VHS Head - Trademark Ribbons of Gold

The Friendly Stranger · Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:37 pm

I can't help feeling like he's got the best cake recipe in the world and he's overcooked it. The concept is fantastic and technically it's amazing but it doesn't seem to come together. There's some moments of absolute genius but there's too much going on at times, it feels a bit forced. Some of the tracks can't breathe and the album as a whole doesn't flow.

I do like this album despite all of that but I think I admire it more. It's definitely a promising record, lots more to come for sure.

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 5:34 am

The Friendly Stranger wrote:I can't help feeling like he's got the best cake recipe in the world and he's overcooked it. The concept is fantastic and technically it's amazing but it doesn't seem to come together. There's some moments of absolute genius but there's too much going on at times, it feels a bit forced. Some of the tracks can't breathe and the album as a whole doesn't flow.

I do like this album despite all of that but I think I admire it more. It's definitely a promising record, lots more to come for sure.

yeah... i know what you mean.

Zykial · Post by **Zykial** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 10:01 am

wwbjd wrote:Yeah, it came early last week for me (or maybe the week before).. and I'm in Texas. Had a long way to travel.

Thanks for the info on the braille.. I had a bit of it translated and now I'll need to see if "funckarma" or whatever fits.. It definitely doesn't say SKAM. Part did say, "VHED"in one translation.

Too confusing.

definitely the artist name
all the Quinoline Yellow braille matches on releases, Bola braille matches on different releases, VHS Head EP and album match ...

Retrodreaming · Post by **Retrodreaming** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 2:00 pm

What a fantastic album,yeah arrived today at last!!!!! I dont think this is overcooked at all,and think it's the perfect mix of sound, not too much,in fact id like more!! But really this is a mood album,if your head is all over the place then id say dont listen lol.........anyway repeat is in order once again 10/10 cant wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patryk Ludamage · Post by **Patryk Ludamage** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 3:02 pm

I've already ordered Video Club and Trademark Ribbons of Gold - they'll arrive to me near the middle of October - I'm happy as hell

Retrodreaming · Post by **Retrodreaming** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:15 pm

Have to say im still playing this,it's f**king awesome,like a soundtrack to a dream,been playing it in 5 stereo which sounds awesome!! This is my Favourite album this year now!! Don't listen on your pc,go buy the CD or vinyl because there are sounds you will miss!! The best £9.99 ive spent this year!!

Dissolved · Post by **Dissolved** » Sun Sep 26, 2010 11:30 pm

I like what he's doing soundwise, there are some brilliant outings throughout this release and it's all technically impressive. I can hear why some people have said they feel it's too much and a bit cold but on repeat listens it really opens up fairly easily.
For me the main issue is the concept. It's an interesting one but I'm a big collector of UK Pre cert video's and I've been collecting them since the mid 80's so his concept was a bit overly familiar for me, nothing wrong with it at all but I prefer influences to be a bit more subtle probably, the track titles especially, to see songs referencing Jess Franco, Mario Bava, the DPP, Italian westerns, Frank Hennenlotter and Larry Cohen was a bit like being battered around the face with the obvious tributes.

I can't deny that VHS and underground film influenced my sound over the years too but I always strived to keep things a bit harder to pin down. I think when I first heard Boards of Canada, I was attracted to them because their imagery and song titles although giving an air of what they were about, were still subtle and mysterious. It's about the music though in the end.

Ident. Here's some nice UK pre cert video company idents,
they are great and nostalgic to watch for anyone who grew up with these, I've been trying to spot what label idents he sampled for the opener actually.

Intervision

Alpha/intervision

VTC (one of my favourite labels, so many great films on this label!)

Guild Home Video (this is the label I immediately thought of with "Trademark ribbons of Gold" actually!

EIV (Entertainment in Video) Another favourite

Hokushin

Rank

Actually, if you play this lot at the same time, it's pretty cool . : ) Anyway, felt I had to get that
out of my system. A great record.

Patryk Ludamage · Post by **Patryk Ludamage** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:33 pm

Guys, how much audio source do you identified from VHS Head tracks? I really wonder )
The wisard of speed and time Movie - the only one sourse what i know - anyone else maybe knows more?

Neto · Post by **Neto** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 2:34 am

to my ears it is the album of the year

waiting for my cd order from bleep!

Snufkin · Post by **Snufkin** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:24 am

I kinda wish they'd get back to me on the vinyl front...

