____twoism

Does anyone know any films, tv shows and/or books that give off the same "vibe" as BoC do? To put forth a non-BoC example, I think that Donnie Darko has very similar atmospheres and themes to Slint's seminal Spiderland LP.

Since so many people on this board experience BoC differently and have different interpretations of their messages/themes, it'd be interesting to see what people come up with. The closest thing I can personally think of would be The X-Files, even though it's possible that Carbon Based Lifeforms fits the bill better than BoC in that respect.

*apologies in advance if a thread like this already exists, I searched it up and couldn't find anything but idunno*

Lanark by Alasdair Gray




A brilliant Scottish book containing all the profundity, weirdness and humour you could expect. Long and complex, but not convoluted (well a bit convoluted, it can be a very confusing thing. but then so can Geogaddi so there you go) or boring. Written very lucidly and clearly. Well recommended. The novel form of Geogaddi with a few thematic differences.

All illustrations done by him.

You could try series one of the BBC comedy 'Look Around You'.

Peacock Tail wrote:You could try series one of the BBC comedy 'Look Around You'.

I wouldn't say it has a similar feel tbh. It's just an old analog feel but loads of things are like that. It would be like saying Tycho is similar to BOC, though Look Around You is a load better.

Peacock Tail wrote:You could try series one of the BBC comedy 'Look Around You'.

one of the greatest comedy shows in my opinion, up there with fast show for me

The Wicker Man would be an obvious one. The National Film Boards of Canada output another. I've never got on with his work, but some people draw parallels with Thomas Pynchon especially his novel Gravity's Rainbow.

Aerial Boundaries wrote: I wouldn't say it has a similar feel tbh. It's just an old analog feel but loads of things are like that. It would be like saying Tycho is similar to BOC, though Look Around You is a load better.

Having been subjected to the kind of educational films that 'Look Around You' spoofs, (way back during my early childhood in the 70s), I'd say the nostalgic similarities are uncanny.

Oh ok, fair enough. I'm young.

Though if you want something that sounds much more similar to Look Around You imo, take a look at the album Other Channels - The Advisory Circle.

Cracking album.

Thanks, I shall!

No problemo

And of course, all the british public information films of the 70's, early 80's.

Check these out, perfect for voice samples and very dark...









And many more. (sorry, didn't realise that one of the films has a rather disturbing person involved)

This is also a nostalgic satirical work of art: http://scarfolk.blogspot.co.uk/

videogames, maybe this: http://cicadamarionette.com/Games/Symbol/index.html

'Picnic at Hanging Rock' is another BoC-like movie (to me at least) of which they've cited the soundtrack as being an inspiration.

It depends if you want the feel BOC refferences to, then you end up with movies like picnic at hanging rock, and those older infomercials.

Or if you want something new, that has the same nostalgic feel that makes you think about those older infomercials.
subtle difference, but an important one.

Example.
the first would be this:

the trailer of picnic at hanging rock.
which is an old movie that boc's style references too. (this is a tricky one, because it's an old movie refferencing to an even older time, but you get the idea)

second would be this:

Trailer of the new camp firewood series (granted, i haven't seen the movie or the series, so i don't know if it's any good)
Which draws from those old movies / infomercials, takes out the things we feel nostalgic about, and fattens it up. Adding some new techniques, makes it into a past that never was.

Thanks for all the replies! Definitely checking out all this stuff. To clarify, I'm more interested in art that knowingly manipulates nostalgic aspects of our collective (un)consciousness, and uses it to create a unique atmosphere. Or, just something that has similar messages/themes to BoC in general. The old documentaries, while cool in their own right, aren't a fully realized expression as BoC uses them to be. I always saw them as more of a tool that the band uses, and not a standalone piece of art by themselves.

The book I mentioned touches on tonnes of different themes. The themes themselves bear a resemblance though I wouldn't say a strong one. I would call it boc-like in it's atmosphere, the way it presents ideas to you. It reminds me so much of Geogaddi, in terms of being disorientating, unnerving and psychedelic.

This illustration by him about sums it up, pay particular attention to the epitaphe at the top:

Might be less of a medium gap than you're looking for, but as far as BoC's specific skill for packing tracks so ludicrously full with sonic details that are as timbrally unique as they are emotive, the only other band that can come close to (and sometimes exceed) such mastery of the sonic spectrum as canvas is Talk Talk.
It took a while for me to notice, but songs like After The Flood and New Grass from their final album 'Laughing Stock' might contain upwards of 100 little unique sonic moments that seem to override language in order to speak directly to the human soul. Within this parameter they feel extremely 'BoCian' to me.

adecentman wrote:Might be less of a medium gap than you're looking for, but as far as BoC's specific skill for packing tracks so ludicrously full with sonic details that are as timbrally unique as they are emotive, the only other band that can come close to (and sometimes exceed) such mastery of the sonic spectrum as canvas is Talk Talk.
It took a while for me to notice, but songs like After The Flood and New Grass from their final album 'Laughing Stock' might contain upwards of 100 little unique sonic moments that seem to override language in order to speak directly to the human soul. Within this parameter they feel extremely 'BoCian' to me.

Also along these aesthetic lines, Stereolab's music is extremely detailed and layered, though not quite as emotionally subtle. Margerine Eclipse is a cracking album, one of the many I discovered here on twoism. They make particular use of the stereo spectrum, in Eclipse they actually recorded the left and right channels completely separately and combined them for each track. Amazing stuff.