Soma – Sound Bath: A Break For Body And Soul – Adelaide Fringe Review

The Flour Shed at Hart’s Mill, Fri 2 Mar [MUSIC – SA] Many Fringe shows begin by trying to whip the audience into a state of frenzied enthusiasm. Soma - Sound Bath does something different. You are encouraged to lie down, close your eyes, and try and get yourself into a meditative state for the Sound Bath you are about to experience is designed to slow down your body – your heart rate, your brainwaves, your blood pressure – and has in fact been created from biodata. What does that mean? In essence, every sound you hear in Soma - Sound Bath has been generated from numerical calculations of data that measures activity in the body. It’s quite a mind-bending notion. For those who want to know more the creators take some time after the show to take us around the fascinating Hart's Mill space and explain how all this works and how the project came to be. I chose to experience the sound bath while sitting in a chair because I didn’t want to fall asleep. (Then what would I write here??) I definitely slowed down as the sounds flowed, looped, murmured, warbled, and hummed around me and between us all. Sometime into the performance I was emitting involuntary sighs of deep breath as my world became more reflective. Guido Van Helten’s superb mural from a previous Wonderwalls Festival still fills one entire wall and adds an extra element of mystery to the red light tinged space. And for those who choose to leave their eyes open it’s enchanting to watch an ethereal guest percussionist move slowly between large silhouetted gongs. This field of sound/music is known as Sacred Resonance, and this performance is an extension of a body transformation installation open during the day time. If you’d like to give your body and soul a break, and your mind a jolt, this is a gig for you. Quite a revelation actually. 4 stars Michael Coghlan Soma - Sound Bath continues at The Flour Shed at Hart’s Mill from 7.30pm until Sun 4 Mar Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe