Austere
Pulse

Please note: the cover photography, design and layout done by M. Griffin of Hypnos.com.

Pulse, our first release for 2007 e.v. and on Hypnos' "Secret Sounds" series, is the last of our three ambient-styled minimalistic compositions that include Brainwave Encoding to help create certain states of mind.

Our first Minimalist composition was released in 1998 e.v. called "Convergence", followed by the 2004 e.v. release of "Eco", and now the final release of the series, "Pulse". They are all Minimalist compositions following the tenents of Steve Reich's " Music as a Gradual Process" (1968) but are also enhanced with what is known as "Brainwave Encoding" to help create an effect on the listener's mental state.

Each composition was arranged using a technique Reich called "phasing", where each discrete piece of music, or "phrase", is allowed to overlap the same or similar phrases but slightly, almost unperceptively out of sync in time with the original, creating a slowly evolving recording that changes subtly but perceptively over its entire course. As Reich wrote:

"To facilitate closely detailed listening a musical process should happen extremely gradually."

All three releases are designed to be played at normal or quiet levels, and are meant to be looped or played on repeat, with each piece slowly building up from near silence, growing to a quiet crescendo, and subsiding back to a whisper, only to quietly begin again.

This and the other two CDs are also designed to help put the listener into various "mind states" using a processing technique known as Brainwave Encoding, accentuated by mild and unnoticable bi-aural panning to create constructive and destructive interfernce in such a way as to create spatial sound characteristics so that the brainwaves should be somewhat effective even without the use of headphones, although it is most effective with them. These recordings are best enjoyed using headphones if possible.

" Convergence", was encoded with theta waves from 4-7 Hz is designed to help the listener obtain "high beta" states, to induce a feeling of calm, peace, and relaxation, to enchance meditation or contemplation, and create a relaxed state.

"Eco", is meant for an entirely different purpose. It is meant to be played quietly when going to sleep, and should help lull the listener into a relaxed state, and then into various deep sleep-related phases of brain patterns, in particular the "deep delta" state, which is when R.E.M. sleep, part of the most restful, occurs. It should help bring the listener out of the "alpha" state which is not restful but active and taxing, and back into "theta" and "deep delta" levels.

Finally, "Pulse" is encoded with alpha waves along with subtle bi-aural panning, and is designed to create a state of relaxed concentration and facilitiate creative activity. It is in many ways the opposite of "Eco", in that it could actually make it difficult to sleep, and rather create an atmosphere of creativity and inspiration while it is playing. Again, it works best while listened to headphones, but can be very effective without, listened to in repeat/looped mode at quiet volumes.

Our hope is that these compositions can be enjoyed on either or both levels: as true Minimalist compositions, written by composers who are very dedicated to the genre and have studied it for over 20 years each, and/or as aids in using musick as a way to create an atmosphere, just like the choice of lighting, burning incense or scented candles, and any other way one can try to appeal to the sense of smell, sight, and sound in order to help put one into a certain state of mind. If you, the listener, can appreciate this or any of these recordings in either way, then we feel our goal has been achieved, and we are pleased that you are able to find the wonder and enjoyment in each of them as we have ourselves.

And to those of you who have read this far, as always:

Thanks For Listening.

Samples & Reviews can be found here. You can order a copy through the Hypnos Online Store. More information on Pulse on Discogs.com.

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