TICKET CRYSTALS

Looking back in 2006 at about 15 years making music this is probably BARDO POND's most interesting diverse output so far. 'Ticket Crystals' is an album provided with a range of way-out and eclectic moments. US psych folk meets doom and drones - this is for trying to define the boundaries in one possible way. And so you will listen to mellow folk elements as well as to crashing rhythm and guitar work. Well dosed and arranged all in all - if you're feeling comfortable right in the middle of it you'll be confronted with an exciting trip.

The creeping opener Destroying Angel starts silky but immediately a thunderstorm is coming up with droning dual guitars. Flute and spaced out vocal contributions are trying to compete/prevail. An emotional suspense-packed track which makes curious for more. Isle shines as a heartbreaking melancholic ballad with flute and acoustic guitar. Over the course of time heavy psych guitars are faded in more and more which makes this song contradictory and very interesting. This is all headed by Isobel Sollenberg's compelling voice, coupled with hall effects. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) comes into my mind immediately. Lost Word is hard to digest because weird and containing some dissonance.

Most of the tracks are developed during live gigs I'm quite sure for to get really comfortable with the recordings. So to say for FC II which is nominated for the album highlight by me - a gliding meandering thing with a length of more than 18 minutes drifting through time and space. Creepy long-drawn-out (cello?) contributions and a wonderful psychedelic guitar - with a background which is near to a dub groove - very hypnotic with gradual changes and something for krautrock fans for sure.

Is there any further need to accentuate that this is not for everyone's taste? 'Ticket Crystals' is appealing to fans who like to hear music from the psych/krautrock and post/math rock border with an avantgarde approach and don't have problems with some dissonant elements. Or when you prefer to listen to noise rock bands like Sonic Youth then you're probably able to slump into their cosmos and may enjoy a very special performance.