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DVD/BOOK
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SDVD 003DVD
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$160.00
PREORDER
RELEASE DATE: 6/5/2026
DVD is NTSC, region free. "Ten years in the making, Brion Gysin's Dreamachine is being released by Soleilmoon Recordings, in cooperation with The Hafler Trio and Simply Superior. Gysin was a British-born Canadian painter and illustrator, best known for discovering 'cut-up' writing, the technique made famous by William S. Burroughs. With the assistance of Ian Sommerville, Gysin invented the Dreamachine, which at its essence is a rotating cylinder with a light hanging inside it. The user sits or stands in front of it, very near, with eyes closed. As it rotates, slots cut in the side allow flashes of light to hit the user's eyelids 8 or 13 times per second, matching the rate of Alpha waves produced by the brain during meditation or the early stages of sleep. The inspiration for the Dreamachine came to Gysin when he was traveling by bus along a road lined with tall trees. It was a transformational moment in Gysin's life, and the first Dreamachine was created in 1961, after more than two years of experimentation and tinkering. The package released by Soleilmoon includes a fully functional Dreamachine, designed to Brion Gysin's specifications, printed and diecut on sturdy, flexible and long-lasting vinyl. It's ready for use, right out of the box. Simply connect the overlapping velcro-lined edges, center the cylinder on an LP, lock it in place with a few pieces of sticky tape and then place it on a turntable, preferably one that can rotate at 78 RPM, although 45 RPM will work, too. Hang a lightbulb inside, then seat yourself near the rotating cylinder, close your eyes and wait for the dreamstate to be induced. An accompanying book includes three essays written by Andrew McKenzie, excerpts from a previously unpublished 1980 interview with Brion Gysin, and extensive notes on the dreamachine itself, written by McKenzie. The DVD contains four distinct sections, beginning with 'Pirate TV,' a 45 minute documentary film produced by Rabotnik TV and first aired in Amsterdam in 1988. This program was later released on VHS video by Staalplaat and Soleilmoon. Next is 'Aorta,' a short documentary on the first public exhibition of the Dreamachine 1988, in Amsterdam. Andrew McKenzie's 2008 lecture at CPH:DOX Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen follows. At the conclusion of the lecture the camera cuts an adjoining room where several Dreamachines are operating. The final section of the DVD features three audio-visual pieces, with sound composed by Andrew McKenzie. All of the audio material on the DVD is intended to be played on a 5.1 surround system, but is compatible with stereo equipment."
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