Acid Guru Pond is an interesting collaboration album between the always great and impressive Bardo Pond and the equally renowned Acid Mothers Temple and Guru Guru. Only looking at these names playing together should build up some big expectations. And of course this album surely does not disappoint, as it packs some astounding noisy psychedelic rock that mixes the elements characteristic to Bardo Pond, as well as those characteristic of Acid Mothers Temple.
The first track is simply titled ''Green'', and it packs a really fine noisy psychedelic rock jam in the vein of both these groups. The keywords here are distorted improvisational guitars in the vein of both Acid Mothers Temple and Bardo Pond. The track however tends to be quite melodic and is propelled forward by some fine drumming, while also having some interesting flute parts. All in all it is a truly astounding psych jam from start to finish. The same can be said about the second track ''Purple'', only for me this track ascends to even more greatness. The track starts off in a slower psych jam way. This does not last long however as the jam wanders off to some mesmerizing psyched out distortion in the vein of Acid Mothers Temple, while also being well-structured with some krautrockish rhythm that compliments the distortion laden jamming with some mellow forward propelling catchy momentum. The somewhat eerie vocals also add to the pure awesomeness of this fine jam that might be the best year 2016 has so far offered. The third track, as well as the fourth one titled ''Blue'' offer a similar mixture of noisy heavy psych in a krautrock and drone coating. All laden with distinct sounds that have become almost synonymous with Acid Mothers Temple and Bardo Pond. The last two tracks perhaps dwell more in the realm of distortion and drone than the previous tracks, and tend to be somewhat heavier, and in a sense pack some darker and murkier drone laden heavy psychedelia.
In general ''Acid Guru Pond'' does not have any drawbacks, and is interesting and compelling from start to finish. The album never gets boring and is for me the best psych rock release of this year so far. Of course nothing less could be expected from a collaboration album of these psych rock greats.
Some useful links:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzsXPdsPnWY
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/Bardo-Pond-Acid-Guru-Pond/release/8397802
