SPY VIBE RADIO: RAUMPATROUILLE

My new episode on Cocktail Nation is live! This month I introduce the classic Sci-Fi series from Germany, Raumpatrouille (1966) and play the main theme by Peter Thomas. Raumpatrouille (Space Patrol: The Fantastic Adventures of the Spaceship Orion) made its debut a mere week after Star Trek appeared in the US. The show was set in a future when a unified Earth had evolved into a cohesive government and colonized in space, as well as under the seas, where their main base was located. The Orion was commanded by Major Cliff McLane and his crew, and as it was revealed, defended humanity against The Frogs, an eerie and  mysterious alien threat. The series ran only seven episodes due to budget. Interestingly, scripts really struck a fierce tone of rebellion against bureaucracy and authority, which can tell us something about attitudes in societies around the world by 1966. In fact, the heroes of the Orion began the show with a dressing down by their superiors for bucking orders and were then sent out to a limited region of space with an official observer on board to make sure regulations were followed to the letter. Luckily for viewers, much suspense and adventure ensued!

Perhaps the most memorable element of Raumpatroulle was the show's jaw-dropping set designs. Interiors were highly modern in style, arranging geometric shapes in stark, minimal black and white. Imagine an ingenious Gerry Anderson world for a life-sized, tense, space adventure photographed for Ingmar Bergman! The influential 1963 Czech classic, Ikarie XB-1, had a similar visual style, which I highly recommend checking out. One of the coolest designs in the series was the Starlight Casino, located in the undersea base (I misspoke in my radio intro; I meant to say 'base' rather than 'ship'). This lounge reminded me a bit of Ken Adam designs for 007, with its metallic surfaces and juxtaposition between angular floorspace and a circular ceiling. In this case, the ceiling was a glass aquarium-view with gigantic tropical fish swinging overhead (In fact, the glass ceiling covered other parts of the base, too, including McLane's own pad). See the infamous modern dance scene below for a closer look. The series also made great use of modern furniture designs by Eames, Saarinen, and others. 

Composer Peter Thomas (Jerry Cotton, Edgar Wallace) brought his trademark combination of driving band and avant-garde jazz. He also used a very unusual piece of equipment to create the Orion's computer voice- a vocoder! According to Music in Science Fiction Television, Thomas had access to the vocoder at the studio from an electronics company in Munich called Siemens. Thomas recorded his own voice using the vocoder for the series. The famous countdown (and other computer dialog) appeared in episodes, but only appeared in front of the main title sequence for the soundtrack. Since the vocoder was so rare in those days, I wondered if such a device was also used for the Cybermen and Dalek voices in Doctor Who? I asked Mark Ayres from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, who shed some light on the matter: "No. Ring Modulator for Daleks. False Palate with speaker technique for Cybermen (similar to an Electrolarynx or Talk Box these days). Later Cybermen used a pitch-shifter. I cannot think of any monster voice done using the vocoder. Vocoder was used very rarely in Doctor Who. Peter Howell used it (the EMS Vocoder) on his version of the theme music in 1980, and it was also used for the “Thanks be to Ti” bits in Meglos. Those are the only specific instances I can recall, off the top of my head." Thanks, Mark! Outside the world of experimental music, I believe Thomas was a bit of a pioneer by bringing this cutting-edge sound to Raumpatrouille. Spy Vibers can probably find the episodes on-line, although I believe only a feature-cut made later has English subtitles. There are many subtleties to the plot and interactions between characters, so so try to watch it subtitled if possible. Hopefully we'll see an official release in translation someday. Spy Vibers can hear my brief intro and some music from the show at Cocktail Nation. Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe episodes on Cocktail Nation: Spycatcher J3, Phantom Agents, Phantom Agents II, Lupin the III, Public Eye, Fantomas, Upper Seven, The Beatles Help!, plus Episode #1 (Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint), and Episode #5 (The Avengers), Episode #6 (The Prisoner), and Episode #7 (The Ipcress File), Episode #8 (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.), Spy Vibe Radio: UFO, Spy Vibe Radio: Danger Diabolik, Spy Vibe Radio: Peter Gunn, Spy Vibe Radio: Jerry Cotton, Spy Vibe Radio: Flint, and Spy Vibe Radio: Get Smart.

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Remembering Richard Sala, Crime & Spy Jazz books, Soviet Space Graphics, Numan is FAB, Bruce Lee Blu, John Barry Event, RSD Vinyl Spies, James Bond's DB5, UFO CD Set, Spy Vibe radio: Phantom Agents, Steranko is Revolutionary!, Interview: The Saint I Ain't, Diabolik Interview, New 007 Song, Diabolik Figures, Diabolik Sounds, Diabolik Set Design, Diabolik Park Ride, Danger Diabolik Blu, Count Arthur Strong, Honey West Title Cards, Bowie Day, New Year Cosmonauts, Neil Innes R.I.P., Claudine Auger R.I.P., OHMSS at 50, Italian Job 50th OST, Charles Schulz Modern, Paul Desmond, Python 50th, Randall Hopkirk 50th, Thunderbirds Day, Lazenby Returns to MI6, Dr. John R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin III, Lupin Ska, Spy Vibe Prime, Zigomar Translation, The Village: Part 1, Monkey Punch R.I.P., Bubble Girl 63, ITC Soundtracks, Spy Vibe Radio: Public Eye, UFO Prime, Spaceship to Mars, Modesty Blaise Companion, Spy Vibe Radio: Fantomas, George Day, Fantomas Blu, Dark Shadows Doc, Bedazzled Blu-ray, Mary Quant Exhibit, Laika Calypso, Lost in Space Japan, Spy Dust Calypso, Atomic Cafe, John Barry Mono, Interview: John Barry Book, Land of the Giants Score, Skyfall Concert, Dearest Emma, Spy Vibe Radio: Upperseven, Ogilvy at Elstree, Mabuse Propaganda, Bond Beatles Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Liquidator, Diabolik LP, Fab Dresses, Eurospy Music Collection, Beetle Bailey in West Berlin, Why Mort Walker?, Spy Vibe radio: The Beatles Help!, Avengers Critical Guide, The Spotnicks, Benny Spies, James Pond 0017', Satire Stones, Annette Andre Book, Cat Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Get Smart, Caine: My Generation, Interview: Ian Ogilvy, Horror of Party Beach, Sylvie Vartan Renown, Ringo At 78, Dark Shadows Strips, Spy Vibe Radio: Flint, Archie Batman 66, Paul at 76, Beatles Pac-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Jerry Cotton, The Invaders, 007 Horowitz Book Tour, McGoohan/Prisoner Event at Elstree, The Prisoner Interviews Vol 1, British Underground Press, Interview: Fab4 Mania, Bond Cocktail Book, Bond at Bletchley, Spy Smasher, Spy Vibe Radio: Peter Gunn, Agent Zero M, New Prisoner Comic, Dr. No Villains Edition, Spy Vibe Radio: Danger Diabolik, Dr. No 60th, Oy-Oy-Seven, Spy Vibe Radio (UFO), Cold War Comic Strips, Thunderball Event, Mission to India, Mort Walker Celebration, Peter Wyngarde Celebration, Batman 66 Exhibit, Prisoner Fifty Event, Ian Fleming Publications 2017-2018, Interview: Ed Hulse Pulp, Avengers Audio Drama, Interview: Callan At 50, Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private Eyes, TWA Returns, Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.