Welcome to Mars by Ken Hollings (writer and presenter) and Simon James (music & electronic sound production) 2006

First broadcast on Resonance FM, the London and online based art house radio station, and now available as twelve half-hour podcasts: Welcome to Mars is an ambitious, satirical and deeply engaging series, which encompasses the birth of the American half centaury in the 1950s, the Cold War, B-movies, UFO sightings, weird science and cover-ups – all told over an eerie ambient psychedelic sci-fi Theremin-inspired soundscapes. The unscripted narrative by Ken Hollings: author and trash culture buff, is highly informed and will be fascinating to anyone with even a passing interest in popular culture, politics and science. The sonic backdrops by Simon James: sound designer and studio engineer, are frankly superb in their own right and successfully adds an appropriately unnerving atmosphere to the proceedings. Within the soundscapes space-echoed 1950s adverts remind us of the naive hopefulness of post-war America against the cynical Machiavellian manipulations of industry and government.

Ken Hollings takes us on a surreal historic tour documenting the origins of post-modern history: from 1947 to 1959, from the development of the suburban America dream of household appliances and the nuclear family to Red Planet and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Ken Hollings does not hold back in referencing, cross-referencing and discussing just about every murky event and character of the era, including: the theory of Atlantis, flying saucers, Alistair Crowley, L. Ron Hubbard, the RAND Corporation, brainwashing and mind control, and that is just in the first couple of episodes. Some of the less ethical weird science experiments which stand out are: the U.S navy releasing anthrax bacteria in San Francisco Bay area and experimenting the effects of radiation on unwitting children with learning disabilities by lacing their milk with radioactive calcium and iron (courtesy of Atomic Energy Commission and Quaker Oats). All this is cleverly juxtaposed with a sarcastic but appreciative analysis of the classic B-movies of the time. In part four: Absolute Elsewhere, Ken Hollings walks us through the events of The Day the Earth Stood Still, making humorous observations about Klaatu’s general lack of progress and the unlikely residence of Earth that he meets. Lines like “It sounds as if you are talking about some kind of super carrot!” taken from the film The Thing from Another World which would ordinarily add a real sense of the absurdity are frequently overshadowed by the bigger picture truth: that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. Perhaps at times Ken Hollings is a little guilty of bringing together a few too many incongruent elements in attempting to make a cohesive whole. Certainly at times Welcome to Mars seems to be taking a step down the road of conspiracy theory fantasy, which might appeal or repel listeners, depending on their own opinions. However Ken Hollings largely debunks these conspiracy myths, while posing questions as to the validity of the bizarre fantasies of science at that time.

Welcome to Mars is an informed and intellectual discussion on the 1950s, which brings together many disparate topics, with a keen eye on their socio-political influences and repercussions. While highbrow, Ken Hollings narration is always accessible and never pompous, although a little background knowledge probably would not hurt the listening experience, as his familiarity with the era and its trash culture could intimidate the uninitiated. Still, whatever your knowledge, I guarantee that there will be at least a few juicy morsels of arcane wisdom here for you, and if you are not interested in at least some of what is on offer here then you probably have a problem walking and talking at the same time. Simon James’ music is a real bonus and I for one would eagerly snap up an official soundtrack for my listening pleasure. Best of all: all this is availably for free. So what are you waiting for?

Information on Ken Hollings can be found here: http://www.kenhollings.com/

Welcome to Mars can be downloaded here and you can also find more information on Simon James: http://www.simonsound.co.uk/index.html

Welcome to Mars was originally broadcast on Resonence FM, which can be listened to in London or online, and can be found here: http://www.resonancefm.com/

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~ by the english assassin on 10, July, 2006.