phenomeNEWS - This Month's Music Review

This Month's Music Review
by Greg Ozimek
music@wwnet.net

Ambient Support
For Learning, Working, and Creating
Tom Kenyon, M.A.
The Ultimate Brain series
Deep Rest
Tom Kenyon, M.A.

Both CDs by Tom Kenyon bathe your ears and therefore your whole physical being in acoustic waves which resonate with that which soothes and relaxes from one’s cells very core.

What is fun about both CDs is that they work!

Ambient Support provides background music which does not require headphones. Just turn it on and go about your study, work or creative endeavor for an extra edge.

Besides the CD audio with an emphasis at 10 Hz which research has identified with improved learning, mental clarity and relaxed alertness there are three simple subliminal affirmations woven in for your subconscious mind to enhance your activities.

Deep Rest includes three tracks: The 22 Minute Vacation which includes vocal instructions easing you through a deep excursion into low frequency sounds (with other music-type sounds) which induce deep relaxation; The 24 Minute Nap during which you close your eyes, let go and experience a great nap with no vocal guidance – just the inducing frequencies; and Sweet Delta which will ease you into sleep at night.

Certainly no coincidence that Sweet Delta is the last track because you can turn it on, let it play out for 22 minutes and then allow your CD player (or iPod) to go silent or off, as you are well into your sleep cycle.

I’ve ripped both CD albums to my iPod so they are always handy.

While iPod listening is convenient anywhere, my experience with Deep Rest is that I really want a bed nearby so I can tune in, curl up and zone out in comfort instead of having to sit up and end up with my head bobbing and slouching. Really.

These psychoacoustic recordings are a hit here and have been listened to a bunch.

iPod Toys

Thanks to all who have asked iPod related questions and spurred my exhaustive research or I’d never have reported back my findings here. While I prefer email leaving a voice message is fine.

Great accessories for the iPod are the goal of a treasure hunt I thought shouldn’t exist. After all, it should be easy to just buy something that works perfectly, right? like the iPod. Oh, what a surprise that turned into a quest.

When you misplace your car keys it is a guarantee that you will find them in the last place you look! Now that I’ve finally found iPod extras that work, I’ll share my too many hours of research with you. I hope you can pass the info along to others or eat this up if you’ve asked.

The innovators who are batting 1,000 are a company called Griffin Technologies (www.griffintechnologies.com) whose products are readily available locally (check their web site) – not that I found them first, second or third – hence the quest. I’m impressed and I’m using the following, all from Griffin Technologies.

The case and screen of my iPod with video has the same scratch problems everyone else’s has. The best case I’ve found is the iClear. It is crystal clear polycarbonate like the indestructible Nalgene water bottles (though my Nalgene is blue).

The RoadTrip is how I use my iPod in my car. The iPod sits securely on the RoadTrip which plugs into the lighter. It charges my iPod as it transmits into the car’s FM stereo radio. Very, very cool. Their iTrip also worked well but devoured the iPod’s battery.

Besides the Griffin PowerBlock which is an inexpensive way to charge the iPod at home on regular wall A/C the other item I cannot live without is the Griffin iFM. It is supposed to be an FM radio tuner for the iPod. It is fun and works well, but its other features make it stellar. iFM plugs into the bottom of the iPod and has a pause control, volume control, EQ on/off, next/last song select and an illuminated screen all in a tiny postage stamp sized box. At home my iPod is usually plugged into speakers and the iFM is the most excellent way to control the iPod.

DOMO’s new Sampler CD is now free with any CD purchase throughout this summer ending August 31, 2006. All you need to do is to purchase any CD from the DOMO catalog until August 31, 2006 and you will receive their fantastic collection of 14 tracks from DOMO’s most popular artists including Kitaro, Yoshida Brothers, Agatsuma, Uma, Dave Eggar and seven other eclectic artists. Cool breeze.

Fruit Salad – Yummy Yummy
The Wiggles

Yes, I’m kidding, but if you know or have a pre-schooler you already know all about The Wiggles from Australia. Other hot tunes include Potato, Big Red Car and Cold Spaghetti.

The Wiggles sing a range of songs from pop to Reggae to Irish. Their TV show appears on PBS and The Disney Channel. Their CDs, DVDs have sold in the millions since 1991. They perform live and tour internationally.

Now you know!