After a busy day I picked up the Sphinx of Imagination again (see my first review of the Sphinx of Imagination). I was in the tunnel vision mood after debugging computer code all day, so this seemed like the perfect thing to wind me out of it. I hoped for something that scooped out all the energy, and anxiety out of me like in the first listening. What I got was not that, but quite something unexpected! And I realised what this CD does so cleverly. Read on to find out more!…

First I put the head phones on, and I made sure it was a good pair – Senheiser. I put it on and after a few minutes it seemed quite thin and lacking in depth, something that really helped the calming effect in my first listening. Using the Sphinx with a weak pair of headphones with only moderate bass doesn’t do it justice. You need something with heavy bass. Either borrow a really nice pair of headphones with good bass or close the door and put it on your home system and turn the bass mostly up. It’ll be worth it, trust me.

I did the latter and put the Sphinx of Imagination CD through a nice hifi system. Laying down on a sofa or bed at the same level as the speakers really turns it an awesome experience. If you’re far higher than your speakers then you’re not getting to get the full effect – i found the best to be at the same level. Then put something over your eyes, a jumper or something – you need to shut out the light to help you wind-down.

Putting the CD on we are first introduced to some soundscapes and Hypnotica (deep male voice) talking – slowwwwly, and have an unusual intonation in the words.  Kind of like the words are drawn out and he hangs on syllables in a way that’s unusual. Along with the tinkering yet distant instrumental music it drew me into this world of wind, music and voice.

I stayed awake during all the listening and I remember the Shaman, which has a really terrific introduction and takes you deeper. Deeper is a word that Hypnotica uses a lot, and “inside”. I have my own theory on this which relate to the parts of the mind, which I’ll come onto in a minute. Getting to the Shaman was was where I felt the tenseness and built up energy dissipating away. I wished the Shaman would carry on throughout the CD but he goes on for about 5 minutes and then reappears later on.

After the Shaman we enter a landscape finding the Caves of Chaos which is like submliminal transportation down. Down into the depths of the caves, complete with a narrator and soundscape. I remember running feet, and then a drop. And then going down to the next level getting deeper into the caves. It became my world, and I was being led through it. There was a load more, including Goblins rhyming, and a girl speaking. I didn’t get that far because I felt refreshed and ready to go!

Sphinx of Imagination … it sucks you in and then releases you. In that process it takes away any tension and anxiety leaving you refreshed, like a new person. It’s awesome!

Now for a bit of analysis and comment The words are pretty much forgettable, I couldn’t remember any of them if I’d try. They all made sense at the time and had a soothing effect on my conscious mind.

In fact I found my conscious mind switching off, the part of my mind that analyses detail – facts – problems, and my subsconscious became more prominent. The feeling of pictures, sounds, emotion and colour all came to wash over me like a warm shower. This is the secret of this CD I’m sure … it gradually eases down  your conscious, thinking, mind and opens your subconscious.

Some people call this ‘a trance’, but I don’t think it is. It’s cleverly formed sounds that breakdown barriers in your mind, and settling down your conscious mind, and bringing out the emotional subconscious.

What I got, rather than a complete brain removal like in the first listening, I became involved in the world of the Sphinx.

Summary: Here’s what I found works to get the best out of the Sphinx of Imagination

1. Cover your eyes to shut out the light
2. Have no outside noises
3. Find a good quality speaker system with deep bass
4. Or a really good pair of headphones with low bass response
5. Lie down on a sofa or a bed
6. Start from the beginning of the CD
7. Listen and take it in …
8. That’s it!

Those work best for me!

My Rating for The Sphinx of Imagination

9/10.

AWESOME.

Try it and drop me a comment about how you got on.

Where to Buy

You can buy the Sphinx of Imagination here.