BOC Nevermen Remix (Instrumental)

[breadmaker]

As far as the Mr. Mistake instrumental goes, I like the vocal version of this song just fine, but it is cool to see it now stand in a way that we're more accustomed to from them. I like to think that putting this out there now means that this year is about their own work standing on its own and not remixes for other artists.

I wouldn't read too much into that. It's possible that Nevermen just wanted a long delay before the instrumental remix dropped because they knew that would be the version favored by BOC fans and they didn't want the vocal mix to get overshadowed.

[realspiel]

I think I'm in the complete minority here, to me this is just about ok. To me it sounds formulated a bit banal, generic and lacking creativity. I could easily imagine it soundtracking Broadchurch! For me on this they are straddling a fine line of mediocrity.

I hope they don't drift down this elevator style music and move closer to the darker headf**k that is Geogaddi.

[breadmaker]

I think I'm in the complete minority here, to me this is just about ok. To me it sounds formulated a bit banal, generic and lacking creativity. I could easily imagine it soundtracking Broadchurch! For me on this they are straddling a fine line of mediocrity.

I hope they don't drift down this elevator style music and move closer to the darker headf**k that is Geogaddi.

Part of me is always a little disappointed with BOC tracks that have easily identifiable instruments (ie - the drums in "peacock tail," the guitar in "dayvan cowboy.") Even though those individual elements technically sound amazing, there's something about the conventionality of them that brings the music a bit too down to earth for my liking (as opposed to beamed in from space where most of their catalog resides.) I love the drums that don't sound obviously acoustic or electronic, or the sounds that make you wonder "is that a piano that's been sampled and filtered into oblivion? wtf is that?" The Nevermen mix is definitely BOC in their more generic, terrestrial mode. So, it's sublime like everything they do, but comes closer to sounding just like Tycho on a good day than I feel comfortable with. It's for this reason alone that I think the Odd Nosdam remix is ultimately the more successful of the two.

But recent stuff like "jacquard causeway" is proof that they're still capable of making beguiling, idiosyncratic music that exists in its own weird world. I just think BOC enjoy acting like a "proper band" sometimes and reserve the right to not always be locked into one mode of music making.

[celadon]

Part of me is always a little disappointed with BOC tracks that have easily identifiable instruments (ie - the drums in "peacock tail," the guitar in "dayvan cowboy.") Even though those individual elements technically sound amazing, there's something about the conventionality of them that brings the music a bit too down to earth for my liking (as opposed to beamed in from space where most of their catalog resides.) I love the drums that don't sound obviously acoustic or electronic, or the sounds that make you wonder "is that a piano that's been sampled and filtered into oblivion? wtf is that?" The Nevermen mix is definitely BOC in their more generic, terrestrial mode. So, it's sublime like everything they do, but comes closer to sounding just like Tycho on a good day than I feel comfortable with. It's for this reason alone that I think the Odd Nosdam remix is ultimately the more successful of the two.

But recent stuff like "jacquard causeway" is proof that they're still capable of making beguiling, idiosyncratic music that exists in its own weird world. I just think BOC enjoy acting like a "proper band" sometimes and reserve the right to not always be locked into one mode of music making.

That might be a controvertsial view for some people. But it's one I find myself agreeing with for the older tracks you mention, but not so much with this Nevermen remix. Especially Peacock Tail - the sound of a finger callus sliding down a guitar string reminds me they are human. I'd rather see BoC - as you suggest - as some kind of amorphous entity that does not stoop to touch mortal artefacts

[breadmaker]

That might be a controvertsial view for some people. But it's one I find myself agreeing with for the older tracks you mention, but not so much with this Nevermen remix. Especially Peacock Tail - the sound of a finger callus sliding down a guitar string reminds me they are human. I'd rather see BoC - as you suggest - as some kind of amorphous entity that does not stoop to touch mortal artefacts

remember, though, that BOC might have been considerably more of a "mortal artifacts" band back in the early 90s, and so the presence of "real" sounding instruments might constitute a return to their roots than a new direction. (actually now that I write that, there may have been a Campfire Headphase era interview where they mention that specifically.) also the hand drumming in "alpha and omega" makes it not very much of a recent phenomenon anyway. but in general give me the "seemingly sampled from a slide projector" percussion from "kid for today" over the recognizable ride cymbals in the Nevermen remix any day (though officially I'm fine with either.)

