Bardo Pond are an adventurous band and with this, a rather unique sound is established, influenced by shoegaze and psychedelic rock. The genius of Bardo Pond is however, how their music creates a seamless fusion between the two genres and manages to out do most bands of either genre.

The chance to see such a relatively unknown band, in the Opera House nonetheless Australia, is extremely rare. This is the magic of Vivid, last year with Eno bringing fantastic electronic and ambient acts and this year with Reed and Anderson bringing a new breed of musicians.

Bardo Pond casually took to the stage and took up their instruments, less than 20 seconds into the opening song, the audience seemed to be entranced. No one was desperate the cram up the front, the entire crowd was so spread and even directly in front of the stage there was free standing room. The bands music has a unique type of beauty about it, and the ethereal presence that it created was almost hypnotic.

Isobel Sollenberger’s tormented, haunting and beautiful wails echoed throughout the walls of the studio, seamlessly fusing into the wall of sound her fellow band mates had created. However as the song continued, she stopped singing and picked up a flute. Mixed with the heavy feedback and distortion blowing from the stage, the rather unconventional instrument for such a genre blended perfectly, all the more adding to the bands powerful presence.

Bardo Pond played a songs ranging from their earliest albums including Amanita to Ticket Crystals to more recent unreleased material pleasing hardcore fans to punters interested in seeing what the band was like.

Vivid has given Sydney the opportunity to view some of the world’s most innovative and unique bands this year, from Boris and Melt-Banana; to slower musicians like Holly Miranda and My Brightest Diamond. However Bardo Pond has certainly been near the top of the Vivid Line-up.

After close to two hours of long washes of noise, feedback and distortion Bardo Pond had managed to create a truly rare and special experience, with their unique sound bordering very closely between beauty and chaos, leaving the audience speechless in their path.