News & History
March, 2026
Retrofit Side Quest: "Championship Vinyl Mix," streams at wfmu.org.
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November, 2025
Radio Retrofit: "Johnny Fever Mix" airs twice, Thanksgiving day, on Roots Radio on the Sonic Planet.
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November-December, 2025
Radio Retrofit: KBHR “Autumn’s End mix” streams at wfmu.org.
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October, 2025
Interview with Ergo Phizmiz and Lottie Depresstival, on Sound Art Radio, in the UK.
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October 28, 2025
Radio Retrofi:. WKRP “Turkey Drop Mix” streams at wfmu.org
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October, 2025
Interviewed by Lance McAlister, host of iHeart Radio’s Sports Talk, on 700 WLW, in Cincinnati, OH.
October, 2025
Maker Park Radio Interview. Demystify with Neil Mitchell airs Radio Retrofit’s WKRP episodes, in conjunction with the interview.
See it - HERE (interview starts ~25:00)
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October, 2025
Radio Retrofit airs on CFRC 101.9 FM in Kingston, Ontario.
August, 2025
Remind Magazine feature about Radio Retrofit's "Johnny Fever Mix."
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July, 2025
Radio Retrofit: WIXU “Clem Clements Mix” streams at wfmu.org.
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May-June, 2025
Radio Retrofit: WKPX “Hard Harry Mix” streams at wfmu.org.
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March-April, 2025
Radio Retrofit: WKRP “Venus Flytrap Mix” streams at wfmu.org.
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January, 2025
Radio Retrofit: KFLM "Doctor Retro Mix" streams at wfmu.org.
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January, 2025
Radio Retrofit: AFVN "Airman Adrian Mix" streams at wfmu.org.
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December, 2024
New sound collage by Escape Mechanism featured on Risk! Podcast "Holiday Stories #17."
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Fall, 2024
Radio Retrofit: KBHR: “Cicelian Skies (Rainy Days & Tuesdays)” streams at wfmu.org.
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Spring, 2024
Radio Retrofit airs twice on KPIK-LP 96.5 FM (Stayton Oregon) - and on 99.9 FM KUPR (New Mexico).
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March, 2022
An updated House of the Haunted Ink Bottle (Escape Mechanism) included on Sheena The Album, in support of WFMU’s pledge drive.
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February, 2022
Tribute to Dr. Johnny Fever streams on the Sheena's Jungle Room stream, at wfmu.org (Radio Retrofit #1).
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Fall, 2021
New episodes begin streaming in The Wiggle Room, on the Sheena's Jungle Room stream, at wfmu.org.
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February, 2021
Some Assembly Required begins airing on KBOO, after re-launching as a monthly syndicated program, in January.
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June, 2020
Interviewed by PDSMIX for Masters of Mash.
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December, 2018
Violence and Devotion EP released digitally (Escape Mechanism), featuring original score for the play, Fear Of A Fuhrer (2005).
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December, 2018
Variations (Radio MACBA) - The concluding episode of Jon Leidecker's series on the history of sound collage gives SAR a shout out.
October 2016
Co-hosted, with Rich Lindsay, on Radio Lost & Found, on KBOO, in Portland, OR.
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September, 2012
Visual collage included in Collage/Assemblage Centennial, at The International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
July, 2012
Installation piece, That's The News (And I Am Out Of Here) presented at Rose Colored Glass, at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery, in Minneapolis.
March, 2012
Radio Boredcast - Part of AV Festival 12: As Slow As Possible, in the UK. Four episodes of Some Assembly Required are programmed. The online radio project is curated by Vicki Bennett (People Like Us).
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January, 2011
'Assembly' Disassembled feature in The Star Tribune.
"A decade before Girl Talk became famous for mashing up rock and hip-hop samples, there was "Some Assembly Required," which also throws in news bites, preacher sermons, kangaroo mating calls -- you name it..."
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December, 2010
50/50 CD compilation released.
