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Bardo Pond - S/T
:: March 10, 2011 :: by Anthony Gannon (Music Dept. Staff)
Bardo Pond’s eponymous eighth album is composed of seven acid rock songs that make the listener question if what they’re hearing is real or just an induced haze of noise their brain decided to feedback. Despite only being made up of seven songs the album lasts just over an hour, averaging just less than ten minutes a song.
Midway through the album, the listener is greeted with a 21-minute slow ride in the name of “Undone.” The first half is filled with noises and indiscernible singing courtesy of vocalist Isobel Sollenberger. The second half picks up the pace slightly, but doesn’t elaborate on anything established in the first half. This technique actually works out quite well because throughout the whole jam, there is a constantly, slowly building tension in the music. The twin guitars of the Gibbons brothers, John and Mike, are fuzzed to death and drenched in wah. They add to the tension and are constantly floating in and out of the pyramid of sound that works its way through the album.
Completing the pyramid at the base are the drummer and bassist, Ed Farnsworth and Clint Takeda respectively.
The other songs on the album follow the same formula of slow and driving noise that seems to say something without ever saying anything. There is a way this music is supposed to be performed and Bardo Pond doesn’t deviate from the band’s past work.
Known as the world’s most essential psychedelic rock experience, Bardo Pond have started 2011 with a burnt-out bang. Their fans wouldn’t have it any other way. This album may very well be the bone-chilling experience of the year.
Listen to the epic "Undone":