Music Has The Right To Children

Halfway through and I think I've got the hang of this now. Palliative care music for former ravers. I don't need to listen to all eighteen tracks.

Indeed, one of the best electronic albums of the Nineties and of all time. Favorites are Telephasic Workshop, Sixtyten, Turquoise Hexagon Sun, Roygbiv, Rue the Whirl, Aquarius & Happy Cycling.

Will Wright would be furious considering whoever did spore's soundtrack just ripped this off lmfao

The sound of robots learning how to emote. Atmospheric ambient and quite affecting for electronic music. Instantly enjoyable and feels like with repeated listens this could be brilliant. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Roygbiv Date listened: 29/09/22

"Music Has the Right To Children" by Boards of Canada (1998) Never heard of this album or this duo. First, about that title. The duo has stated that the titles of their works are significant, and that “‘Music Has the Right To Children’ is a statement of our intention to affect the audience using sound.” Well, as laudable as that may be as an artistic objective, the bluntly metaphysical claim that music has the “right” to “children” has a quaintly pompous and yet menacing tone (not to mention a certain lack of sensitivity to those frustrated in their desire for children or the pathology of those who reduce children to instrumentalities as an exercise of their “rights”). A musician may and should “intend” to affect the audience, but it’s hardly a “right”, especially when the artist expresses it toward human persons (the “children” to whom the musician has a “right”). Maybe I’m misunderstanding this, but please don’t object that I’m reading too much into it. This musical endeavor self-consciously begs to be ‘read into’. If you can’t stand the heat, get off my couch. Interesting cover art. Faceless Scots in bell bottoms. I’d be the guy on the far left. If you’re not allowed to have a face, turn away. It’s a fitting image for the Covid-19 pandemic era, although that was obviously not the intention. No lyrics here, so all the poetic clues are in the titles, most of which seem to be intentionally opaque and unevocative (like ‘inside jokes’—hardly a means of affecting a audience). Synth beats and sampling, it’s like Scottish hip hop. Mind boggling (or, as they say in Scotland, moind boag-lin’). Now about that sound: “Wildlife Analysis” - no structure, no categories, thus no analysis. And where’s the wildlife? Unless we’re the wildlife. Or you’re the wildlife. Or it’s actually “wild” “life”. About those beats—hey, we’ve got guys in America who can do all that stuff with nothing but tongues, teeth, and microphone. After listening to a few tracks, I think I finally get it. You gotta be stoned. I’m glad I listened to this before I die. 1/5

This has been one of my favorite albums for a long time and it was good to see it come up.

Boards of Canada? More like Bored-s of Canada. 2/5 for the potential to be a decent album in different situations

welp. we're in a cult now

what a beautiful album, I’ve been a fan of BoC for a while now and this album always gives me goosebumps when I hear it it’s such a perfect mix between a loose, dreamy atmosphere and a raw, hard, tactile electronic experience I don’t know how else to put it, this album is really something special, everybody should listen to this 10/10

This one is hitting me at the right time. All these vintage synth sounds are right up my alley. Perfect workday listening. And just anytime you want something that can be listened to intently, or ignored. It's good either way. Definitely going to check more out from this band. Wish someone would have showed this record to me when I was REALLY into Radiohead's Kid A and Amnesiac-era records. Since this was out just before those were released.

So I stole part of a review on this album because because I CBF writing my own. Written by Maya Kalev for factmag.com, the article is called "One very important thought: Boards Of Canada’s Music Has The Right To Children at 15" I recommend it. The bit I stole goes like this: "Despite its name, Music… is about as grown-up as records get: an adult meditation on childhood, concerned with play, naïveté and nostalgia, all tinted with rosy pastoralism. But it’s also devilishly subtle, intricate and emotionally mature. That’s surprisingly rare in electronic music, most of which is concerned with the physicality of dance, intellectual weight, or the evocation of atmosphere rather than a holistic experience. By introducing themes of suppression, solitude and grief into Music…’s evocations of childhood, Boards of Canada created a record that was pretty but seldom precious, more faithful to experience than kitsch idealism. This ambiguity has endeared Music Has The Right To Children to its hordes of fans over time: as its listeners grew ever further away from the childhood it evoked, the album, bizarrely, became more relevant."