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October, 2009
House Of The Haunted Ink Bottle released (Escape Mechanism). Collaboration with Heather Ryan Kelley.
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February, 2009
National Public Radio Interview: On Point with Tom Ashbrook.
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January, 2009
Mentioned in the January, 2009 issue of WIRED Magazine.
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January, 2009
Interview in Decider Twin Cities, The Onion's local arts and entertainment website.
November, 2008
Interview in the Marquee section of The American Press, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Marks the closing week of solo exhibition, Amendments, at McNeese State University's Abercrombie Gallery.
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October, 2008
Solo Exhibition at Abercrombie Gallery. Amendments is on display at McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
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October, 2008
(Emphasis Added) debuts on CMJ's RPM Charts.
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October, 2008
Wired's Blog Network features (Emphasis Added) in their Music section.
October, 2008
Estonia's Klassikaraadio dedicates an episode of its NYYD-muusika program to Recombinations artists. The program, titled "Korduvkasutatud Kultuur," translates to "Recycled Culture."
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October, 2008
Escape Mechanism is the Band of the Week at What To Wear During An Orange Alert...
September, 2008
Escape Mechanism's 2nd studio album, (Emphasis Added) released.
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July, 2008
kInDeRdEuTsCh pRoJeKtS premieres FOREIGN C. The new play by Abi Basch features sound collages by Escape Mechanism, with sound design by Paula Matthusen, at The Ontological Theater at St. Mark's Church, in New York City.
March 2, 2008
Some Assembly Required featured on The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National program, The Night Air.
Listen - Part ONE
Listen - Part TWO
February, 2008
Marquee #3 pictured, in Midwest Home magazine.
Feature on Robyne Robinson's art collection.
See the article - HERE
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November, 2007
The 2007 Festival of Appropriation featured in Metro Magazine, The Minnesota Daily, Minnesota Public Radio, mnartists.org and vitaMN.
November, 2007
The 2007 Festival of Appropriation, at The Soap Factory and Walker Art Center, in Minneapolis.
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Events include a Star Tribune Art Lab, at the Walker Art Center, with circuit bending workshop by Beatrix*JAR, a screening of Coleman Miller's 2005 collage film, Uso Justo, at the Walker, and an opening party with sets by Steinski and Mike the 2600 King, at The Soap Factory.
May, 2007​​
Sound Installation at The Rochester Art Center
That's The News (And I Am Out Of Here)
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April, 2007
The Spring/Summer 2007 issue of l'etoile magazine includes a short feature.
April, 2007
Four audio/video collages (Esape Mechanism) screened at Patrick's Cabaret, in Minneapolis: Why Does the Light Fall (Coleman Miller), Cycles (John Richardson), Paranoid (Chuck Olsen) and Let's Talk (Q&A) (Carrie Shanahan, Sarah Petersen).
April, 2007
Fragment Nation, at Rosalux Gallery, in Minneapolis.
Previewed in The Star Tribune.
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March, 2007
Recombinations releases new album by Lecture On Nothing, as a web exclusive, in collaboration with illegalart.net
December, 2006
Create, Destroy, Repeat, at Rosalux, in Minneapolis.
Previewed in The Star Tribune, The Minnesota Monthly
and Metro Magazine.
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November, 2006
mnartists/mnstories video feature. ​
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June, 2006
access + ENGAGE feature. The e-journal debuted the music video for Cycles (Escape Mechanism) by John Richardson, of R Room.
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Watch it HERE.
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May, 2006
Negativland's Mark Hosler, and Creative Electric's Dave Salmela, on Some Assembly Required to talk about Negativland's art exhibition at Creative Electric.
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January, 2006
Fear of a Fuhrer makes The Austin Chronicle's Top 10 Theatrical Treasures & Pleasures of 2005...
“Playwright Abi Basch's enigmatic exploration of enemies and betrayal in wartime generated more questions than answers, and yet its mysteries in suitcases, strangely beautiful dances, and haunting score by Adam Sultan and Jon Nelson, performed in the catacombs beneath the Brockett Theatre, made for one of the year's most mesmerizing hours.”
