The ethics of "BoC-alike" production.

[Jonse]

Is it ethical that someone produces a chair with similar features to an Eames?

This is a concern only for bedroom doodlers projecting their fantasies onto "eps" that no one cares about.

That reminds me - your soundcloud tracks are getting a bit numerous now. Not particularly interesting to me with the exception of that one track but numerous enough for a 4 track release nonetheless. What will you name yours?

There will not be as I am not delusional.

Perhaps we should be discussing the ethics of utilizing the largest Boards of Canada message board as a platform to spam home-made event "releases" year after year after YEAR in the hopes that it will somehow become something. Everyone is nice about it though, but it gets old. The same 3 or 4 people promoting each other in a tight circle for an audience of themselves.

And speaking of future releases, I await a product from you and your pals that exceeds Tomorrow's Harvest, as you have insanely stated that you could in a third of the time turn out the exact same record!

"There Will Not Be As I Am Not Delusonal Perhaps We Should Be Discussing the Ethics of Utilizing the Largest Boards of Canada Message Board As A Platform to Spam Home-made Event "Releases" Year After Year After YEAR In the Hopes That It Will Somehow Become Something Everyone Is Nice About It Though But It Gets Old the Same 3 or 4 People Promoting Each Other in A Tight Circle for An Audience of Themselves and Speaking of Future Releases I Await A Product From You and Your Pals That Exceeds Tomorrow's Harvest As You Have Insanely Stated That You Could In A Third of the Time Turn Out the Exact Same Record!"

- is an extremely long name for your first EP. Unquestionably intriguing, but long. Maybe a revision, perhaps? Whatever the case, have at it Lensy.

[Mexicola]

Here we go. Baton down the hatches...

It's been a while since you two 'bit' at one another. Not taking sides, but watching. Keep it civil please, BOTH of you.

Thank you.

[Cupz]

There will not be as I am not delusional.

Perhaps we should be discussing the ethics of utilizing the largest Boards of Canada message board as a platform to spam home-made event "releases" year after year after YEAR in the hopes that it will somehow become something. Everyone is nice about it though, but it gets old. The same 3 or 4 people promoting each other in a tight circle for an audience of themselves.

What does it mean to become something?

I'm pretty sure those 3 or 4 people understand that this message board is the least suitable platform for "promotion" and hitting it big with a "home-made event release". Thats exactly what makes these releases so special. You don't seriously post music on twoism with the intention to become a mega-star, do you? There are a lot of better places for that. And if I'd get signed to a major record label I probably wouldn't tell twoism and I'd pretend to be a failing musician, forever to infinity. Btw, Aesthetics is actually Reznor and Mexi is secretly Amon Tobin.

To me, posting tracks here is the same as posting what kind of sandwich you ate yesterday, but in twoism's native tongue, music.

And Mexi, wouldn't you agree that sometimes a heated discussion can lead to important self-discovery? There hasn't even been an all-caps scentence yet. And I love you, dear. You're doing fab.

[Lens Larque]

This isn't about sandwiches, you are very clearly seeking the approval of your peers. You are flavoring the Boards of Canada experience for the other thousands of members here with your projections.

[IanRedpoint]

I always seek peer approval of my sandwiches.

If you don't like other flavours then stick to the Boards of Canada sub-forum. Simple.

[Cupz]

I always seek peer approval of my sandwiches.

[Aerial Boundaries]

you are very clearly seeking the approval of your peers.

What is wrong with that, particularly in a section devoted to other music on a board with many other musicians? It is largely welcomed here as far as I see, most either listen or they ignore those releases.

Most people seek approval, it makes one less lonely and more confident. Can't be a bad thing as long as it is implied and not explicit e.g. "Is this good guys? Guys? Am I amazing?!"

[Lens Larque]

Its not crap is it?

I'm all about participation, in fact some really original interesting efforts have been placed recently, like #6's rap thing. That was interesting!

But to push the metaphor some of you folks are dumping way too much salt into the mix. I see some have re-grouped and re-branded themselves today, Hopefully this renewed focus will result in a decent release!

[Cupz]

Its not crap is it?

It was.

I see some have re-grouped and re-branded themselves today, Hopefully this renewed focus will result in a decent release!

If you mean what I think you mean, you're not quite right.

[Lens Larque]

Nothing Tomorrow's Harvest caliber then?

Rodeh, you posted passively today about some of your production techniques and foibles, establishing yourself as a serious electronica producer. How's the masterpiece coming?

[Mexicola]

Ok, so while some of us want to act like children, fine, thread locked until things cool down.

Easy.

[Mexicola]

Reopening now.

Lets keep it civil please.
Thank all kindly..

[The Telepathic Kid]

I agree and disagree with Lens at the same time.

I believe that the idea of BoC being all reverent and what everyone on this board attains to be is a little weird, but I get it, it's a BoC fanforum. If there's anything that I took from BoC with my own music is that the reason they're so acclaimed and they touched so many people is that they brought a sound which was different and new.
I want to be that, I don't want to try to emulate BoC, I want to be the next BoC by not being them, or anyone else, except myself.

