of ARP as a company...
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BCB 119 - Wilson Canalog Delay
Just Shawn and Chris today. We had every intention of talking music but got sidetracked and spend the first half of the show talking about seafood and 'tinned fish'. Later we talk some Serge as Shawn spent the past week at NYU making Serge dub and getting the most out of two (!) Wilson Analog...
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BCB 118 - Shallow Listening with Arnau Sala
Arnau Sala, esteemed musician, artist, and zine-maker, joins us to discuss the politics of degrowth, advanced meditation techniques, and the joys of shallow listening. Scope his multimedia label Anomia here: https://soundcloud.com/anomiaprod And a friendly reminder to join our Patreon!...
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BCB X105 - Living Is Cringe PREVIEW
A very freeform episode today. We talk about pizza for maybe too long and then talk a lot more about movies - mostly centering on David Lynch, but with a nice amount of John Carpenter and James Bond in there for good measure. To hear the full episode JOIN THE PATREON patreon.com/basecampbeta
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BCB 117 - Leaning Into Dissonance with Lea Bertucci
Lea Bertucci joins us this week to talk graphic scores, playing with foil, and the dawn of music. This podcast was recorded and broadcast in 432 Hz for ultimate sonic wellness. Check out Lea's work: http://lea-bertucci.com/ Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/basecampbeta
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BCB 116 - Surplus Jouissance with Wilted Woman
Elizabeth Davis aka Wilted Woman joins us this week to talk the comics/noise scene, recording music on flip phones, and how to make music commodity again. Check Lizzie's work out https://virtual-slap.net/info and her latest record 'Flowers' https://wiltedwoman.bandcamp.com/album/flowers and of...
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BCB 115 - Antiquated Ways with Keith Fullerton Whitman
We're joined this week by producer, musician, technologist, distributor, and CD burner extraordinaire Keith Fullerton Whitman to talk digging for Japan-exclusive Duran Duran mini CDs in the West Village, fine Digitech products, and the kindness of strangers. Video for this episode at our YouTube...
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BCB X104 - Heat Wave Ground Hum PREVIEW
It's a heat wave all over Europe so in this PATREON EXCLUSIVE episode Shawn and Chris talk celsius vs. farenheit for far too long before moving on to talk about some of the pieces of gear that have most marked their own music. To hear the full episode join the Patreon patreon.com/basecampbeta
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BCB 114 - Harmonizing with Feedback with Julia Santoli
Inter-disciplinary artist & musician Julia Santoli joins us this week for a wide ranging discussion covering room acoustics and feedback, ritualism in performances, teaching ethnomusicology, and building a global community of artistic radicals. Check out Julia's website here...
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BCB 113 - I'm on the Guest List with M. Geddes Gengras
M. Geddes Gengras joins us this week to talk about recording with The Congos, the late 00s LA scene, and childhood sports memories. Make sure to check out Ged's fantastic new record Guest List on Hausu Mountain: https://mgeddesgengras1.bandcamp.com/album/guest-list and join the PATREON:...
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BCB 112 - SH-101 101 (Part 1)
Shawn and Chris dive in to the legendary Roland SH-101. We talk about why it is such a beloved piece of gear - both in terms of its sound and its usefulness as a studio and live instrument - and look in to some of our favorite tracks using the 101 - from Chicago and Detroit jack tracks to minimal...
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BCB 111 - Community College Philosophy 301 with Nick Klein
Our good friend Nick Klein is back getting the much coveted BCB hat trick. We talk about how different these three eras that Nick has been on the show (2019, 2023, and now 2026) feel and more generally about the interesting questions facing mid-career artists. We talk innovation, community, and...
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BCB 110 - Cleveland Cryptids with Kiernan Laveaux
Base Camp Beta pivots to video - and what better guest to join us than Kiernan Laveaux! We talk J-rock fashion, getting in to Midwest house and techno, learning to DJ, and The Crow. Video is on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/qDTszD_xKBc Thanks to Public Sound Studio...
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BCB 109 - Superbooth Special
Chris is back from Superbooth 2026 in Berlin with EXCLUSIVE insights on incredible new PRODUCTS you need to buy this year!!! But before you head to the debtors' prison make sure to sign up for the Patreon https://patreon.com/basecampbeta
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BCB X103 - Return to Atlantis PREVIEW
In this Patreon bonus episode Chris talks a bit about his early attempts to put out records and we talk some early L.I.E.S. history and the enduring spirit of DIY and being an amateur. To hear the full episode go to Patreon https://www.patreon.com/basecampbeta and sign up for the Alpha Tier.
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BCB 108 - Infrasonic Decapitation with Jen Kutler
Jen Kutler joins us to talk about her band whose music is completely outside the audible spectum, making wobbulators, and the enduring DIY spirit. Check Jen's work out at her website: https://www.jenkutler.com/ and join the Patreon: http://patreon.com/basecampbeta
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BCB 107 - Into The Field with William Selman
William Selman joins us as we trek out into the field with our starter field recording kit and cringey Jon Hassell texts. We also have a bit of a Critique of Everyday Life special, with Bill talking about his new record "Sanctioned Departures" and Shawn and Chris talking about theirs. Check them...
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BCB X102 Preview - Right Showers
Unlock the full episode by joining the Alpha Tier: http://patreon.com/basecampbeta In this Patreon bonus episode Shawn and Chris talk about our first attempts at releasing records. At least that was the idea, but as usual we got caught up in many tangents talking about the presence of voice in...