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December, 2005
Boing Boing points to the first SAR XMAS mix...
"Some Assembly Required is... about mashups and sound collage -- Jon Nelson, who does the show, made a great 50-minute X-Mas Mix. Take a listen!"
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Summer/Fall 2005
"The Recap" (Escape Mechanism) commissioned by Garage D'or Records, for Mezzo Fist's Can't Find My Habit CD.
August, 2005
Some Assembly Required presents Freddy Fresh at the Triple Rock Social Club, with DJ Retroblast.
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July, 2005
Some Assembly Required presents the 2005 Festival of Appropriation, featuring DJ Nikoless, with Plain ole Bill, Andrew Broder and Lori Barbero.
June, 2005
Austin Critics Table Award for Outstanding Original Score.
Read The Austin American Statesman's announcement HERE.
May, 2005
Sound Collage by Escape Mechanism featured in A Glossary of War Words, a new play by Abi Basch.
April, 2005
Fear of a Fuhrer debuts at the Blue Theater in Austin, Texas.
Six new sound collages (Escape Mechanism) are featured as part of this original play, written and directed by Abi Basch.
April, 2005
Now Showing: New Works by Jonathan Nelson and Amy Rice opens at Rosalux Gallery, featuring two new sound installation compositions.
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April, 2005
Listserv exhibited as part of The Fuse Box Festival, at the Blue Theater, in Austin, Texas.
February, 2005
A track from the live Escape Mechanism CD featured on NPR's online radio program All Songs Considered "Open Mic".
Listen HERE.
January, 2005
DJ Food (Strictly Kev, London) finishes an updated version of his Raiding the 20th Century, including a portion of the Some Assembly Required interview with Steinski.
November, 2004
Eesti Radio's Klassikaraadio (Estonia) features Recombinations artists on its Fantaasia radio program.
November, 2004
Resonance FM programmed a short feature on Recombinations on their Big Ears radio show.
November, 2004
The November/December issue of Ruminator Magazine features "COPYRIGHT, JESUS AND THE ART OF COLLAGE: An Interview with Mark Hosler of Negativland by Jon Nelson."
Click HERE to read the interview online.
October, 2004
Adventures in Illegal Art: Sound Unseen and Some Assembly Required present a multimedia presentation by Negativand's Mark Hosler at the Oak Street Cinema.
September, 2004
Escape Mechanism nominated for another Minnesota Music Award.
August, 2004
Two Turntables and a Saxophone: The Walker Art Center presents Christian Marclay. Co-presented with The Triple Rock Social Club and sponsored in part by Some Assembly Required.
June, 2004
Recombinations launches with 3 CD releases. Will a Computer Give you Kids? by The Coherent Encoherence, World of Splatt by Splatt and the self-titled Cast of Thousands with Escape Mechanism.
June, 2004
Cast of Thousands with Escape Mechanism release.
Read More about the Cast of Thousands HERE.
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November, 2003
5th Annual Festival of Appropriation, featuring live performances by The Evolution Control Committee and local circuit benders.
August, 2003
Some Assembly Required presents a live performance by The Evolution Control Committee, at Theatre de la Jeune Lune, along with a "Circuit Bender's Orchestra.”
August, 2003
Interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio's Word of Mouth about the Festival of Appropriation.
April, 2003
Interview segment featured in an episode of Video K, for Twin Cities Public Television.
See it HERE.
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January, 2003
"Hooked on phonics: Audio artist celebrates 4 years on the 'Assembly' line" appears in the Star Tribune.
"It was Surrealism, particularly the Surrealist preoccupation with dreams, that provided the impetus for Nelson's interest in sound collage as well as his use of sonic materials appropriated from the media wasteland. 'I wanted to create dreamlike states with sound,' he said. 'I could have done it for myself using all original material, but I wanted to be able to evoke similar feelings for others. I figured the best way to do that was to layer and juxtapose stuff from extant media sources.’"
