FACT Magazine article: The Essential… Boards Of Canada

[fujee]

Its a cool article, but we all seem to agree its a bit off the mark in regards to essential, but thats just testament to the strength of their music.

Fuck, Boards are so good..

[Fireal420]

the campfire headphase is from beginning to end, my favorite boards of canada cd. you can easily become lost in all the layers of sound. i really enjoy the shorter tracks as well, a moment of clarity, sherbert head, and ataronchronon are brilliant.


i just feel as though the campfire headphase flows the best from beginning to end. it also seems very fresh even after all these years. i still seem to find things i havent noticed in the past when i listen to the album closely enough.

[Cupz]

TCHP is the only BoC album I still play every once in a while, in contrast to geogaddi & mhtrtc, which I only play once every 3 months or so. Its also the only one I just can't figure out completely. So many inaudible hidden samples just begging to be heard in your subconcious. It goes MELTY!...MELTY MELTY!.

[The Telepathic Kid]

oh but geogaddi's so comprehensible.

TCH is just shoegazey downtempo.

Geogaddi (and to a lesser extent, MHTRTC) challenges all conventions of music head first. It's one of the bravest and most original records I've ever heard. It dives into dark unknown territory without letting the listener catch their breath.

TCH is a nice car trip to the beach or some shit. I mean I like it but there's so much less to it. I could talk about Geogaddi for days. TCH is just so much simpler and peaceful.
Geogaddi forces you to take an opinion and a side. I've never heard the opinions that people have on Geogaddi ever before. I mean what kind of record makes people say "I love it, but I can never listen to it because it freaks me out too much"


I'm rambling sorry.

[Jonse]

<blah> TCH is much softer, dreamier and personal than Geogaddi. Geogaddi really seems to be about the experiences of other people, but TCH seems very personal. I read somewhere TCH is supposed to be about summer road trips, and of all the albums BOC has done, to me it really does sound the most like an album that could have been filtered through the haze of childhood memories. </blah>

This could work both ways in terms of making an album enjoyable or not. While some people may prefer a "softer" album, others may prefer a more hectic and complex album.

The same can also be said about it being personal and whatnot, in that it is totally subjective to your childhood and whatnot. Since mine was confusing and full of both enjoyable and unsettling moments, Geogaddi seems very much so personal to me, while TCH feels a bit shallow compared to its predecessors.

However, a rep of it being a "bad album" is just someone being a dickhead. To each their own preference, but I think generally it can be agreed upon here that BoC has not made a bad album.

I mean what kind of record makes people say "I love it, but I can never listen to it because it freaks me out too much"


I'm rambling sorry.

Honestly, and I don't mean to be rude by this, someone who is legitimately freaked out by any part of any Boards album is probably stuck in childhood in their mind and needs to grow up a bit.

Now, branching off a bit, one thing that I hear it so often...what is this correlation everyone with TCH to travelling in car/truck to some scenic location? Seriously? I think I'm the only one I've talked to who doesn't have that vision when listening to the album.

[hexagon son]

Ive probably only listened to Geogaddi, since its release, perhaps 20 times if that. It is a work of genius, yet so powerful and forceful, I have to prepare myself for the experience. It's not that it's inaccessable, but MHTRTC and CFHP have had far more listens by me, including their other works.

[Kathleen]

Now, branching off a bit, one thing that I hear it so often...what is this correlation everyone with TCH to travelling in car/truck to some scenic location? Seriously? I think I'm the only one I've talked to who doesn't have that vision when listening to the album.

I got that idea because I recall reading it an interview somewhere when the album first came out (can't remember where though), and when you have songs with titles like '84 Pontiac Dream it just seems to fit.

[cubistking1906]

I truly enjoy all of their records but I'll just say it: The Campfire Headphase was their finest work.

I've listened to them all countless times but the one I am always most thrilled to come back to is TCH. It's become my favorite record of all time really. My vinyl copy is the closest I'll ever get to owning a holy grail.

I would say that for me Twoism is the next best. Dark industrial boc in full form. Such fantastic atmosphere in that one.

The rest are all incredible of course, so let's be honest: it's kind of like picking kids here.

But I suppose if I was stranded on a desert island these are the two I'd pick.

[Mexicola]

I've listened to them all countless times but the one I am always most thrilled to come back to is TCH....