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BCB 106 - Doing the Weave with Ron Kuivila
Ron Kuivila of Wesleyan University and Lovely Music joins us for a wide-ranging and decades-spanning conversation. We do a bit of Lovely Music story time encountering friends along the way like Nicolas Collins, Éliane Radigue, and David Tudor, and we talk installations, early work with...
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BCB 105 - Desperately Seeking Xenakis with R. Luke DuBois
This week we are joined by composer and associate professor at NYU R. Luke DuBois where we talk about everything from serialism to being negged by Xenakis, from Harrison Ford to synthesizer accessibility, and from Serge history to the problem of oysters not having sex. NYU IDM:...
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BCB 104 - Twilight of the Record Store Clerk Guy
Just Chris and Shawn today shootin' the shit. First half we talk about Chris' newly relaunched YouTube series which looks into cybernetics and the work of Roland Kayn, Jaap Vink, and others. And in the back half we do some cultural criticism and eulogize the passing of the record store clerk guy...
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BCB 103 - Multichannel Installation at Fourier's Tomb with Matthias Puech
This week we're joined by Matthias Puech from the GRM (Groupe des Recherches Musicales) and lead developer of GRM Atelier. We talk about his history developing alternate firmwares for Eurorack modules, composing for GRM's Acousmonium, and take a side trip to Fourier's tomb. GRM Atelier:...
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BCB X101 - Live in the Red Room PREVIEW
Shawn and Chris fly solo in the first of our Patreon exclusive bonus episodes. We talk about our first live sets, covering everything from failing computers and MIDI clock drift to passing out from drinking an entire bottle of chartreuse. Go to our Patreon and join the Alpha Tier to hear this...
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BCB 102 - Nonlinear Podcasting with Greg Zifcak
Greg Zifcak joins us to talk about early interactions with synthesizers in the Bay Area, becoming a more social shut-in, doing math on the synthesizer, and Moroccan rhythms. Greg Zifcak - "Chaabishaav" https://ziftracks.bandcamp.com/album/chaabishaav Greg's Website: https://www.gzifcak.net/ Hit…
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BCB 101 - You're On Lava Lamp with John Elliott
John Elliott from Emeralds, Imaginary Softwoods, Spectrum Spools, and more joins us to talk about basement dwelling Cleveland gear flippers, laptops on stage, and how good Pink Floyd sounds on weed. Imaginary Softwoods: https://imaginarysoftwoods.bandcamp.com/ Hit the Patreon:...
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BCB 100 - "Basecamp's Back on the Menu, Boys" is Back on the Menu, Boys
Shawn and Chris are back with season 2 of Base Camp Beta premiering a cool 6 years after season 1. In this episode we discuss our new plans for the podcast - namely interviewing fellow artists and trying to figure out what it means to be an artist under whatever stage of capitalism it is we're...
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BCB 034 - 909's and Hobart Mixers with P. Leone
On this Very Special Episode of Base Camp Beta, Chris and Shawn trek down to Sheepshead Bay to visit their friend Salvatore Carlino aka P. Leone at his newly opened pizzeria, Lucia of Avenue X. After having some killer slices, they dive into a deep discussion of the topics that really matter:...
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BCB033 - Flight Path to JFK
Chris and Shawn hike to Prospect Park, eat jerk chicken, and then have a technical glitch while talking about their now-infallible recording process. They reconvene a few days later to talk about the art of learning.
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BCB032 - Live From L&B Spumoni Gardens
Live from L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn, NY. We talk giallo and italo-disco, dough hydration, and Richard H Kirk.
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BCB031 - Loveland Institute Of Technology
RIP Jasen Loveland We dedicate this episode to our friend Andrew Smith aka Jasen Loveland who recently passed away. An incredibly prolific producer who immersed himself deeply in his music, we read through his "12 Studio Traditions" - a set of guidelines and traditions for keeping creativity...
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BCB030 - Dytiq My Coconuts
Real relaxed show today as Shawn and Chris begin to shoot the shit about Basic Channel's "Dytiq" and Kid Creole & The Coconuts "Don't Take My Coconuts" but quickly get derailed towards topics from sourdough to NFTs.
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BCB029 - The Slow Cancellation of the Future
The Base Camp Crew talks about Mark Fisher's 2013 essay "The Slow Cancellation of the Future", neoliberalism's effect on production and consumption of culture, and how 100 Gecs throws a wrench in to all of it. Mixed by David Tatasciore Opening music: Beau Wanzer - Basement Dwellers...
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BCB028 - Base Camp's Back On The Menu, Boys
Base Camp Beta is back and we're talking about RA and Boiler Room getting $1 million grants, the use of the word "community", and we try to imagine what a future for music could look like. Opening music: Beau Wanzer - Basement Dwellers [email protected]
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BCB027 - Construction Time Again
It’s Season 2 of Base Camp Beta and we’re back from a break of what seems like 20 years. We talk about Coronavirus (obviously), its impact on underground music, and (hopefully) the death of the neoliberal order. We then dive into Depeche Mode’s undersung masterpiece “Construction Time Again” and...
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A podcast by Shawn O'Sullivan and Gunnar Haslam talking about music, technology, and capitalism.https://patreon.com/basecampbeta
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