Customer Reviews

The Shaman's Heart

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The Shaman's Heart is ethno-tribal music that is not only breathtaking, but will also induce an altered state of consciousness using Hemi-Sync technology. In this very powerful shamanic composition, Metcalf uses buffalo drums, rattles, udu, clay pots, seed pods, nature sounds, etc. It is very much like going on a mystical trip into a rainforest. I did not know what to expect when I first listened to it (use headphones!), but I can now say that it is incredibly effective and powerful.

This is a wonderful piece of shamanic music that incorporates hemi-sync, an audio technology that uses binaural beats which makes this shamanic music even more powerful. I love the hemi-sync technology, it helps to induce me into altered states of consciousness so this is a blessing to shamanic music.

As you may know, Hemi-Sync is a type of synthetic sound effect purported to induce beneficial changes in the state of mind of the listener. It can certainly be relaxing, although some may find the continual left-right channel sweeps and swooshes synthetic and distracting.

This recording is an "album" of percussion and synthesizer music with Hemi-sync in the background. For once, the Hemi-Sync drone is perhaps more interesting to listen to than the "real" music.

As the basis of this percussion concert, there is a synthetic shaker (played by "Roland", probably) going non-stop. I realize that it's hard to play the shaker perfectly for more than a couple minutes. I think they would have been better off leaving it out, rather than programming it in.

And there is a drum...and that's about it. A shaker and a single, fairly deep tom that plays every couple of bars. On top, some ambient synthesizer chords, like, three chords total maybe in the whole disc). Hardly any variety in percushion instruments or synthesizer sounds, no poly-rhythms, no recognizable change in pace at all! This is not a serious album of music. Oh, and a few insect, bird and frog sound effects too. Probably Roland as well. Very disappointing.

This was my first Hemi Sync CD and I have been enjoying it immensely since I first purchased it at a metaphysical fair in 2006. The Shaman's Heart has beat alongside of mine through many changes in my life. I absolutely LOVE this CD! I often use it to drift off into dreamland. It is absolutely wonderful for meditation.

It begins with a subtle beat that sounds like a heartbeat (ca-chug, ca-chug) and a rattle, and adds a base drum boom about every 16th beat. Slowly, additional drumming sounds are introduced along your journey through the album, as well as some sustained electronic chords. Although the sounds move around or change, they flow very well. It is just so relaxing, yet it "feels" so mystical, and kind of like you are deep in the jungle with a primitive tribe. You can easily envision yourself at the fire, surrounded by tee-pees, surrounded by warriors and their horses with the shaman himself dancing around the fire. The CD can stir up visions in your head or just lull you to a very deep and relaxing sleep.

Hemi Sync (Monroe Institute) is an audio-guidance technology based on over 40 years of research to create a synchronization of both sides of the brain while listening, said to deepen your immersion into a meditative state. There are no subliminal messages, just a cohesiveness where both the right and left sides of your brain join together.

The layers of drums and percussion include buffalo and frame drums, hybrid toms, didgeridoo, ocarinas, shamanic rattles, udu and clay pot, seed pods, and shells. The 7 tracks all flow from one to the next. You also hear an occasional nature sound or bird, as if you are deep in the jungle or forest.

If you like Tribal music or drumming and meditation, I believe you will absolutely LOVE this CD - about 73 minutes total.

THIS IS NOT A CD TO LISTEN TO IN THE CAR, or you will likely wind up in another dimension before your time.