Boards of Canada? Any Fans out there? [Archive]

Blue Velvet

Jul 29, 2006, 10:25 AM

I'm HUGELY into Boards of Canada at the moment, and I was wondering if there is anybody out there who is like me? If so, what else could you recommend as being similar?

Otherwordly chilled stuff from an alien planet. Campfire Headphase is good too.

What artists are similar?

http://www.music-map.com/boards+of+canada.html

;)

pulsewidth947

Jul 29, 2006, 11:30 AM

There really are no alternatives to BoC. Yes there are plenty of people trying to do a similar thing, but none are as good or versatile as BoC. My recommendations:

Bola - Fyuti
Brothomstates - Qtio (you've heard Adozenaday.. it was on the Sprite advert with the little green guy)
Christ - anything by him. Theres a rumour floating round that he used to do things with BoC.. probably not true, but they are very similar
Nautilis - Sketches
Tipper - Surrounded

That list is pretty subjective. None of it really sounds like BoC, except maybe Christ, but I got all those albums after heavily getting into BoC. For a more general list, try BoC's entry on Last.Fm (http://www.last.fm/music/Boards+of+Canada). Thats more like "I listen to BoC, heres what else I listen to", e.g. Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Plaid etc. Most of the Warp Records crew ;)

As you can probably tell I'm besotted with BoC.

:EDIT: Oh yeah theres Freescha as well. Before Campfire Headphase came out there were several fake copies on p2p programs. Many of the tracks were actually tracks by Freescha... think of them as Diet BoC :)
(serves people right for trying to steal BoC)

pulsewidth947

Jul 29, 2006, 11:36 AM

And some people look far too deeply (http://fredd-e.narfum.org/boc/comments/) into the meanings of BoC songs!

mannix87

Jul 30, 2006, 01:21 AM

I'm a fan BUT not HUGELY into it as you are.

Sesshi

Jul 30, 2006, 09:32 AM

Otherwordly chilled stuff from an alien planet. Campfire Headphase is good too.

What artists are similar?

http://www.music-map.com/boards+of+canada.html

;)

That's an interesting service. I wouldn't say any of the other bands listed are similar to Boards of Canada but I like all of them. Four Tet is definitely a favourite.

slimflem

Jul 30, 2006, 09:35 AM

Aphex Twin, Squarepusher

Aphex Twin can be a bit trying to listen to.
Squarepusher has some cool stuff, but I wouldn't say all their stuff is that approachable.

Killyp

Jul 31, 2006, 11:57 AM

Been there, done that! It's not quite as relaxing as BoC is it?

sunfast

Jul 31, 2006, 12:16 PM

I LOVE BoC!

The Trans Canada Highway EP is waking me up in the morning at the moments. Aquarius, 1969 and Kid for Today are probably my favourite tracks.

I like Aphex Twin too, but it's much darker and not nearly so consistently brilliant.

pulsewidth947

Jul 31, 2006, 12:48 PM

Aphex Twin can be a bit trying to listen to.
Not necessarily. Selected Ambient Works is nice and chilled out :)

But yes, something like Drukqs is not always a good chill out album. Squarepusher is by no means chilled out. I actually think he's over-rated, but I was just pointing out the flaws in the usual recommendation sites.

Trans Canada Highway has quickly established itself as one of my favourites. Dayvan Cowboy is about 4/5, but the true star is Left Side Drive. Listened to very loud over nice speakers/headphones its certainly a treat :)

If I had to pick my top 5 BoC it would be:

The Beach at Redpoint
Roygbiv
1969
Left Hand Drive
Peacock Tail

Pretty difficult to decide though. I think any serious musician should sit down and listen to BoC with their eyes closed. Its a superb lesson in minimalism, layering and structure. Listening to it with your eyes closed, outside, is even better! I don't recommend hallucinogens and Geogaddi though.. sheer terror :rolleyes:

lynziwow

Jul 31, 2006, 12:54 PM

Telefon Tel Aviv is very cool and remind me of the chiller BoC down-tempo stylee. Also, Thievery Corporation is a must-have for anybody

iJon

Jul 31, 2006, 12:57 PM

I could listen to Boards of Canada all day. Have every album and have yet to find a similar group that I enjoy as much as BoC.

jon

sunfast

Aug 1, 2006, 05:51 AM

I could listen to Boards of Canada all day. Have every album and have yet to find a similar group that I enjoy as much as BoC.

jon

Same. I've tried to get my hands on all of their work. I can understand how people paid silly money for those early pressings of Twoism.