-Snuf

Patryk Ludamage · Post by **Patryk Ludamage** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:36 am

My childhood was always in a front of the TV

One old TV company logos in my country reminds me of VHS Head's tracks

The Friendly Stranger · Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:44 pm

Warming to this more, it's certainly not an easy listen but there's some seriously good stuff here. Still all about Gianasi though

turquoise70 · Post by **turquoise70** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:43 am

The Friendly Stranger wrote:Still all about Gianasi though

Heck yeah

Patryk Ludamage · Post by **Patryk Ludamage** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:28 pm

YAY! I've got today Video Club and Trademark Ribbons of Gold on CDs

I'm so happy as hell

ross adey · Post by **ross adey** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:14 pm

i cannot believe how good this music is. i breezed over it a couple of months back, flicking through a song quickly thinking it was just another chopfest but i came back to it when someone sent me a link to a fan vid of 'rent responsibly'. absolutely stunning audio. the way the samples converge is no coincidence. they bleed in and out of one another like nothing i've ever heard before and i couldn't choose a favorite because each one is a shrine. there's a shit load of reasons why this could be boc; the obvious vhs references, the painstaking attention to detail of seemingly every element in every track, etc. but what really stuck out for me is 'heartbeat in the brain' i experienced similar aural magic listening to this as i did when i first listened to boards of canada's 'everything you do is a balloon' many moons ago, but while EYDIAB is utterly heart-wrenching and beautiful HITB is completely different. it just sort of... is. it's not trying to pull you in any emotional direction but is completely hypnotizing. it's a serene orb of stillness. in short - i fucking love vhs head.

lurkingrecords · Post by **lurkingrecords** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:39 pm

ross adey wrote:i cannot believe how good this music is. i breezed over it a couple of months back, flicking through a song quickly thinking it was just another chopfest but i came back to it when someone sent me a link to a fan vid of 'rent responsibly'. absolutely stunning audio. the way the samples converge is no coincidence. they bleed in and out of one another like nothing i've ever heard before and i couldn't choose a favorite because each one is a shrine. there's a shit load of reasons why this could be boc; the obvious vhs references, the painstaking attention to detail of seemingly every element in every track, etc. but what really stuck out for me is 'heartbeat in the brain' i experienced similar aural magic listening to this as i did when i first listened to boards of canada's 'everything you do is a balloon' many moons ago, but while EYDIAB is utterly heart-wrenching and beautiful HITB is completely different. it just sort of... is. it's not trying to pull you in any emotional direction but is completely hypnotizing. it's a serene orb of stillness. in short - i fucking love vhs head.

VHS Head is sooo good! 'Remote Control' and 'Trademark Ribbons of Gold' made me lose my shit, easily one of the best releases that was full of magic...however it's not Boards of Canada. This guy (Ade Blacow) is talented, definitely has a promising future if he keeps this quality up! It's probably really insulting to the guy if people just think it's Boards of Canada just because it's quality music. I want more VHS Head tunes!!!

ross adey · Post by **ross adey** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:52 pm

lurkingrecords wrote:
ross adey wrote:i cannot believe how good this music is. i breezed over it a couple of months back, flicking through a song quickly thinking it was just another chopfest but i came back to it when someone sent me a link to a fan vid of 'rent responsibly'. absolutely stunning audio. the way the samples converge is no coincidence. they bleed in and out of one another like nothing i've ever heard before and i couldn't choose a favorite because each one is a shrine. there's a shit load of reasons why this could be boc; the obvious vhs references, the painstaking attention to detail of seemingly every element in every track, etc. but what really stuck out for me is 'heartbeat in the brain' i experienced similar aural magic listening to this as i did when i first listened to boards of canada's 'everything you do is a balloon' many moons ago, but while EYDIAB is utterly heart-wrenching and beautiful HITB is completely different. it just sort of... is. it's not trying to pull you in any emotional direction but is completely hypnotizing. it's a serene orb of stillness. in short - i fucking love vhs head.
VHS Head is sooo good! 'Remote Control' and 'Trademark Ribbons of Gold' made me lose my shit, easily one of the best releases that was full of magic...however it's not Boards of Canada. This guy (Ade Blacow) is talented, definitely has a promising future if he keeps this quality up! It's probably really insulting to the guy if people just think it's Boards of Canada just because it's quality music. I want more VHS Head tunes!!!

agreed. it's just best to enjoy it for what it is and not draw comparisons. i really can't believe HOW good it is though.

The Friendly Stranger · Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:13 pm

Free house so listening to this LOUD! It's surprisingly accessible when you're not focusing on the detail. Incredible album. It's genuinely grown on me with every listen. I 'get' a different new track with every listen at the moment. Currently Twitch of The Nerve - like Jackson but even better which takes some skill.

Dissolved · Post by **Dissolved** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:23 am

It's a really quality album. I'm way over my initial skepticism about the slightly obvious theme of the release, now it makes sense and it was the music that quickly won me over.
I too wish people would stop thinking Boards of Canada were somehow involved or that it's a side project. Clearly it's a fresh unique release that definitely stands up on its own. There's so many details to pick up on repeated listens. I only hope he hasn't cornered himself too early with the Pre Cert Video tape theme, I'm sure whatever comes next will be pretty different. : )

Negamuse · Post by **Negamuse** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:32 am

I dunno, I just don't feel this. First couple of tracks and I was really on board with it but it seems like from track 3 on every time he has something going on he piles more and more chopped up rhythmic and glitchy stuff over the top. And I mean, I can listen to glitch and I can listen to breakcore but this is all so at-the-same-level it kind of bores my ears really quickly.

There are bits in a lot of the tracks that are genius, don't get me wrong. I just don't see myself sitting through the rest of it to get at them.