Liquid Invert Sunshine ran once a month on the PirateTV internet radio network during 2004 and 2005.  The show takes its name from the chemical structure of liquid invert sugar, designed to prevent the crystallization that forms in sugar-based liquids over time.  It is also a reference to the kinds of names given to different batches of LSD, often conatining refrences to sunshine.  The show is designed as both an homage to psychedelic days gone past and an attempt to keep these days alive by re-interpreting them through their continuing legacy in the present.  As such the show pays tribute to the legacy of progressive rock, rock-jazz fusion, and psychedelic music of all kinds through an exploration of the continuing influence of this music on the contemporary rock, jazz, electronic music and sample culture scenes.

The show consisted of three hour blocks of uninterrupted, continuously mixed excerpts from material both old and new that illustrate clear relationships between the classics and their contemporary counterparts.  At the heart of the show lies an appreciation for long stretches of instrumental rock between the poles of structured composition and free improvisation that was the hallmark of psychedelic and progressive rock bands of the 60s and 70s.  The show’s main strategy was mixing long stretches of jamming, instrumental improv, and ambient soundscapes in order to create simulations of epic live improvisational exploration.

The form of the show stems from my constant frustration with songs never being long enough, and their jam sections being even shorter. Liquid Invert Sunshine will be a place where these moments can be set free and extended to lengths and heights that truly suit their ambition but which have been stifled by whatever production or performance restrictions have kept them from this ambition over the years.

Finally, by blending and juxtaposing various eras of exploration within prog, jazz, psychedelic rock and electronica, the inherent timelessness of these forms will be emphasized, and their continuing relevance made apparent. But most importantly, I just really like this music and wish it would never end.

The show ran 6 distinct episodes, each one a single uninterruped mix lasting between 3 and 4 hours.  Podcasts of the shows will be made available soon.  In the meantime, here is a 30 minute excerpt from the final broadcast:

Playlist for this excerpt:

The Necks - Aquatic 1 >

Goblin - Suspiria >

Pink Floyd - Sheep >

Goblin - Witch >

The Necks - Aquatic 2