 " The Album of Memory, For If One Could Record It, It'd Sound a Bit Like this" | 2009-01-01 |
| - Reviewed By nirvanarhcp |
Sitting in my new bedroom as the remaining few hours of 2008 dwindle, I bring with it my final review of the year, I present you with Boards of Canada's "Music Has The Right To Children". BoC are a duo who use the warmest electronic equipment and make it nostalgic, the kind that sticks to your insides and heart. Although this particular album isn't from 2008, I chose to review this, as it remains memorable with hints of new flavors every year I listen to it.
Eighteen rhythmic tracks all beat heavy and all uniquely satisfying. "Wildlife Analysis" is a song with an almost thin membrane, sounding like the beginning of a documentary (kind of BoCs thing, look into their use of old documentaries). Briefly subduing the listener to a world yet to come, the all seeing ominous kaleidoscopic track "An Eagle In Your Mind" has now made its way into your ears. Many tracks, such as the innocent "Sixtyten", circle around a simple beat that swerves throughout the course of the song. Never do the tracks rely on repeats, but openly refer to them time and time again (as a source?). Spacey "Kaini Industries" in its short time morphs to a wooden sound, and leads to wondrous "Bocuma". A song that feels like it's exploring and tapping into what your mind conceives it to be. "Open the Light" sounds like a realization a new way.
Don't be fooled by "Roygbiv" although it begins with a heavy sound it becomes fun and easy going. Same goes with "The Color of Fire", a track that may disturb some and cater to others toddler days. This is an album best taken as a whole. A few tracks just don't meet the minimum time standards to be played alone, and some just refuse to paint on others canvases (lets call these playlist?!).
My personal pick off this album is non other then "Turquoise Hexagon Sun". A song to me that feels spectator like, and full of good times, yet splintered with regret. This track is an ambient wonder, you distinctly can tell what you're hearing (pool balls shuffling about, distant questions, brief chatter), but never in pristine clarity. This leaves ones mind to `fill in the blanks', as years pass the blanks are like a crossword puzzle for an elder. As their diction grows some blanks are near obvious yet they tinker for a deeper meaning.
What I hope you've gained so far ,from this review, is although beat heavy it has so much more to offer then the casual `chill' albums. People are rottenly too critical on loops and miscellaneous things to really feel the album, just continue grading them on X (sound, originality, cleverness ooo extra points!!! Etc). This is an album that can be heard through your ears, eyes, and mind. First few listens may not seem like much but it engulfs you eventually in a land blurry but familiar and never the less comforting. Soar through the skies back to your first flight, or relive the fresh pine air of those mountain park trails. Even uncover some of your day to day doings in kindergarten. Those 10.A.M. bright blue skies, those old shows...This is nostalgia and this is why it's never bad to relive it. Just reminiscing of it makes people smile, well how about musically absorbing it?
The last thing I'd like to talk about is the albums nostalgic properties. Many remember listening to an old Zeppelin album or Soundgarden mix tape, they remember where they were and yearn for those times again. This album stays current, you might get nostalgia from listening to this album years later, but not sitting in your room with headphones on (like with Zep), it offers a new chapter to recollect upon. I'm sorry if any of this sounds confusing, but trust me on that one. Tells the past, present, and future without even knowing who you are or where you've lived. Does that not beat a crystal ball?
Boards of Canada you have done something many strive to do, and so few ever achieve. Memorable, warm, soothing, and just overall interesting, this is an album with high replay value. Some days you can listen to it, other days you can become part of it. So for my final few minutes, before I leave to go who knows where to watch the ball drop, I enlighten myself of a review I've been meaning to write. Could never find the right words except
**5*5**
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NOTES:
- "Happy Cycling [*]" is a bonus track not readily available in certain copies.
-I avoided mentioning "Telaphasic Workshop" as I've found many of the reviewers to explain in fine detail its wonders
-Many dub Boards of Canada IDM, do your research and decide on your own
- This music is not radiofriendly and isn't something easy to jump right into, think electronic/ambient with some hip-hop beats
-If I were offered a blanket or this I'd take this
-Look into electronic music or any genre that interests you, sometimes this album serves as the wake up call
-If your an escapist you've found your new home to idle out in, keys on the left by the bed |
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 "Overated completely but Ok." | 2007-04-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1QGB9XTR7KCZU |
| Boards of Canada's MHTRTC is perhaps one of electronic musics most overated albums- nonetheless it is still worthwhile. What really lets this album down is the percussion and beat which is soulless. The background odd chordal changes and blurry soundscapes are ruined by what at times seems like a rigid drum machine patch or sampled drum loop youve heard before. Its a shame as i do like the haunting quality of some of the melody's notes and childhood memories the music conjures up. I actually think Geogaddi is a much better album than this. And i still prefer Future Sound of London or Broadcast in the end. Id pick up Geogaddi instead but this is still a nice addition just not the holy grail so many have made it out to be. |
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| "Auditory Perfection" | 2007-03-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1NOBLDV2TWEWP |
This album features electronic music at its finest: it is simplistic yet interesting enough to keep the listener interested. It is not repetitive like some dance music is, yet it is not insanely intricate and filled with drum n' bass breakbeats, either. It is instead somehow beautifully intricate in its simplicity: with almost every listen you discover a new sound once unheard. It took me a few listens of the song "An Eagle in Your Mind" to notice the muffled muttering of "I love you" embedded within its swirling percussion and ambience.
Music Has the Right to Children is unlike any other electronic album out there. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it almost sounds as though it was created not by human hands, but simply just exists as something to be admired and enjoyed by all. |
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 "Yes JR..." | 2006-07-28 |
| - Reviewed By User: A21LT0E5BUZY95 |
| ... and writing a great novel is easy, you only need a pen and paper and you just have to put one word after another. |
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| "Opposing J.R.'s review, agreeing with Matt's..." | 2006-06-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1KDII0PHJMMZU |
"Music Has The Right To Children" is nothing short of a masterpeice. It hooks you with strange vibes that you don't like at first, but for some reason you can't stop listening. Every time you listen to this album, something will stay in your head for hours later--a particular hacked up sample, rhythm, melody, or just the overall feel of a track. For me, it's the strange feel of "Aquarius" and the "yeah, that's right" and child laughing samples, or the rhythm of "Happy Cycling" and the occassional vocal-sounding sample that accents it.
The only criticism I have is this: At times, some tracks can sound "thin" in that there are few if only one thing going on at once, but they eventually fill in. Also, some tracks seem to have intentional harmonic distortion. At first it sounded like the speakers were distorting from being too loud, but when I played it at a lower volume on a number of systems, I found that the distortion is part of the recording. It could be that this was done intentionally to oppose the generally smooth, clean sound of ambient music, but I think it could have been done more artistically.
Whether or not the album required much technical skill or equipment, it is evident by this album that Boards of Canada has the ability to create unique soundscapes and create chord progressions and place notes and samples in such a way that it creates a feel that is totally unrecognizable and can only be described as "Boards of Canada". The album has an emotional depth that takes you in, surrounds you, and makes you forget about reality. It is one of those kinds of albums, though, that takes a few listens before you truly appreciate it. I recommend this album to anyone who appreciates unique electronic music or music in general that has depth. |
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| "This is the album that started the hype!" | 2006-06-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: APDQ646T55QUI |
| An Amazing Classic! I am a kid again. |
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