The Universal Cosmic Groove

The Universal Cosmic Groove was a total freeform dada-anarchy radio show on 89.3 WAMH FM (Amherst College radio - Amherst, MA) Saturday Nights from 1992-1994. Inspired by Burroughs' cut-up theory and The Bowl, assorted cohorts blazed a new trail of slackadelic improvisation and juxtaposed fucked-up-itude.

Originally "The Hour of Slack", homemade tape-collage with weird thrift-store Lps, soon the burden of having to actually plan and pre-record the Hour became way too much and the show devolved into a spontaneous, unrehearsed, overmixed aural stew. Preparation consisted only of vague themes and a few featured selections. Each DJ would carry in an armload of Lps that would form the audio pool, along with use of the extensive WAMH vinyl library. There were certain tracks that would be played on every show (like Dick Hyman's "Legend of Johnny Pot"), but most records were new, some even unheard before the broadcast.

At worst, it sounded like tuning into six stations on the same frequency. At best, the random elements would converge into a semiotic symbiosis, with each disc or tape informing and blending with the others to create a brain-blasting psychedelic montage.

We have unearthed the dusty tapes and relics and are pleased to dedicate this archive to a remarkable piece of radio history.

10/25/92: Revolution Now!

Grand Funk - Lenny - Mothers - Chicago 7 - Just Say No - Deep Space - Mandatory Vacation Period - Beyond Unusual - Country Road - Dead Souls - ACtion - Oud - Strangely Ordinary - Beef - Star Trick - Sadie - I Like - Squid - Webhead - TG

Up Against The Wall, Kick Out The JAMs! This single-sided Groove tape takes you further from me back to 1969 w/ the heaviest mothers on the scene. Yippies, Hippies, Freaks and Anarchists storm the studio and blaze a trail for the unending radio play about nothing.

10/03/92: Mo

1 Golden Bough: pt 2 - mmm - jajouka - amy's wet spot - ahnold/miles - the boil - koreatown - dirty hairy - cop killer - shroud - drumkituva - surprise visit - habit - 1812 - it doesn't matter - be stoned - mancake - temptation

2 Sea: pacts with the devil - voodoo - hippies - amerikkka - 3 lil fishies - smoking - chilibean - wrestling - penis - rubber room - asia minor

3 Banshee: violince - banshee - hashishim - wcpaeb - chuck wood - montag - undifferentiated zebra puke - nothing - heroin

04/25/92: Heads [part 1 part 2]

The Monkees' Head provides the secret link in this installment of the UCG, weaving in and out of the sonic tapestry. Kind of like Dark Side of the Oz, this show was meant to be an alternate stoned soundtrack to the movie for those few illuminated listeners. The Manson Family, Huckleberry Hound, Last Poets, Bogart, Tibetan monks freakin' at the Freaker's Ball, Boss Hog, and the hillarious Gabe Kaplan. Extra-special static mix provided for your listening pleasure..."Can you dig it? Do you know?"

#1 The 'Hour of Slack'

We inaugurate the series of historic Universal Cosmic Groove recordings with the first ever "Hour of Slack". Though still somewhat structured compared to what will come later, early elements and motifs of the UCG can be heard, from the overplayed Kreskin album to Robert Drasnin's "Voodoo" to 60's dope comedy and politics. Sweat Loaf, Spud Rawlins, The Brag of the Subgenius, Oscar the Grouch, Angry Johnny, Cliff Burton and more...It's an ESP Party!