SELECTIONS: VOLUMES 1-4

"Selections: Volumes I-IV collects songs that Bardo Pond originally sold on CD-Rs at gigs. Lately, the group seems to be clearing out the vaults: recently, the self-released Cypher Documents I¯a priced CD of Mp3s they once gave away on their Hummingbird Mountain Web site¯became available once again. And now this, a two disc collection that's more satisfying, as it pulls strong ideas straight from the rehearsal space instead of having too many second thoughts muddle the momentum on the mixing board. Many of the songs sound like rehashed versions of oldies while the band also indulges in experiments with tape loops and minimalist restrictions."