...The rest are all incredible of course, so let's be honest: it's kind of like picking kids here.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[The Telepathic Kid]

Honestly, and I don't mean to be rude by this, someone who is legitimately freaked out by any part of any Boards album is probably stuck in childhood in their mind and needs to grow up a bit.

Now, branching off a bit, one thing that I hear it so often...what is this correlation everyone with TCH to travelling in car/truck to some scenic location? Seriously? I think I'm the only one I've talked to who doesn't have that vision when listening to the album.

someone has a problem with opiniiiiooonnnnssss.... *whistles*

[Negamuse]

84 Pontiac Dream is the obvious one for that, the Knight Rider influence is pretty overt, but I can't say I get that feeling from the rest of the album. Trans Canada Highway, on the other hand, I really do. Something about that slightly brasher digital sound on there and the way the drums are stutter delayed on tracks like Skyliner... Just reminds me of those mid-80s TV shows where the sun was always shining and you'd see flashy open top cars whipping down the freeways past blurring scenery.

[portiss]

I've listened to them all countless times but the one I am always most thrilled to come back to is TCH....

...The rest are all incredible of course, so let's be honest: it's kind of like picking kids here.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

I agree with this as well. TCH is the first album that got me into them so it will always remain special. And ofcourse TCH is more accessible than MHTRTC and Geogaddi, but I don't see why that is a good or a bad thing. It doesn't always have to be weird patterns, backwards voices and stuff like that, sometimes less is more (hate that phrase, but imo it's true in this case). I have listened to TCH alot more than Geogaddi and MHTRTC, and I will be blasting it alot this summer again, nothing better than evenings outside with some beers, friends and TCH. However, I really love all the other stuff they have put out as well.

[Jonse]

Honestly, and I don't mean to be rude by this, someone who is legitimately freaked out by any part of any Boards album is probably stuck in childhood in their mind and needs to grow up a bit.

Now, branching off a bit, one thing that I hear it so often...what is this correlation everyone with TCH to travelling in car/truck to some scenic location? Seriously? I think I'm the only one I've talked to who doesn't have that vision when listening to the album.

someone has a problem with opiniiiiooonnnnssss.... *whistles*

I assure you, if you read my previous comments you'll see I do not have a problem with opinions. Everyone is completely entitled to their own and I will acknowledge it and not attempt to change it.

That doesn't mean I'm going to respect every opinion though.

I mean, someone could tell me that in their opinion Nickelback is a great band...and I'll tell them that in my opinion they're a dolt. I won't argue with them though on liking Nickelback.

Now if you consider that a "problem with opinions" then in that case, I do have a problem with certain opinions. Otherwise, no.

[Kamas009]

TCH and Twoism are the only boards albums that I can listen to from beginning to end, the others are riddled with dark notions that I just can't listen too on a daily basis.

[Mexicola]

Honestly, and I don't mean to be rude by this, someone who is legitimately freaked out by any part of any Boards album is probably stuck in childhood in their mind and needs to grow up a bit.

Now, branching off a bit, one thing that I hear it so often...what is this correlation everyone with TCH to travelling in car/truck to some scenic location? Seriously? I think I'm the only one I've talked to who doesn't have that vision when listening to the album.

someone has a problem with opiniiiiooonnnnssss.... *whistles*

I assure you, if you read my previous comments you'll see I do not have a problem with opinions. Everyone is completely entitled to their own and I will acknowledge it and not attempt to change it.

That doesn't mean I'm going to respect every opinion though.

I mean, someone could tell me that in their opinion Nickelback is a great band...and I'll tell them that in my opinion they're a dolt. I won't argue with them though on liking Nickelback.

Now if you consider that a "problem with opinions" then in that case, I do have a problem with certain opinions. Otherwise, no.

You know, considering you've moaned more than once about people picking on you, you don't half set yourself up to be shot at sometimes. Two posts ago, you effectively told TTK they 'need to grow up'.

I can only imagine what the reaction would be if somebody said that to you.

[Jonse]

someone has a problem with opiniiiiooonnnnssss.... *whistles*

I assure you, if you read my previous comments you'll see I do not have a problem with opinions. Everyone is completely entitled to their own and I will acknowledge it and not attempt to change it.

That doesn't mean I'm going to respect every opinion though.

I mean, someone could tell me that in their opinion Nickelback is a great band...and I'll tell them that in my opinion they're a dolt. I won't argue with them though on liking Nickelback.

