THE VESICA MASSAGE (Originally released on CD in 2006)
An instrumental album of uniquely relaxing and memorably melodic music, performed by soft piano, gentle strings, ethereal voices and sweet electronics. THE VESICA MASSAGE is ideal for massage, meditation or relaxation, but this is real music, from one of the founder members of ‘Van der Graaf Generator’, not New Age wallpaper.

JUDGE SAYS:-
To me, THE VESICA MASSAGE is simply a different kind rock’n’roll...... With no guitars or drums..... And very slow...... I composed the work as a musical accompaniment to Therapeutic Massage, in consultation with Holistic Therapist Fiona Lindsay MA(Ed.), ICHT, FHT, RBFP. We were both aware that there is a great shortage of high-quality contemporary music that is suitable for playing during a massage session. Neither of us has a high opinion of the vast majority of 'New Age' or 'Relaxation' music that is currently available, and I became intrigued with her challenge to me to do something better. The composing and recording of THE VESICA MASSAGE took several months of serious work, and whatever the album is, it certainly isn’t a quick, knock-off, New Age pot-boiler.

My brief was to develop music that would induce a deep relaxation in the client. However, a more severe test was to create music that would also contain enough interest, variety and depth to make repeated listenings a real pleasure for the Therapist.

The process of composition was as challenging and rewarding for me as anything I have ever attempted. A massage session has its own structure and dynamics, and I tried to echo these in the composition. Massage also has its own rhythms, which I have mirrored in the peaceful pulse of the lullaby and barcarole. The tempo never strays beyond the range of the relaxed human pulse-rate, and in terms of development, each piece relaxes within itself, so that the fullest musical statements come towards the beginning of each track, with the music gradually becoming simpler and more elemental. The fundamental key of the work, G Major, is traditionally associated with peace, calm and happiness.

Since 2006, the original THE VESICA MASSAGE CD has been extensively tested in professional practice, and its music does appear to be genuinely effective in reinforcing the relaxing effects of Therapeutic Massage. It has also been chosen for use during Music Therapy sessions at a major London hospital.

The completed work was Mixed and Mastered by David Lord, producer of several CDs from New Age stars like Tim Wheater and Chlöe Goodchild.

Though written for therapists, THE VESICA MASSAGE has an appeal beyond the Treatment Room, and I believe that anyone who loves melodic music with the accent on deep relaxation will find much to like on this 76 minute album. However, I am not claiming to reprogram your DNA or rebalance your chakras. Enjoying the album doesn't involve buying into any weirdy mumbo-jumbo. No mystical flim-flam is involved. Just good tunes.

And for those of you who are understandably wary of 'Relaxation Music', I can promise you there are no endless drones, and no pan-pipes, didgeridoos, tribal chanting, sounds-of-the-rain-forest, or whales.