on 9/15/04 12:06 PM, -<(::jason::)>- at ombass@mac.com wrote:
Very interesting:
"Initially, most users observe something akin to a perpetually metamorphosing Persian rug. Within 10 to 15 minutes, entoptic effects are likely to segue into a series of cinematic images, as the brain struggles to find a semblance of order in an otherwise endless, abstract chaos. During this process, one enters lucid dreaming."
Interesting quote. I became aware of the Dreammachine through my days as a Throbbing Gristle/Psychic Tv fan...I aquired the template from TOPY, and constructed several out of heavy paper (not the best medium, but it did work for a time)....An old trash-picked portable phonograph player served as it's mechanical device (it had speed 78, which was suggested as the proper speed to spin the Dreammachine at). In the late 80's, just as ACID HOUSE was breaking, a Dear Friend started throwing ACID HOUSE Parties at a local club in the crumbling East Coast city where we were located, and he invited me to help with developing a special Atmosphere for these functions....I brought along the Dreammachine and set it up in a room that was isolated somewhat from the main Dancing Area, and this room functioned as an early model (i believe) for the "Chill-Out" Area....The Dreammachine was set up in a corner on a table, with a Black-Light bulb dangling inside for illumination, and an old Boombox below supplying "Mood Music" (including, of course, "Brian Jones Presents the Pan Pipes of Jajouka", as well as "PTV Themes 1", "Reverend Jim Jones' Thee Last Supper", "William S. Burroughs' Breakthrough In Grey Room" and various cassettes of Rainforest Pygmy Songs)....Sweaty Dancers would come in and 'lounge', smoke 'cigarettes', and 'chill'--all the while in the wash of flickering Dreammachine light. Most were curious, some did not understand, but many certainly had positive experiences to relate. It was an experiment of sorts and certain facets of it could have been improved (in retrospect, the black-light bulb was too dim and the distant THROBBING of the main Dance Area might have interferred with the mood of the room); however, it did give a chance for a variety of folks to experience the uniqueness of real Dreammachine in action.
Sounds pretty cool! :-)
I guess William S. Burroughs was way big on these things.
Introduced of course to him by BRION GYSIN.
Here's the artist who makes them:
And an interview w/the artist:
http://www.newworlddisorder.ca/issuethree/interviews/woodard.html
And an article in LA Weekly:
I think i've seen these--are they made of wood? np: "Brian Jones Presents the Pan Pipes of Jajouka"