Read the story HERE.
October, 2002
4th Annual Festival of Appropriation.
September, 2002
Sound Unseen and Some Assembly Required present a performance by People Like Us at The Walker Art Center.
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September, 2002
Live collaboration between Escape Mechanism, Steev Hise, the Tape-beatles and Wobbly released as a mini-CD by Staalplaat.
May, 2002
Listserv, installed at the Northrup King Building, as part of the 2002 Art-A-Whirl.
October, 2001
Some Assembly Required presents The 3rd Annual Festival of Appropriation.
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October, 2001
Listserv debuts at the Soap Factory, as part of the Shafted Sound series.
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October, 2001
Sound Unseen and Some Assembly Required present a panel discussion with The Tape-beatles, Wet Gate, Steev Hise and Kembrew McLeod, at The Walker Art Center, called "I Love Trash: Recycling Culture and Rewriting Copyright."
September, 2001
Cast of Thousands with Escape Mechanism perform live at the The Oak Street Cinema, opening for The Tape-beatles, as part of The 2001 Sound Unseen Underground Film and Music Festival.
The first of four evenings of collage, with John Oswald, Wet Gate, Wobbly and Steev Hise, The event was organized by Some Assembly Required with Sound Unseen.
Check out some photos taken at the Sound Unseen film festival.
See City Pages blurb, show poster & announcement.
July 23, 2001
Future Perfect performance, in the First Avenue Main Room.
See announcement.
May, 2001
Music video for Today (Escape Mechanism) airs on KUOM’s video showcase, Video K.
April, 2001
Some Assembly Required begins syndicating, airing on radio stations in Monticello and Chicago. KUOM adds the program to its broadcast schedule in May.
March, 2001
Yes Yoko Ono performance (Escape Mechanism) at The Walker Art Center.
See postcard.
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October 13, 2000
DeFacto(ry) Films performance(Escape Mechanism) at the Soap Factory. Curated by Craig Baldwin to conclude his artist's residency at The Walker Art Center.
See blurb & announcement.
August, 2000
Cast of Thousands with Escape Mechanism play two events, with film and video projections by the Iconagogo Collective, for The Polar Bear Club and Rain Taxi, at the Loring Bar, in Minneapolis.
August, 2000
The Collage Jukebox incorporates Escape Mechanism.
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July 4, 2000
Cast of Thousands with Escape Mechanism collaborate with Red Eye Cinema, at the Soap Factory, for Multiplex V.
See Corey Hanssen's poster.
July, 2000
Adbusters, Entertainment Weekly and many others review The Droplift Project as performance/CD release.
See postcard & Bizarre article.
June, 2000
Cast of Thousands with Escape Mechanism play the New Atlantis showcase at the Soap Factory.
See poster.
May, 2000
Toywar CD release. Featuring collage by Escape Mechanism, The Evolution Control Committee, Steev Hise, Negativland, People Like Us and Wobbly.
April, 2000
Escape Mechanism nominated for a Minnesota Music Award.
July, 1999
Performance at 4th annual Multiplex, at The Soap Factory.
April, 1999
Michaelangelo Matos reviews three Minneapolis electronic music artists (including Escape Mechanism) for The Wire.
March, 1999
Escape Mechanism listed #177 and #179 on the CMJ Top 200 for the first two weeks of March, 1999.
February, 1999
Arts feature in City Pages (Escape Mechanism).
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"Escape Mechanism's carefully crafted sound bites and familiar musical motifs on his self-titled debut are almost poppy ...an ambitious mixture of pop-culture artifacts, classic-pop sequences, and comedic spoken-word bits."
January, 1999
Some Assembly Required begins as a netcast at KUOM.
December, 1998
Debut full-length CD by Escape Mechanism.
October, 1997
Escape Mechanism EP, Box of Blue Paperclips, cassette release.