A very time-specific inspiration…
I realized just now that the astronauts have the same first names as the main characters from “Strange Brew…”
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More ASE. I was quite surprised by this though because this footage is from the TV station that my college owned and in which a large chunk of my degree was earned. That “Betty Lou” who introduces the couples in the “break dance” (probably not what you’d think) was the local children’s show host by the time I was born, and she retired in my Junior year. We kidnapped a hand-puppet that was used in the show, and no one ever even noticed. Good times…
…and real good music.
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That’s some weird footage. The way the boys and girls react, it’s like a mixed gay conversion session. The music just brings out the awkwardness.
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LOL in Iowa it absolutely would make sense for it to be that. We still have people trying to sell that BS here, even though we had marriage equality long before all but 2 or 3 other states.
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@Maxhirez @Bitnik …speaking of funny dance scenes 
There is a whole soundtrack LP from this TV series, the main title is the best though. Some of the props were hilarious as well, but it was the most expensive TV series in germany at the time starring well known actors. The storyline feels lame nowadays. 
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I just remembered that one of my favourite children’s television shows of the sixties was the Singing Ringing Tree, an East German production, which was shown by the BBC in the original German with an English narrative voice-over. It was so memorable that in the late 1990s I sought it out. A French friend bought me a VHS copy, and later I was able to buy a DVD online. The original music for that is very atmospheric and, some say, haunting. Here’s a clip with the BBC narration.
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That was absolutely Dadaist. The production value for a children’s television show in the 60s is insane! That studio must have been like the DDR version of the one they used for Bond films.
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I’ve seen this footage recently-probably in another “Are Sounds Electric” montage. Fascinating to get more context.
I think it was made in the fifties. The BBC picked it up for a series for children that they called “Tales from Europe.” They’d take interesting foreign language children’s television and film, slap on an English voice-over narrative, and broadcast it as short episodes in the after-school spot just before the early evening news.
More apropos music and inspiration, there is a large aeolian harp of sorts perched on a prominent hill in Burnley, called The Singing Ringing Tree, part of a series of sculptures collectively called Panopticon. Here’s a video of a live composition that combines the natural sounds of the sculpture with some synth.
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thanks, never seen this before. Would have feared as a child.
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When British people of my generation are asked to name the scariest TV show of their childhood, this one invariably shows up high on the list. The evil dwarf you see briefly in the clip I showed has a very frightening evil laugh, and at times is shown flying gleefully above high flames which he conjures up from the ground.
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cool thanks !
i went to see the others vid, and i like this too
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I picked this up just now on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune programme. John Anderson has a strong family connection with the Benedictine nuns at the Abbey of Jouques, and he’s working on a long project to publish their Gregorian Chant for the entirety of the three year liturgical cycle. You can hear what he’s got so far at this website:
These are untrained voices, everybody takes part, as is the tradition.
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I’ll see your Celldweller and raise you an instrumental:
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I’m listening to Slims by the Neil Crowley Trio, it’s what valves were meant for. 
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Looks like the Neumz website got overwhelmed with requests. I hope it’s just that, and not a loss of data.
Edit: the site is still running, they only blocked requests going to the top page.
Here’s a sample of their material.
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This is unfortunately the best quality video I could find, but this song seems more relevant now than ever. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next:
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The first sampler in history
“The Mellotron: A Keyboard with the Power of an Orchestra (1965)”
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