| In Tibetan Buddhist cosmology the word, "Bardo" | | | | sound. Elements that while they were always present, |
| refers to an intermediate state. Specifically, a state | | | | are now more front and center allowing them to |
| between two lives on Earth.According to Tibetan | | | | shine.The obvious and most welcome of these is the |
| tradition after one has died and before one's next birth, | | | | voice and flute of Isobel Sollenberger. On previous |
| one's consciousness experiences a wide variety of | | | | releases her voice has, while adding texture, been |
| phenomena. These experiences and visions range | | | | primarily buried under a mountain of crushing feedback. |
| from beautiful to terrifying and provide one with | | | | Her flute has shown up before but on this album it also |
| opportunities to reach enlightenment or to suffer a | | | | takes center stage. The repositioning of Sollenberger |
| lower rebirth. This cosmic video game landscape is laid | | | | toward the center of Bardo Pond's sound is an |
| out in extreme detail within the pages of the Tibetan | | | | absolute masterstroke! Oddly for a voice that can |
| Book of the Dead. This book also serves as a guide | | | | sound as eerie and wistful as hers, it provides |
| to be read to the recently deceased to help them as | | | | somewhat of an anchor or focal point that helps guide |
| they navigate through the Bardo.A pond is a body of | | | | and propel these songs along. Bardo Pond's music has |
| water which is generally defined by its' size. A pond is | | | | always been a wild ride. they patch together huge |
| smaller than a lake and is usually shallow enough that | | | | crushing chunks of feedback with time-lag tempos and |
| sunlight can reach the bottom. Another defining | | | | wrap the whole business in a druggy, |
| characteristic is that ponds, as opposed to lakes, are | | | | vasoline-smeared gauze.Their music can sound like |
| usually the result of rain run-off, mineral springs or very | | | | summer lightning moving through a vast ocean of |
| small streams. Typically a pond has little or no outflow | | | | molasses and believe me folks, that's a very good |
| drainage and as a result ponds develop self-contained | | | | thing! Much as Sonic Youth has done on their newest, |
| ecosystems. Ponds also display the formation of | | | | Bardo Pond has taken one of their sonic signatures, |
| 'scum" which is the common name for the large | | | | noisy skronk, and is now using it more sparingly or |
| amount of dead and decaying vegetation condensing | | | | strategically. And just as it did on the SY's album this |
| on the surface of the water. A contributor to the pond | | | | usage shows both growth and power. It's like a great |
| scum buildup is the presence of algae which multiplies | | | | boxer saving their best punch for those perfect |
| rapidly in the nutrient rich and sunlight exposed | | | | moments. Another lovely aspect to this album are the |
| waters.In reading through these definitions I'm struck by | | | | song lengths. In a music culture absolutely awash in 2-3 |
| how, when combined, they provide a pretty good | | | | minute pop songs, Bardo Pond makes a statement |
| description of the music of the band, Bardo Pond.Okay, | | | | with the 8-18 minute pieces alone. It's as though they |
| for any of you literalists out there, I'm not suggesting | | | | are saying, "Slow down, pay attention. These things |
| that the band are all dead water spirits covered in | | | | take time" Highlight songs include, "Moonshine", "FCII", |
| scum! I'm speaking more of a poetic vision of their | | | | "Lost World" and a stunning cover of the Beatles "Cry, |
| music and how it winds out. Within their music we find | | | | Baby Cry".It is always a pleasant experience to hear a |
| elements of hallucinogenic visions and often there are | | | | band you love continue to evolve and grow. Bardo |
| large squishy mats of algae-like noise.With "Ticket | | | | Pond has recently released a flurry of small to |
| Crystals" (ATP Recordings) Bardo Pond has released | | | | microscopic independent discs on labels such as |
| its' best album yet. I don't say this lightly as they have | | | | 3-Lobed and aRCHIVE. All of these releases are |
| put out some heavy stuff in the past eleven years. In | | | | radically different so it's hard to say if the Sollenberger |
| particular the albums, 'Set and Setting" and "Dilate" are | | | | as central-axis is a new direction or a passing |
| awash in vast oceans of sound perfection and | | | | experiment. Hopefully it's a bit of both. Either way, |
| ambiance.However, "Ticket Crystals" simply sets a | | | | Bardo Pond has released an amazing disc here. It is a |
| new standard. It also re-prioritizes elements of their | | | | set of challenging, eye-opening and beautiful music. |