Anybody got any of the really limited stuff - like BoC Maxima (http://www.discogs.com/release/15292)?

Killyp

Aug 1, 2006, 06:16 AM

Ah, that will come after I've got all the other albums. I currently have:

In a Beautiful Place Out In The Country EP
Peel Sessions
Geogaddi
Trans Canada Highway
Music Has The Right To Children

I love them all, they're absolutly fantastic!

A is for Apple

Aug 14, 2006, 03:12 PM

I'm HUGELY into Boards of Canada at the moment, and I was wondering if there is anybody out there who is like me? If so, what else could you recommend as being similar?

well you could try....
M83
cornelius
Do Make Say Think
efterklang
Four tet
Murcof

Aphex Twin can be a bit trying to listen to.

I agree to some degree, some of his stuff his very technical and very detailed, but is absolutely incredible. Aphex twin is an extremely talented artist, he has so many different styles....I mean if you didn't really fancy his windowlicker stuff try avril 14th. Both on the album drukqs but both immensely different. He's no one trick pony.
If thats all a bit too much for you though you could always try the album selected ambient works. its absolutely fantastic.

Start with those up there. Beautiful stuff.

Kernow

Aug 14, 2006, 03:27 PM

Big fan here too. I bought Geogaddi on a whim and absolutely loved it. I also really like Aphex Twin (he's from the same town as me in Cornwall), but his music can be a bit abrasive (although this is not necessarily a bad thing). He also records under several aliases - AFX being the one I've heard most of.

shecky

Aug 14, 2006, 04:37 PM

you should also try caribou (formerly called manitoba)

Sirus The Virus

Aug 14, 2006, 09:41 PM

I recently bought Trans Canada Highway, it's pretty good. "Left Side Drive" is particularly awesome.

pulsewidth947

Aug 15, 2006, 01:30 PM

Left Side Drive is awesome isnt it?

I've heard a lot of the rarer tracks/compilations. Most are hit and miss. Some compilations feature songs off other albums, and the majority of the other tracks are the 1 minute ambient kind. I know BoC say they are their personal favourite, but I think where they shine is in the longer songs where they have time to develop and add layers in.

Try not to look too hard for stuff like Boards, start listening to stuff on Warp records (Bleep.com (http://www.bleep.com) is a good place for preview listens). I recommend checking out Chris Clark (http://bleep.com/?bleep=WARP107) (now simply named Clark).

Although nothing like Boards, I find that I'm spending more and more time listening to artists on Ninja Tune (http://www.ninjatune.net/). Recently, I've been listening to Lamb (http://www.lamb.tv/news/index.aspx) as much, if not more than BoC. But that might not be your cup of tea if you don't like Jazz + beats :)

iGav

Aug 16, 2006, 05:56 AM

If so, what else could you recommend as being similar?

You'll probably like Telefon Tel Aviv, The Detroit Escalator Co., Ladytron that kind of thing.

Start reading The Wire (http://www.thewire.co.uk/), as good as Boards Of Canada are, they're (like much of the stuff on WARP) considered to be the more acceptable (read commercial) fringe of electronic music.

Oirectine

Sep 14, 2006, 05:46 PM

If you like BoC, I'd also suggest Autechre and Amon Tobin.

Silencio

Sep 14, 2006, 09:44 PM

You'll probably like Telefon Tel Aviv, The Detroit Escalator Co., Ladytron that kind of thing.

Start reading The Wire (http://www.thewire.co.uk/), as good as Boards Of Canada are, they're (like much of the stuff on WARP) considered to be the more acceptable (read commercial) fringe of electronic music.

All good rec's. I think the Detroit Escalator Company is a great comparison soundwise, even if it's a more cool and urban whereas BoC is warmer and more bucolic in tone. Wish his stuff was easier to find...

Ladytron is much more on the pop tip, but still very enjoyable.

