EVP Newsletter - No 09 - 1978

Magazine Overview

Title: EVP NEWSLETTER
Issue Date: November 1978
Issue Number: 9
Focus: Devoted to the Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP).

This issue of the EVP Newsletter delves into various aspects of Electronic Voice Phenomena, featuring articles, offers from researchers, and discussions on the nature and future of EVP.

Article: The Changing Characteristics of the EVP

By Tony Williamson, this article discusses observations on the evolution of EVP voices. Williamson notes that Gilbert Bonner, in a previous issue (No. 5), also mentioned changes. Williamson's own experience over recent months indicates that voice utterances are becoming more carefully phrased, and the polyglot mode of speaking appears to be waning. He provides examples from his collection, such as "Watching carefully Tony" and "we are the dead," describing them as more deliberate than typical EVP utterances. He also notes a decrease in melodic singing voices received in the Spring and Summer of 1977. Williamson suggests that the medium between this world and the world of the voices is sound or noise, and that entities may be learning and progressing, leading to these changes. He also addresses Peter Tyler's remarks from issue No. 5 regarding "Tyler Voices," stating he has received no response when attempting to identify the entity.

Article: COOPERATION IN EVP - A CALL FOR THE FACTS

By G Gilbert Bonner, this piece highlights a perceived lack of cooperation in reporting and publishing facts about EVP discoveries, even after 20 years. Bonner points out that English speakers owe their knowledge of the phenomena largely to Dr. Konstantin Raudive's translated research. He notes that Jurgenson's book "Radio Communication With The Dead" has not appeared in English, contributing to the limited understanding of his methods. Bonner expresses frustration at receiving no reply from Jurgenson and questions the "Interfrequency" technique. He criticizes the lack of sharing of technical information among researchers, which he believes makes scientists cautious about publishing their views. Bonner also mentions claims by W.A. Welch that Von Szalay discovered voices in 1936 but failed to record them, and references Raymond Bayless's report in the ASPR journal. Bonner concludes that Jurgenson was likely the first to make audible recordings in the late fifties. He also acknowledges the contributions of Professor Alex Schneider and Dr. Raplh Determeyer in psych-acoustic analysis.

Article: EVP a cult of the future?

By S Andrews, this article speculates on the future trajectory of EVP. Andrews predicts that EVP will become a new religion or cult, drawing parallels to the growth of UFO phenomena. He suggests that the Raudive method has been superseded, and that only a select few are now privy to the true nature of EVP, chosen by "ultra terrestrial entities" to spread the gospel. Andrews foresees a future where EVP voices are reverenced, with self-appointed "pundits" and "etheral discjockeys" emerging. He believes that the electronic nature of EVP will remove the stigma of being "soft" and appeal to those embarrassed by traditional religion or psychism. He asserts that while the phenomena of EVP is undeniable, the indirect nature of evidence will not deter followers. The "electronic priests" of this new religion will possess sophisticated equipment, potentially overshadowing amateur researchers. Andrews concludes by predicting that by this time next year, EVP will have become a cult.

Letters to the Editor

Letter from Cyril Luck, Norfolk:
Cyril Luck questions whether EVP results are being withheld from the public. He suggests that the entities themselves might be controlling the reception, quality, and content of voices for a specific reason, explaining the lack of significant breakthroughs. Luck also considers the potential psychological impact on the general public if a permanent breakthrough were announced, implying that entities might limit the pace of education due to human inability to comprehend the implications. He draws a parallel between Spiritualism and EVP research, noting that while advances in Spiritualism are confined to a limited circle, EVP could become worldwide if entities taught direct contact, potentially causing a "traumatic effect on our social life." He raises concerns about people attempting to contact deceased relatives and the risk of anti-social obsession or attracting undesirable entities.

Letter from S. Andrews, London:
S. Andrews expresses a sense of strangeness regarding recent developments in EVP, citing Raymond Cass's article in Psychic News and an account of Jurgenson's audience with the Pope. He questions the timing of this "sudden revelation" of EVP experiments, which seem to be far advanced compared to earlier work by Raudive. Andrews asks Alan, the editor, how he came to publish the interview article. He also points out a discrepancy, mentioning Eileen Buckle's book "The Scortion Mystery," which claims Philip Roders received clear voices via direct microphone method prior to 1956, predating Jurgenson's claims. Andrews finds Jurgenson's deference to Raudive laudable but believes it did not help other researchers. He suggests that the new developments might endorse his theory about Raudive's voices but could invalidate it if Jurgenson's claims of clear speeches are true. Andrews reiterates his belief that this new revelatory EVP will be the prerogative of a chosen few, like mediums, and that this new cult will seek disciples rather than researchers.

Offers and Subscription Information

This issue includes special offers for readers: David Ellis's book "THE MEDIUMSHIP OF THE TAPE RECORDER" is available for £1.50 post free. Gilbert Bonner offers a C90 Cassette (1½ hours) introducing EVP methods for £5.00 post free in the U.K. (post extra abroad).

The EVP Newsletter is available for £1.20 per year for 12 issues. Subscriptions and inquiries should be sent to the compiler, Alan Cleaver, at 12 Lime Tree Avenue, Bilton, RUGBY, Warwickshire CV22 7QT, England. A temporary address at 72 Gladys Avenue, North End, PORTSMOUTH is also provided for short-term mail, valid until at least December 15, 1978.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the evolving nature of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), the challenges and lack of cooperation within the research community, and the potential for EVP to transition from a research subject to a spiritual or cult-like phenomenon. The editorial stance, as represented by the compiler Alan, is one of openness to contributions and a desire to foster a community around EVP research. The newsletter actively promotes offers from researchers and encourages readers to send in their articles, letters, and ideas, indicating a commitment to disseminating information and fostering discussion within the field.