Relax through Hypnotism!
Posted on June 12, 2006 by nzshadow
Modern hypnosis is the oldest form of healing and relaxation known to man…
It is with this contradiction that my new favorite album begins. Attempting to document the utter brilliance of this record in words is I am afraid, a losing battle. This album needs to be heard to be fully appreciated. Then again, I do like a challenge so bear with me as I endeavor to convey all that is great about ‘Relax through Hypnotism!’
Firstly the cover. Does this image encourage relaxation? Those eyes look more like the eyes of a Hitchcockian villain. Then there is the exclamation point…
Our guide to relaxation is Ernest W.F. Harvey M.N.I (Eng,), M.C.S.M. (U.S.A), M.P.A. (S.A.) Wow! That’s a lot of letters, he obviously knows his hypnostuff. According to the plum-in-mouth English gentleman who spends the entirety of side one introducing Ernest, Hypnosis is all that and a big fat bag of chips. In fact it can even be useful in curing children’s nervous tension as “sometimes the child cannot take his troubles to his parents as they are only interested in their own social life and just cannot be bothered”!?!?
The image this invokes is as hilarious as the voice of Mr. Harvey.
As I said, all of side one is basically an introduction of Mr. Harvey, when I dropped the needle onto side two, I was expecting the voice of a great man, a strong, sure voice, the tones of a leader, instead we are subjected to the nasal whine of an elderly South African.
His commands are amazing, instead of saying relax, Ernest says “relaaaaax” sleepy becomes “sleeeeepy” and so on.
The hypnotism itself is just as amusing, basically Ernest names body parts, tells you they are getting “veeeeery heavy” and that’s about it.
After the hypnotism is done, Ernest barks “WAKE UP! WAKE UP!” and The English gentleman is back asking “how do you feel?” And letting us know that “every time you play this record you will feel better both physically and psychologically”.
Hooray for Ernest W.F. Harvey M.N.I (Eng,), M.C.S.M. (U.S.A), M.P.A. (S.A.).
Hooray for Hypnotism.
Filed under: Instructional / Educational
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