MoonCow

Sep 26, 2006, 02:18 AM

i have all their albums. i LOOOOOOVE them

check out www.watmm.com

Sdashiki

Sep 26, 2006, 09:19 AM

Since I found BoC on my travels across the web, I am gonna link to my "Instrumental music" thread.

Lots of similar artists, some quite close to BoC, some far off, but as far as music vines go, this instrumental music plant has lots of branches.

check it out. (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=229171&highlight=instrumental)

BoC, rox.

I think threads are a good place to exchange similar artists.

jimmer116

Oct 3, 2006, 05:49 PM

MIDI_EVIL

Oct 3, 2006, 06:43 PM

Yes....amazing.

As for BOC Maxima, most of that was rereleased on Music Has the Right and Geo.. But I still have it and it's still amazing. I also have some live stuff they've done. I haven't really listened to all of it though, so yeah. What I did hear was good though.

As for Aphex being hard to listen to, try listening to their Selected Ambient Works discs. Those are really good and very similar to BoC.

Aphex Twin is one person.

Not at all similar to Boards of Canada, not even the Selected Ambient Works series. It's incredibly monotonous. (not in a bad way) Boards of Canada have a much more varied range of sounds, that echo, crackle and simmer away. SAW by Aphex Twin is a very bland but beautiful soundscape.

I have yet to come across anything like Boards of Canada, nothing quite so fragile and inspiring.

Aphex Twin is still my favourite artist.

Rich.

jgreen464

Nov 27, 2008, 11:49 AM

iJon

Nov 27, 2008, 12:19 PM

I'm a huge Boards of Canada fan, if you're looking for some other good electronics I'd recommend Bonobo. While its not as much of a psychedelic experience as BoC, he puts out some seriously chill music. (Oh, and "Flutter" is not a good representation of Bonobo, but it is a good song.)

Also the band Shpongle puts out some VERY trippin' music, but its also a very different sound from BoC. More of a focus on normal sounds arranged abnormally than sound distortion and alteration.

Ah, Shpongle and Boards of Canada. Two of my favorite artists. For me you are guaranteed good music if it's from Warp, Ninja Tune or Twisted Records.

I'll actually be seeing Shpongle (Simon Posford) here in a few weeks. Will be my 4th time to see him. Won't be a live set though, have to go to Moscow for that.

jon

jgreen464

Nov 27, 2008, 12:23 PM

Ah, Shpongle and Boards of Canada. Two of my favorite artists. For me you are guaranteed good music if it's from Warp, Ninja Tune or Twisted Records.

Warp and Ninja Tune are probably two of the better things to happen to music in a long time. Don't know much about Twisted Records tho.

I'll actually be seeing Shpongle (Simon Posford) here in a few weeks. Will be my 4th time to see him. Won't be a live set though, have to go to Moscow for that.

Thats sweet! :D

I've never been to a non-live set tho.. what does that entail? Music videos to the max?

iJon

Nov 27, 2008, 12:41 PM

Warp and Ninja Tune are probably two of the better things to happen to music in a long time. Don't know much about Twisted Records tho.

Thats sweet! :D

I've never been to a non-live set tho.. what does that entail? Music videos to the max?
Twisted Records is the label that Shpongle is on. It is composed mainly of psy trance. Very good stuff if you're into that type of music.

Shpongle is technically composed of 2 people, Simon Posford and Raja Ram. Even more so there is 6 other members of the group which compose of a true Shpongle Live set.

Raja never tours with Simon (rarely) so Simon does Shpongle DJ sets all around the world. It's basically him mixing Shpongle CD's on two CD decks for a DJ set. It's very good but he isn't actually creating the music on the spot.

About a month ago Shpongle did a live set in London, which was the 3rd time they had ever done it. Go look it up on YouTube, pretty awesome. Their next show will be in Moscow. If for any reason they do a Live Shpongle show in America I will fly to which ever state they go too, more than likely New York if I had to guess.

jon

jgreen464

Nov 27, 2008, 12:48 PM

Twisted Records is the label that Shpongle is on. It is composed mainly of psy trance. Very good stuff if you're into that type of music.

