"Lovely Ways To Burn" (1990) by Gregory Whitehead is a fascinating docu-performance on the contradictory aspects of fire/electricity: seduction and power—fear and destruction. "Everybody's got the fever," a chorus sings in many variations, providing the glue for several intercut and inter-related stories: the fiery childhood memories of a young woman; expert ruminations on the use of electro-shock in therapy and as capital punishment; and sonic outbursts of pyromania. Commissioned by New American Radio.

In its ten years as a weekly national series, 1987-1998, New American Radio (NAR) commissioned and distributed over 300 original works: conceptual new drama, associational documentary, language explorations, sonic meditations, environmental compositions, musical explorations and works that pioneer new dimensions in acoustic space. Wave Farm is thrilled to be partnering with New American Radio to ensure these works remain available to listeners today and into the future.

New American Radio was organized by Helen Thorington, Executive Producer and Regine Beyer, Associate Producer. A special thanks to both Helen Thorington and Jo-Anne Green for their generous support and collaboration of this partnership, and their contribution to the field at large!

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