[arvy]

I like this remix (both) reminds Late Night Tales series, Boards of canada romantic blues. Sad, dreamy and cozy. TH also sound romantic in some way, but first of all it was pretty industrial and even militaristic, but dreamy nonetheless. I hope they make this late night town dreams album, coma back to that ghost town in TH artwork but make him more alive, like we are living in it, every day life.

[Stickyfingers72]

I think I'm in the complete minority here, to me this is just about ok. To me it sounds formulated a bit banal, generic and lacking creativity. I could easily imagine it soundtracking Broadchurch! For me on this they are straddling a fine line of mediocrity.

I hope they don't drift down this elevator style music and move closer to the darker headf**k that is Geogaddi.

I kinda hear you on this, I found myself thinking "ooh this is nice" when hearing the instrumental for the first time properly, but at the same time thinking it wasn't anything amazing BOC wise either. Maybe a bit too formulated, the way the insect chatter/amphibian noise at the end fades in is just a tad too obvious for my liking, but only a tad. I really like the track...Nice in a mediocre way, but we want & expect better don't we boys & girls?

It's a remix, of which probably had to meet a deadline, nothing more, nothing less.

[john fonda]

really get where you are coming from, the lack of foley/found type sounds, especially in the percussion is missing for me

used to keep them far from the pool

That might be a controvertsial view for some people. But it's one I find myself agreeing with for the older tracks you mention, but not so much with this Nevermen remix. Especially Peacock Tail - the sound of a finger callus sliding down a guitar string reminds me they are human. I'd rather see BoC - as you suggest - as some kind of amorphous entity that does not stoop to touch mortal artefacts

remember, though, that BOC might have been considerably more of a "mortal artifacts" band back in the early 90s, and so the presence of "real" sounding instruments might constitute a return to their roots than a new direction. (actually now that I write that, there may have been a Campfire Headphase era interview where they mention that specifically.) also the hand drumming in "alpha and omega" makes it not very much of a recent phenomenon anyway. but in general give me the "seemingly sampled from a slide projector" percussion from "kid for today" over the recognizable ride cymbals in the Nevermen remix any day (though officially I'm fine with either.)

[arvy]

I think I'm in the complete minority here, to me this is just about ok. To me it sounds formulated a bit banal, generic and lacking creativity. I could easily imagine it soundtracking Broadchurch! For me on this they are straddling a fine line of mediocrity.

I hope they don't drift down this elevator style music and move closer to the darker headf**k that is Geogaddi.

I kinda hear you on this, I found myself thinking "ooh this is nice" when hearing the instrumental for the first time properly, but at the same time thinking it wasn't anything amazing BOC wise either. Maybe a bit too formulated, the way the insect chatter/amphibian noise at the end fades in is just a tad too obvious for my liking, but only a tad. I really like the track...Nice in a mediocre way, but we want & expect better don't we boys & girls?

It's a remix, of which probably had to meet a deadline, nothing more, nothing less.

I'm sorry, but did you said deadline?

[Wildfire]

I think I'm in the complete minority here, to me this is just about ok. To me it sounds formulated a bit banal, generic and lacking creativity. I could easily imagine it soundtracking Broadchurch! For me on this they are straddling a fine line of mediocrity.

I hope they don't drift down this elevator style music and move closer to the darker headf**k that is Geogaddi.

Nah I hear you, definitely not their strongest hour, relatively safe and simple arrangement and production. I often like their simplest stuff but even their simple stuff normally has some magic, I didn't get that from this track.

