GOLDEN rule of journalism number one - never fall asleep while conducting an interview.

But for Dr Nick Webb sending said interviewer into slumber deep mid-interrogation would be unquestionably mission accomplished.

Swaythling-based acoustics graduate Nick has just released a pioneering CD of relaxation music that works in time with your resting heart rate.

And as this particular journalist experiences the tell-tale signs of heavy eyelids, reduced breathing rate and the warm snugly feeling so commonly associated with the land of nod, the 30-year-old former Southampton University student has further proof he might just be on to a winner.

Sonosync, as Nick's innovation has been titled, comprises three CDs with the same track listing repeated at three different speeds, the idea being that the music allows you to achieve a natural state of relaxation on a regular and controlled basis. An individual will feel more comfortable listening to a particular CD than the other two depending on their resting heart rate.

But it was discovered during trials that individuals were able to improve relaxation levels over a period of several weeks by progressing from the faster to slower CDs.

Conceived after a particularly irritating intervention from a ticking clock one morning, Nick began pondering as to whether there was any mileage it his heartbeat idea.

And following two years' investigation and composition, Sonosync was launched with the aim of sending the world to sleep.

Nick explained: "I was lying in bed and listening to the clock ticking. It was out of sync with my heartbeat and, for some reason, it really annoyed me so I started thinking about how tying music in time with heartbeats might be more calming and less stressful."

Friends and family of the Glastonbury-born musician acted as guinea pigs for the project as heartbeats were calculated in time with music, which in turn was speeded up or slowed down in time with heartbeats to ascertain the definitive CD speeds. Individuals are recommended to start off with CD 1, designed for relaxed pulse rates of 60-90 beats per minute although those with a resting rate of 50-60bpm maybe more comfortable kicking off with CD 2.

Trying to imagine what this experience is like without the appropriate musical accompaniment is difficult.

How can a CD running just marginally slower than another make so much difference to how relaxed you feel?

Well bizarrely it seems to.

With a resting pulse of 55bpm I, as advised, began by listening to CD 2.

Within minutes the combination of natural sounds, subtle echoes and Nick-composed piano sequences had me completely snoozy. As a contrast, Nick then introduced the ever so slightly faster CD 1.

It was a very odd reaction - the music was pleasant enough, almost barely distinguishable from the first CD yet I did not relax.

Something in my brain was telling me the CD needed to be slower, I just did not feel comfortable with the music that speed. On to CD 3, designed for a 50bpm or less resting heartbeat.

In theory, unless I had been so relaxed by my CD 2 experience that my heart rate had dropped below 50, this should have had the exact opposite effect to CD 1.

Sure enough literally seconds into the gentle lapping of the river sounds emanating from the stereo, I was irritated, I needed it faster.

Whether based in science or psychology, I couldn't argue the CDs were effective as relaxation tools.

Since its launch in October, Sonosync has already captured the imagination of airline First Choice who will be featuring the music on its in-flight Well Being channel from January 2005 while a company that supplies audio to Virgin and Cathay Pacific has also shown an interest.

Growing up in the shadow of arguably the world's most famous festival seemed to influence Nick musically from an early age. He got his first keyboard at the age of 11 before studying GSCE music and eventually ending up at Southampton University's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research.

Influenced by the Orb and Brian Eno, Nick set up his own record label - Farfield Records - while studying for his PhD in motion sickness and he also runs a music licensing website.

For further details visit www.sonosync.com