LLoyd, I don't know any of the technical stuff about them, but I do know that they have a very healing aspect to them and, you're right, they can really calm a person down. They sing to my soul and heart. I use them when counseling friends and family when they are upset. I don't play cause I gave mine to my neice, but I have some wonderful tapes. My favourite is John Rainer, Jr; then Coyote Oldman; then early Carlos Nakai, before he started cluttering up the sound with other people.

My mom used to get a faraway dreamy look in her eyes with a kind of wistful smile whenever she heard one played. I expect she felt the same kinds of deep connections to the earth and all creation like I do when hearing them.

When are you going to send Max a tape, so we can all hear you on Mudcat Radio? And, have you made a tape for your grandkid-to-be? when my daughter had her twins, I bought them a little nursery tape player and some good music tapes. When nothing else would calm them down or when mom and dad were exhausted or whatever, the music always worked. They still, at 17 months, do not go to sleep without some music on for a few minutes.

Good thread, Lloyd, thanks.

kat