Shpongle is technically composed of 2 people, Simon Posford and Raja Ram. Even more so there is 6 other members of the group which compose of a true Shpongle Live set.

Raja never tours with Simon (rarely) so Simon does Shpongle DJ sets all around the world. It's basically him mixing Shpongle CD's on two CD decks for a DJ set. It's very good but he isn't actually creating the music on the spot.

About a month ago Shpongle did a live set in London, which was the 3rd time they had ever done it. Go look it up on YouTube, pretty awesome. Their next show will be in Moscow. If for any reason they do a Live Shpongle show in America I will fly to which ever state they go too, more than likely New York if I had to guess.

jon

It'd be nice if they showed up at Shambhala, its in my province :).

You ever heard of a band called Jaga Jazzist? They're a Swedish (that or Norweigan or something of that region) group of about 12 guys and they mix Jazz with Electronics in a very unique way, and while they're music doesn't off-the-bat sound like Shpongle in many ways they remind me of them.

If you can manage to get any of their live work and have even a mild taste for jazz they're quite mind-blowing.

iJon

Nov 27, 2008, 01:39 PM

It'd be nice if they showed up at Shambhala, its in my province :).

You ever heard of a band called Jaga Jazzist? They're a Swedish (that or Norweigan or something of that region) group of about 12 guys and they mix Jazz with Electronics in a very unique way, and while they're music doesn't off-the-bat sound like Shpongle in many ways they remind me of them.

If you can manage to get any of their live work and have even a mild taste for jazz they're quite mind-blowing.

I have many of Jaga Jazzist's albums. They are Norweigen if I remember correctly. I haven't heard any live stuff though. I'll probably go check that out right now.

Tom B.

Nov 27, 2008, 01:57 PM

I love "Beware the Friendly Stranger" thanks to David Firth's disturbingly wonderful Salad Fingers (http://www.fat-pie.com/salad.htm).

jgreen464

Nov 27, 2008, 04:19 PM

I love "Beware the Friendly Stranger" thanks to David Firth's disturbingly wonderful Salad Fingers (http://www.fat-pie.com/salad.htm).

Hahaha that is ****ed.

smwatson

Nov 27, 2008, 04:23 PM

Try Helios, more chilled out, but totally beautiful.

I really think you should get Gang Gang Dance's new album if you don't already have it, it's incredible.

GutlessWonder

Nov 27, 2008, 06:14 PM

I love Boards Of Canada! Geogaddi was the first album of theirs I got. Brilliant!

pulsewidth947

Nov 28, 2008, 06:16 AM

I'd second Helios. Only heard Bounce Dive but it's lovely.

If you want something similar to BoCs new sound I recommend Bibio. I think they have been heavily influenced by him. I'd also recommend The Flashbulb (Kirlian Sessions) and Trentemøller's Last Resort album.

MatLane

Nov 28, 2008, 06:17 AM

BOC

BOC

BOC

For the win :)

synth3tik

Nov 28, 2008, 06:22 AM

Years back I was able to score Beautiful Place in the Country on baby blue vinyl.

yancey47

Nov 29, 2008, 12:22 AM

Years back I was able to score Beautiful Place in the Country on baby blue vinyl.

I got that that too. Did you get it at Let It Be?

I like Boards of Canada ok. I bet if I did drugs I'd like them more.

Killyp

Nov 29, 2008, 02:09 AM

Years back I was able to score Beautiful Place in the Country on baby blue vinyl.

Probably my favourite BOC album now - absolutely stunning little EP.

Another vote here for Bonobo and Jaga Jazzist (although they are quite different :P) - they both push out some great tunes. Bonobo's stuff is endlessly relaxing. I was listening to Days to Come quite late last night...

synth3tik

Nov 29, 2008, 02:13 AM

I got that that too. Did you get it at Let It Be?

I like Boards of Canada ok. I bet if I did drugs I'd like them more.

Too be honest I can not remember if it was Let it Be or Cheap. For years I had connections at Cheapo and was able to get some really good vinyl.

Man, I really miss Let it Be. Suspension of that condo project just adds insult to injury.

I am a synth maniac and just love doing sound creation and that is what I really like about bands like Boards, Air, and Kelpe.