Down by the pond a toad sits sighing.....

Bardo Pond-Bufo Alvarius Amen 29:15-1995
Acid-rock, experimental, psychedelic-rock, drone.

Hey heroes, for you today I have some distortedly dense droning psych from a band called Bardo Pond.

Bardo Pond issued its first album, Bufo Alvarius Amen 29:15, in early 1995; its title was taken from the scientific name for the notorious hallucinogenic toad found in the western U.S. The CD version appended "Amen 29:15," a near-half-hour jam that marked Takeda's recorded debut with the band. Later that year, Compulsiv released a CD EP of leftover tracks called Big Laughing Jym. Bufo Alvarius sparked the interest of Matador Records, which signed Bardo Pond and issued their breakthrough sophomore effort, Amanita, in 1996. Titled after a little-known hallucinogen from India, the album won critical praise and substantially heightened the band's profile, as did their increasingly improvisational live shows.

It starts with feedback, hum, and fuzz, then a heavy guitar riff emerging from the murk -- arguably Bardo Pond in a nutshell. Then again, enough other bands do the same thing, so why should the Pond get singled out? It's hard to pin down an exact reason, but whatever "it" is that a band needs to connect, they've got it. The slow, stony pace that "Adhesive" establishes for Bufo Alvarius Amen 29:15 continues through the album's remaining tracks, but in such a way that Bardo Pond rapidly become their own band and not merely the sum of their influences. There's something about the combination of lo-fi crunch, post-shoegaze bliss-out, stoner Quaalude head-nodding, and Loop/Spacemen 3-inspired drone that's truly unique.

Standout moments abound: "Back Porch" has a series of instrumental breaks with brief, beautiful guitar lines, while on the soft jangle of "On a Side Street," various solos unfold slowly but surely in the background as lowly sung lyrics amble about. "Capillary River" has some astonishing, transcendent soloing in the middle of the song, building up to a brilliant final verse as Gibbons' vocals are lost in feedback and haze. The low-key shuffle/drone "Absence" is a good showcase for Sollenberger's singing -- sweeter and clearer here than might be expected. The CD version includes what might be the ultimate head-trip of them all, at least for this particular album: the 30-minute "Amen." The central part of the song is a fairly simple chord progression repeated again and again, but it's the various touches throughout the number -- the extra drones, watery deep reverb on the bass, and slow overall rhythm -- that make it the understated monster it is.
(All From AMG)

Its the bands debut in all its raw form, but a great listen, check out "Amanita" "Lapsed"or "Dilate" if you like this. I will also be posting "Dadamah-This is not a dream" next which is Roy Montgomery's band. Montgomery collaborated with Bardo Pond on a side project "Hash Jar Tempo".(inspired by the brilliant Ash Ra Tempel, whom I will also post)
Excellent album, its takes time to hear through the uber heavy distortion, but once you do it works beautifully. They have also jammed with Damo Suzuki's Network, which I've been lucky enough to have seen twice, the live recordings of the gig are immense, although currently not up anywhere I know-links would be appreciated.
jamscoopa

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