[coffee grapes]

I have to agree, it's much like covering a band. Before I got into BoC, I was much into Tool, so what did I do? I went out and bought a guitar, a similar sounding metal distortion pedal, delay etc; all the tools to make Tool cover songs. When I got into BoC, pretty much did the same thing, got some cheap keyboards, utilized old VCRs for recording, etc.

I think the difference is that BoC have shown us how you can pretty much make some simple beautiful songs, by digging in your basement. Find an old Casio, circuit bend it, record it on an old tape deck, and voila: you just made a nice little vignette with a nice gritty damaged sound. Not to say that's how we all went about it, but the thing is, BoC is more than inspiring in the melodies and music they create. They've shown us how just fucking with electronics and having fun is all part of the game of making music. It's not about what sounds good and what doesn't, the important part is experimenting and having fun.

I know there are plenty of artists/ electronic acts out there who inspire in the same way, but I think BoC really hit hard with us all, cause of the relation to nostalgia. Suddenly were all throwing samples of old tv shows and commercials into our mixes. Cause it's easy, and effective, and fun..
As far as copying BoC...if you get into electronic music because of BoC, and they are what kinda lights the fire, why would our music not sound like them? The music I make reflects what I am into at the time.

I'm sure you can see how all of us musicians have progressed on here since OoT Volume one

[Valotonin]

did... did mexi just put them on the virtual naughty step?

[Mexicola]

Correct. Briefly

[Echo the Sun]

i've listened to to tycho a few times, but i haven't done any research into him. i don't know if he was inspired by boc or not, but i don't think his music makes it obvious. the songs i heard by tycho were simple vignettes made with vintage synths: an area often explored by artists who want to reference a certain era, and an area certainly not first explored by BOC. if you look at tycho's works more closely, their resemblance to the works of BOC—at least for me—starts to look rather trivial. the treatment of the sounds and the structure of the melodies are often quite different from those of BOC, all things being relative.

there's nothing wrong with wanting to create truly unique music. i think that should be the goal of all musicians. but, at the same time, it's almost (or altogether is) impossible to make perfectly unique music. i think your idea of what makes something BOC-like is too broad. i also think, though, that artists should avoid this area until they feel they can bring something truly fresh and great to it. BOC have no copyright over the area, but they have mastered it to such a degree that no one, not even themselves, can seem to top what they released well over a decade ago.

this area should not be called BOC-like music; in fact, it shouldn't be labelled an area of a genre at all. many already think it wrong to group it in with IDM, so i think it should be labelled a genre in and of itself. it is a genre that, despite not being the exclusive territory of BOC, artists should, nevertheless, avoid making music in unless they can revitalize it, because it is getting very stale.

when Skrillex came on to the dubstep scene, he changed a lot of things, and many, many artists followed in his footsteps (no pun intended). however, dubstep is certainly not Skrillex's sacred domain. people stopped making Skrillex-like dubstep not because they feared stepping on his toes (again, no pun intended), but simply because that sound was getting really old and overdone-sounding because no one was innovating. now, you might argue that people just started to realize how crappy Skrillex-like dubstep is, but Skrillex didn't sprinkle some magic dust over his audiences in order to make them like his music more. people legitimately liked that crap; they just got sick of it is all.

copying an artist is a difficult task because your music has to adhere to all of the artist's musical principles or outright plagiarize one of their songs or some part of it; it is not merely a matter of integrating a few aspects of their production or song-structuring techniques into your music. making stale-sounding music, on the other hand, is all too easy because all you have to do is follow in a tradition and make no effort to revitalize it.

so i say, go ahead, make simple vignettes with vintage synths and make synth tunes with strong melodies, hip-hop beats, and heavily-processed acoustic sounds, but just make sure to make them new.

[Cupz]

skrillex is better then tycho

oh no I didaant

[Mexicola]

Mexi is secretly Amon Tobin.

DJ Food actually, but good guess.

And Mexi, wouldn't you agree that sometimes a heated discussion can lead to important self-discovery? There hasn't even been an all-caps scentence yet. And I love you, dear. You're doing fab.

Thank you beautiful, the feeling is more than mutual.

I happen to agree with you, it's just that the dear readers don't have to deal with the barrage of PM's, often rather lengthy ones, from both sides of the 'discussion' stating why they're correct/not being difficult (honest).

Sometimes, it's easier to just remind certain characters where the line is before they cross it. Having said all of that, knock yourselves out you crazy kids. Weeks time we'll all be sat in the glorious Dorset sunshine with a pint on and we can talk properly and laugh at how ludicrous we all are

Happy trails / peace by the journey.

[Echo the Sun]

skrillex is better then tycho

oh no I didaant

i think tycho's pretty amateur. i hate skrillex, too, but i think he's got talent