afflicted

The Afflicted trick Marc Spelmann

A spectator is asked to examine ten figure wound cards, confirming each is different with wounds in different places, the cards are mixed and one selected at random. The remaining cards are hidden from the performers view. The spectator is asked to visualize the performer with the wounds on their chosen card. A pay envelope and a needle are handed to a second spectator who is asked to first confirm there is something inside the envelope and then to pierce a single random hole through the item inside. Turning to the first spectator the performer begins to feel the wounds and indicates three separate places on their body to the astonishment of the spectator who confirms that the areas of the body mentioned are exactly the same as they were thinking of. The performer turns to the second spectator and removes a folded piece of paper from the envelope which proves to be a picture of a figure.. The pierced holes match perfectly with the wounds thought of by the first spectator and felt by the performer for an astonishing climax. There are two routines for The Afflicted, one which is perfect for mentalists and another for Magicians were wounds appear on a figure... The Afflicted is an amazing effect that is very different from anything else on the market and exceptionally easy to do. What people are saying: This can be a shocker. Marc is wise enough to know that the simple approach is sometimes the most miraculous. Annemann would have loved it. - Kenton Knepper Afflicted is a highly commercial routine that will draw screams from your audience. Afflicted makes me want to take up close-up magic again. - Richard Webster

Prodigal Sun
$17.95
Soul-searching progressive death metal from Sweden, avoiding reliance for its primary communication on established death metal standards, rather using the tools of its genre trade in the manner which progressive rock bands use rock elements. The result is death metal as if played by a 1970s progressive rock band. The psychedelic atmosphere and the cosmic and sometimes spiral melodies reminiscent of space rock give this music a strange character not typically associated with death metal. The compositions are quite involved; not to the extent that it is complex, but rather, like the best of experimental music, its many sections are organized in a fashion that suggests haphazardness, or jam-room randomness passed off as improvisational, yet intentionally resolves itself in aesthetically logical and pleasing conclusions. Though the music contains identifiable elements of early 1990s Swedish death metal, particularly the guitar melodies and leads, not to mention the Sunlight Studio production, which peculiarly merge the dark and the translucent, this bands adventurousness separated it from its contemporaries of the time (1992), most of whom were hoping to cash in on the success of Entombed and other forerunners of the Swedish scene. Prodigal Sun sounds like nothing else that was being produced in Sweden at the time of its release, but its the musics substance that allows this freshness its validity.

"Now... stop looking to the skies
no entity of light will help you
now... who created who?
Did man create god?"

The music is performed with an abundance of energy and skill, and this combined with the intelligence of structural design, especially the awareness of mood dynamic, makes this an exciting listen. The death metal growls are a bit goofy, which, at least for the first few listens, leaves the listener with the impression that this might have been more effective as an instrumental work, but in the context of the busy music with its and rapidly shifting in quick transitions, gives the bands sound an aura of madness, a lunacy that interestingly contrasts with the keen awareness of the music and its thematic presentation, exploring the self and its relation to a bizarre world and its destruction by its own inhabitants, a lost humanity falling into error of environmental destruction and technological obsession as it desperately and therefore thoughtlessly tries to make sense of its existence. The superficial uniformity of society, which unifies itself only through and for appearance, rather than for the purposes of logicality and harmony, is often contrasted by the band with pagan mythology, spirituality, and appreciation of nature, not so much for rebellions sake, but as a way to express through comparison the difference between its effects. Each song-as-journey ends only when all possible and adequate explorations and their elaborations have been exhausted to the degree required for each track to properly represent itself, resulting in engaging songs, which, however, are always legitimized because of the bands talent for interesting melodies and the eccentric atmosphere, which seems like a natural result of the combined elements rather than an intention of its creators. The production might be a tad muddy for music this involved, but the clarity of the guitars, always a staple of Sunlight Studios, brings out the sometimes weird yet mostly charming riffs and cosmic melodies.

"The home of life
we consume
man's ignorance
will seal his doom..."

The vocals are the weakest part of this album, but after a few listens this is hardly recognized, because the musical journey is, much like the journey of life, interesting enough to keep one from ending it because of one slight annoyance, which is quickly and easily overcome. Its inspired music, that in turn inspires its audience by its will to self-discovery and creation. The music rises and sets with the sun, eschewing the obscurity of night and the hollowness of midday. Its spirit is that of the dawn and early evening, as the rising and setting sun commenting on the events to come and those that have passed. Chaotic, overflowing with inspiration and surge, vision, imagination, exploding with creativity and power. Somehow this gifted band managed to become lost in the sea of Swedish death metal bands of the time, but they had a lot more to say, and much fresher and more interesting ways to say it, than most of their regional competition.

Hollywood Ending
$17.49
In eastern Iowa we are blessed with one good radio station (rock 108) that manages to pick up some independant bands, and age of daze is one of them. afflicted is a catchy little tune from this band, and the rest of the album is just as good. Worth hunting down a copy of the short lived cd release, or download the songs. good addition to any rock collection.

Historic Print (S): [Francis Schlatter, faith-healer, treating the afflicted and blessing handkerchiefs"]"
$187.00
Historic Print (S): [Francis Schlatter, faith-healer, treating the afflicted and blessing handkerchiefs"]"This is a museum quality, reproduction print on premium paper with archival/UV resistant inks. The framed work is single matted (ivory), under acrylic glass, with a hanging wire.Date: 1 photographic print.Subject: SOURCE: Library of Congress