Now if you consider that a "problem with opinions" then in that case, I do have a problem with certain opinions. Otherwise, no.

You know, considering you've moaned more than once about people picking on you, you don't half set yourself up to be shot at sometimes. Two posts ago, you effectively told TTK they 'need to grow up'.

I can only imagine what the reaction would be if somebody said that to you.

If he was referring to himself then yes, I did. No offense but I've heard so many times now upon recommending various music to others, Geogaddi included, the response of "why do you like this, this is scary!" and it bothers me because people essentially restrict themselves from loads of dark, psychedelic music that could profoundly impact them if they just could just get over what they perceive as scary in the music.

TTK does not bother me in this regard. It is apparent that he obviously very much so enjoys Geogaddi and listens to it. I seem to recall his statement about it freaking people out one of opinions he has noticed of others. If it is one he bears himself then I am prone to ask what about the album freaks him out, but regardless, what he has said about the album is an indicator he is not the kind of listener I am referring to.

Just to make it clear to TTK, if it seemed as though I was telling you that you need to grow up, I didn't mean it at all like that and apologize if it came off that way.



And on another note, Mexicola, I have only expressed distaste in Lens Larque for picking on me, simply because I had done nothing but try to be nice to him previously...however my more recent rebuttals to his posts in which he was bagging on me show an example of the reaction I have when someone effectively says that to me, since you're so interested in what it would be.

[Mexicola]

Just to make it clear to TTK, if it seemed as though I was telling you that you need to grow up, I didn't mean it at all like that and apologize if it came off that way.

And on another note, Mexicola, I have only expressed distaste in Lens Larque for picking on me, simply because I had done nothing but try to be nice to him previously...however my more recent rebuttals to his posts in which he was bagging on me show an example of the reaction I have when someone effectively says that to me, since you're so interested in what it would be.

That's kind of my point. You've had to put up with shite in the past (including on another forum as I recall? You posted a thread about it a while back) and yet you go and tell TTK to grow up for expressing an opinion??

To your credit, you've apologised and explained you didn't mean it how it sounded. Great!

[Jonse]

Just to make it clear to TTK, if it seemed as though I was telling you that you need to grow up, I didn't mean it at all like that and apologize if it came off that way.

And on another note, Mexicola, I have only expressed distaste in Lens Larque for picking on me, simply because I had done nothing but try to be nice to him previously...however my more recent rebuttals to his posts in which he was bagging on me show an example of the reaction I have when someone effectively says that to me, since you're so interested in what it would be.

That's kind of my point. You've had to put up with shite in the past (including on another forum as I recall? You posted a thread about it a while back) and yet you go and tell TTK to grow up for expressing an opinion??

To your credit, you've apologised and explained you didn't mean it how it sounded. Great!

Well, I mean I'd have to be some kind of royal asshole to take a comment in a positive context someone made and tell them THEY needed to grow up, because of the opinions others who aren't them have sometimes in a negative context. That would make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I wouldn't do such a thing.

Unless I were on 4chan at the time.

[The Telepathic Kid]

I don't give two fucks what's said on the internet. It's the internet. Just seems you take everything so darned seriously Rodheh. Lighten up a li'l.

[IanRedpoint]

I mean, someone could tell me that in their opinion Nickelback is a great band...and I'll tell them that in my opinion they're a dolt. I won't argue with them though on liking Nickelback.

That's the problem right there. You can't make a judgement call and tell somebody that they are an idiot based upon having an opinion that's different to yours. It's a far more interesting conversation to get them to explain WHY they like Nickelback.

I have a friend who seriously loves heavy metal. It's not a type of music that I have any love for, but he could speak about Iron Maiden (for example) with as much passion and intelligence as we speak about BoC on here. He has nothing but my respect.

Likewise, my wife simply cannot listen to My Bloody Valentine's Loveless (one of my favourite records) but that has no bearing on my opinion of her.

Life can be very lonely if you always think less of people who don't share your opinions.

Anyway... TCH is BoC's most complex and rewarding work IMO. There's so much going on in each track that I've not exhausted it as I have most of MHTRTC and Geogaddi. Parts of Geogaddi still unsettle me (Opening the Mouth) but I genuinely like that about it. Music that provokes a reaction, even if not entirely pleasant, should be encouraged!