Where do you start with Bardo Pond? Ever since their first release in 1992, these Philadelphia stalwarts have continually amazed all comers with not only their songcraft and musicianship, but also with their steadfast and singular artistic vision. Close to thirty years and sixty releases later the trip continues unabated, their one true goal of flawless musical unity with the galaxy pressing ever forward. Not only have they outlasted many of their peers ' and labels ' with this pursuit, but their quest has created hyper-devoted fanbase but also a pool of folks sympathetic to Bardo Pond's cause but a little intimidated of their deep catalog and unsure of just exactly where they are supposed to start.

For these folks on the fringes, Three Lobed Recordings steps forth to definitely answer that central Bardo Pond question: start with Adrop and Circuit VIII. These two multi-movement suites drill down to the exact Bardo essence, each displaying how the band's longest-running lineup at a sustained creative peak could so easily hit all of the facets of their sound and experimentation in equal measure. That said, these two albums serve not only as starting points but also as reminders to the Bardo faithful of why they have ridden with the band for so long.