Your Journey Begins (MP3) Sound Bath Healing

This album is not so much music but rather a journey created through sound. There is a definite effect you can feel when listening - almost like an energy pulsating through the body as the mind relaxes and a wave of energy begins to flow within. The overall effect is definitely unlike any other album we have heard and very satisfying.

About the Instruments Used in the Making of the Album

Olivier Maxted (founder of Sound Bath Healing) created 'Your Journey Begins' using crystal singing bowls, didgeridoo and Tibetan bells. In fact (like his live sound bath sessions) the album was recorded in one take with Olivier playing all the instruments at the same time. This preserves the continuity of the different themes and movement of energy throughout the album from start to finish - just like a journey, hence the title of the album.

The crystal singing bowls have a very pleasant effect with the different harmonics they produce resonating together to create some very powerful effects through sound. Acoustically what is happening here is the mixing of different harmonics and sub-harmonics to form new layered frequencies upon other frequencies. The way crystal bowls work is that these frequencies are in tonal unison and very pleasing to the ear. In simple terms the sound is very soothing and unlike any other type of instrument. Crystal bowls have been used for centuries and are said to hold many special powers according to certain Shamanic, Buddhist & Hindu teachings. The didgeridoo also adds a very hypnotic like effect to the overall sound, and the Zen bells serve as a great way of signalling a change in direction of the journey and adding another level to the recording.

A Great Tool for Meditation or Spiritual Exploration

The concept behind Olivier's Sound Baths and this album is to provide a healing energy through sound and vibration (the sounds you cannot hear but feel). This has the effect of calming the mind and lowering levels of conscious thought.

The album continuously progresses into new directions over the 61 minutes, helping the listener reaching different levels of conscious awareness or meditation . The best way to listen is to lie back or become seated in a meditation posture, close your eyes, and let the sounds take you into different levels of mind. This is perfect for meditation for people who do not want be distracted by a guiding voice but still would like some background music to help still the mind. The sounds are very much non-obtrusive and shift ever so slightly in different directions over the course of the journey.

All in all we would have to say this is one of our favourite new albums in some time and definitely recommend for those seeking a way off switching off to the external and focusing on the internal for an hour or so.