At 07:52 AM 1/27/2000 , you wrote:
quoted 3 lines could anyone give me the background on the mesmer
>could anyone give me the background on the mesmer
>release on ash international ? isn't it something to do
>with hypnosis?
You are correct, Mesmer is indeed somewhat related
to hypnosis for he his works were responsible for the
modern-day expression "mesmerized."
Here is the Ash International writeup on it:
Franz (Freidrich) Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), 'The
Wizard of Vienna', was an Austrian Physicist who
claimed he could cure diseases by correcting the
flow of animal magnetism in his patients' bodies
during séance-like group sessions. Mesmer was
offered 20,000 livres in Paris in 1778 for his secret,
but refused to divulge it.
Contemporaries established a commission to
investigate these claims, deducing that any cures
were due to the powers of suggestion - his audience
at the time were largely from among the rich Parisian
bourgeoisie, and apparently highly prone to such
influences. Mesmer's claims, however, did initiate
serious studies into hypnosis, especially by James
Braid (1795?-1860), the originator of the term
hypnotism (Hypnos = Greek God of sleep). Braid
proved the personal nature of the mesmeric influence,
but is little known today.
Even now there is very little serious study of
hypnosis, which has been sidelined as entertainment
for the masses, or a crank cure for psychic damage.
Research is desperately needed to study the
influence of 'the flicker effect' (induced by watching
television and cinema), the new range of 'videodrugs'
from Japan, or listening to repetitive sounds recorded
at certain frequencies. Music was an important factor
in Mesmer's works and he was a close friend of Mozart,
later affectionately teased in his opera Cosi fan tutti
A thorough investigation is also needed to establish the
validity of using Hypnotherapy in the healing process.
If hospitals and prison cells in western Europe have
adopted the use of colour as a healing tool, then so
could medical authorities and establishments use sound.
But we need to know more.
The results of any such enquiry promise to be
extraordinary.
Test yourself by using this record...observe from
within how the mind deals with repetition and boredom
by altering the sound - proof positive of active perception.
Note that the length of the tracks has been calculated to
induce the hypnagogic state. Once placed on the turntable,
under no circumstances allow any interruption, or the test
will be invalid.
. Mesmer: s/t lp (Ash International 1.8)
Tracks:
- Side A - 999 bars 22" 12'
- Side Z - Resolution mix 16"
Low Octane 11" 06'
And dont forget the excellent Mesmervariations comp
2xcd that followed the Mesmer LP. The contributors to
Mesmer Variations were asked to record a piece
influenced by the work of Mesmer. As a starting point
they were given a copy of the LP Mesmer (Ash 1.8),
released earlier this year. Side one of the vinyl recording
consisted of 999 identical bars, lasting 22 minutes 12
seconds. Side two was made up of an identical piece
recorded at a lower octave, and a separate original mix
by Resolution. Some have directly built on the pieces
on the record; others have started afresh. These works
are not remixes: they are original works inspired by the
dynamic effect the claims of Mesmer had on the thinking
world around him - effects which are still reverberating
today.
I dont have my copy with me so I cant provide a full
tracklisting now but contributers to this comp include
Drome, Gescom, Peter Rehberg, S.E.T.I., Ryoji Ikeda,
Bruce Gilbert, Resolution, Quest, Daniel Menche, and
Claus von Hausswolff to name just a few.
For more info on both these Mesmer releases check:
http://www.touch.demon.co.uk/ashint.htm
Hope this helps!
-->-Lance---
lance@inaudible.com
p.o. box 450715
westlake, ohio 44145
united states
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