[thepastinsidepressant]

Over on their twitter account they liked this on the 10/02/17
"The amount of love I'd give for some new @boctransmission music! It would be huge! Please guys, tell us some news! <3"

[Opothecary]

Over on their twitter account they liked this on the 10/02/17
"The amount of love I'd give for some new @boctransmission music! It would be huge! Please guys, tell us some news! <3"

I think we will see a new video posted to Twitter by them on Sunday, either Seven Forty Seven or the Mr. Mistake instrumental.

[North by North]

I think I'm in the complete minority here, to me this is just about ok. To me it sounds formulated a bit banal, generic and lacking creativity. I could easily imagine it soundtracking Broadchurch! For me on this they are straddling a fine line of mediocrity.

I hope they don't drift down this elevator style music and move closer to the darker headf**k that is Geogaddi.

Nah I hear you, definitely not their strongest hour, relatively safe and simple arrangement and production. I often like their simplest stuff but even their simple stuff normally has some magic, I didn't get that from this track.

Agree. It's a bit sterile in my opinion. Good, no doubt though. Although, the instrumental version is technically out of context since the whole intent was the full remix of the original track, not a new instrumental BoC song. In that regard, I actually think this piece holds up better with the vocals (I'm a little shocked to say that).

[Wildfire]

I actually think this piece holds up better with the vocals (I'm a little shocked to say that).

Again I concur. I think the amount of enthusiasm of a BOC track is directly relational to how long you've had to wait for it and how many other tracks come out at the same time. I got super excited on my first listen, however I probably haven't listened to it more than 3 times in total.

[breadmaker]

Agree. It's a bit sterile in my opinion. Good, no doubt though. Although, the instrumental version is technically out of context since the whole intent was the full remix of the original track, not a new instrumental BoC song. In that regard, I actually think this piece holds up better with the vocals (I'm a little shocked to say that).

yeah I was also shocked to discover that the track actually works better with the vocals somehow. though I suppose the two mixes really are two different experiences, like the difference between a portrait and a landscape painting. In the absence of a focal point you do get a sense that something is missing even if the background is gorgeous.

Having said that I will probably listen to the instrumental version almost exclusively from this point on.

It's a remix, of which probably had to meet a deadline, nothing more, nothing less.

I'm sorry, but did you said deadline?

ha - I had the same reaction. I don't think BOC have ever rushed anything. They probably spent a month auditioning shaker eggs to get the right shaker egg sound.

[Opothecary]

I'm sure plenty of time and effort went into it, but I think it was written and designed to complement and showcase a vocal track so it's a little bit different than the typical tune. It's going to feel a little less full by design to avoid upstaging the original artist's work.

[thepastinsidepressant]

i like both versions, i don't hear too much 'extra' in the instrumental version, tbh i think its just because they were cloaked with the vocals that we only hear bits here and there now, i doubt they added anything to it?

having said all that, imo its not up there with their best nor do i wish for them to go a 4AD route, we have plenty of that material to listen to.

short as well, hate when they do that but that was the TH idea, i get that.

[breadmaker]

I'm sure plenty of time and effort went into it, but I think it was written and designed to complement and showcase a vocal track so it's a little bit different than the typical tune. It's going to feel a little less full by design to avoid upstaging the original artist's work.

remember the days when all of their remixes willfully upstaged the original artist's work? (sigh)

now might be a good time to revisit the insane bonkers genius of the Bubbah's Tum remix . . .

[northernlite]

I'm sure plenty of time and effort went into it, but I think it was written and designed to complement and showcase a vocal track so it's a little bit different than the typical tune. It's going to feel a little less full by design to avoid upstaging the original artist's work.

remember the days when all of their remixes willfully upstaged the original artist's work? (sigh)

now might be a good time to revisit the insane bonkers genius of the Bubbah's Tum remix . . .

That whole EP is awesome

[Alien Sugar]

This song is better than any other boards of canada song boards of canada has ever made. I hope they make another song just like it for 1 minute and 30 second long in the year 2025 for jesus sake. and it takes them eight years to release it in 2033. Christmas.