Bright Surroundings Dark Beginnings

AMG Review of Bright Surroundings Dark Beginnings

Martin Walters
All Music Guide

The seventh album from this legendary and somewhat cult avant rock trio, the '90s were a particularly prolific period, churning out a stack of LPs and singles in small editions. Long out of print, this LP has been reissued in CD format to equally limited availability. Bright Surroundings Dark Beginnings contains three of their finest extended ock improvisations: the side-long Eastern drone of "The Venerable Song (The Meaning of Which Is No Longer Known)" is a career highlight and "Omani Red Light" sees guitarist Rick Bishop take off into outer limits, resulting in a mesmerizing display of their instrumental prowess.