Song of the New Earth

Ward Serrill's documentary traces Tom Kenyon's journey from Nashville musician to internationally celebrated sound healer and psychotherapist. Kenyon's Acoustic Brain Research, founded in 1983, has made intriguing discoveries about the effects of sound and music on the brain. In performance, Kenyon creates a diverse aural experience using bells, drums, a “singing bowl,” and his own vocal prowess to recreate animal and nature sounds. The results can either be therapeutic or baffling, depending on one's approach to the subject; indeed, Song of the New Earth will likely polarize viewers into those who believe that Kenyon is bringing a profound new dimension to our understanding of the human experience, and those who think he is a New Age kook. The latter camp will find high-grade ammo in Kenyon's talk of encounters with aliens during his meditation spells and his repeated visions of whales in flight (both of which are visualized here in animation). On the flip side, however, Kenyon is an articulate advocate of the importance of sound in achieving a body-mind-spirit balance, and his integration of contemporary sonic research with ancient traditions (Tibetan Buddhism, shamanism. Egyptian alchemy, etc.) is often fascinating. Bottom line: if viewers approach Kenyon with an open mind on some topics and a grain of salt on others, they may find themselves both entertained and enlightened. DVD extras include additional teachings by Kenyon, and a guide to overtone chanting. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)