____twoism

The only controversial opinion I have about BoC at the moment is that they're almost getting TOO popular, lol.

About a week after the release, I took my dog out to the front lawn to do his business and a neighbour on the same floor as me was BLASTING Inferno at full volume.

Normally that wouldn't bug me, but there are only 2 neighbours on my floor whom I actually like, and it wasn't either of them listening to the album! I still am not sure who it was, lol.

I simultaneously kinda feel that, but also am glad to see Boards of Canada getting more appreciation. They really deserve it.

Redd Panderson wrote: am glad to see Boards of Canada getting more appreciation. They really deserve it.

I think that's wonderful

Seriously though - I'm not into gatekeeping; if this turns into a popular record and more people get to hear it, then great. I wouldn't be that surprised if part of a tune from the album ends up getting turned into some sort of meme or clip used on social media. There's been a couple of times where I've heard a clip of a familiar but fairly obscure tune coming from one of my kids' phones only to find out it's become popular on Tik Tock (or 10 seconds of it has at least).

A_Northern_Soul wrote:

Redd Panderson wrote: am glad to see Boards of Canada getting more appreciation. They really deserve it.

I think that's wonderful

Seriously though - I'm not into gatekeeping; if this turns into a popular record and more people get to hear it, then great. I wouldn't be that surprised if part of a tune from the album ends up getting turned into some sort of meme or clip used on social media. There's been a couple of times where I've heard a clip of a familiar but fairly obscure tune coming from one of my kids' phones only to find out it's become popular on Tik Tock (or 10 seconds of it has at least).

I believe it! Similar things happen with my wife doomscrolling beside me on the couch, lol.

One strong example: TikTok / Instagram / YouTube are partially to thank for Aphex Twin's recent surge in popularity with under-25 year olds!

QKThr, #3, and #19 all trended on TikTok a couple of years ago, and then later on they trended on Instagram and YouTube shorts several times.

RDJ actually has more streams than Taylor Swift on YouTube shorts as of January 2026, because those 3 songs are used in countless videos every week.

https://www.nme.com/news/music/aphex-tw ... rs-3923810

Honestly the whole QKThr becoming hyper common background music in viral videos has been a weird experience to me. Not necessarily bad or good, just interesting.

I loved Drukqs in my teens but most people I showed it to thought it was weird. On one level it kinda felt like "our little secret" for the in-crowd, but on another I would've liked to share it alongside more people.

And now....yeah, it is different. Not the future I expected this music to someday fit into.

I think every Boards of Canada album is almost equally good. When I rank them it feels like talking about different shades of gold. "Geogaddi is my favorite / Tomorrow's Harvest is my least favorite, but listen to all of them!"

Redd Panderson wrote:I think every Boards of Canada album is almost equally good. When I rank them it feels like talking about different shades of gold. "Geogaddi is my favorite / Tomorrow's Harvest is my least favorite, but listen to all of them!"

Feel this deeply in my soul. Kind of like picking a favorite child, inherently you can't.

I agree. I have my least favorite BOC album but that doesn't mean I am not listening to it on a regular basis/get joyous when it comes on.

I find that for me, the thrill and playing of Inferno has eroded faster than their other works. It's just an observation, I cannot say it is because of the album, or because of me being in a different place in life than I was for Tomorrow's Harvest or whatnot.

Anyone else?

magrathea_ultima wrote:I find that for me, the thrill and playing of Inferno has eroded faster than their other works. It's just an observation, I cannot say it is because of the album, or because of me being in a different place in life than I was for Tomorrow's Harvest or whatnot.

Anyone else?

100%, I'm putting it down to the lack of complexity in it, and I know there are a ton of layers and interesting musical magic tricks, but it just feels more like a soundtrack than any of their other albums, even moreso than TH. While I still absolutely love it, I feel like I've 'got it' now and have moved on. MHTRTC, Geogaddi and TH I had on repeat for many, many months afterwards, I felt far more perplexed about those albums. Interesting phenomena. Or has social media just melted our collective brains since 2013 and our attention spans have been demolished? Or is it just so intense that it low key stresses me out in a way. Who the HELL knows.

for me, i enjoy and attach myself to things differently now than when I was like 15 first uncovering them. at 15, their music (and some others') felt like i was discovering maps to the world, to true understanding, etc. i still hold things like Inferno and TH dearly, but part of growing up is coming to understanding your favorite artists are also just people, however inspired

I did like Inferno more than a couple of their releases, and while i did just enjoy a lovely two-week vacation, I haven't listened to inferno since before then (likely largely due to the vacay, but y'know). so i don't chalk it to inferno being anything else other than what it is, my interaction with music has simply changed as i've gotten older

maybe i'll spin it this week though