I've very fond memories of this album, it opened me up to a world of leftfield electronic music that my young Britpop addled mind never even knew existed. And in later years it was my go-to to help nurse my "morning after" mind. It's aged really well too, which a lot of similar albums from the era definitely haven't.

Fantastic - music from a parallel timeline. Fave track - "Turquoise Hexagon Sun"

Very good electronic sound. Ambient music for reading or computing.

Double dose nostalgia on this one. One for the Canadian documentaries that I grew up with, and another dose from listening to this album new. Great fun!

Love boards of Canada. About time we had some ambient. 😁

This was just perfect today. Lofi tunes I can listen to in the background of whatever else I'm doing are a fantastic way to get me to play your album over and over. 5 stars, my friends!

Prime lying on a hill at 3am in Pimavera territory

COOL

Okay okay, interessant, weiß nicht ob ich die Art von elektronischer Musik so sehr feiere. Gut im Hintergrund wird ihr glaube ich nicht gerecht, ist schon nicht schlecht, denke ich

Stuck this on whilst having a cup of tea and some breakfast this morning. I imagine that is how boards of canada intended it to be listened to. I struggle with this hipster end of the dance/electronic spectrum. I just don't get when you'd listen to it and what you'd get out of it. Souless, Joyless, outright boring music. On one fucking track some women just starts counting. edgy. 1/5

Music Has The Right to Children I’m not as familiar with this as I am with Geogaddi for some reason, even though I know this is generally considered their high water mark, and I haven’t listened to either of them for quite a while. It’s interesting listening now, how many childhood references and moods there are on this, something that I think must have previously passed me by, even though there are numerous Sesame Street samples and that the title is a big clue. Those samples combined with the vintage synth sounds, lines and burbles give a slightly strange and dislocated haze to it, not quite a dream and not quite a memory but seemingly an evocation of something from childhood. At the same time the intricate, hip hop inflected and meticulously layered rhythms, beats and percussion balance that abstracted mood with a cooler, sharper edge, giving it an overall affecting, ruminative character. I also thought it might feel a little dated or very firmly recognisably late 90s, but it really doesn’t at all. I suppose the mix of contemporary and vintage synths are kind of timeless, but the drums, beats and percussion still sound great, echoing back to 80s hip hop, but with fullness and depth, and they aren’t overly influenced by the house and big beat of the late 90s, or other contemporary electronica. While each song is relatively distinct and the track listing follows the pattern of longer songs with shorter vignettes it flows together brilliantly as one piece of music, shifting and moving between textures and moods often in the same song, giving me a similar feeling to listening to some of Brian Eno’s ambient albums or Endtroducing. In fact this feels like a brilliant synthesis of those two artists. It’s a superb electronic/ambient album but it’s also just a superb album in its own right. Easy 5. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Playlist submission: Hard to pick one out, but I particularly love the synth of Roygbiv.

This was really cool!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS! One of the few albums on the list I’ve listened to before. This album is genuinely magical, it feels like you’re exploring a digital wilderness.

I’ve been wanting to listen to this for a while now, and i’m glad that i’ve finally gotten to it today. Creepy yet iconic album cover aside, this album is just chill, sometimes off putting, electronic goodness. This album is just superb. The sequencing of tracks here just makes the album flow so nicely. The short tracks and interludes going into the longer tracks gives the album a sense of cohesion that I really appreciate. The production is stellar here. Rich synths, interesting vocal samples, great drum beats are found all throughout this thing. It’s so good at setting a mood as well. “Wildlife Analysis,” the opener, is a good example of that. It’s a good short ambient song that’s just a vibe honestly. There’s a lot of tracks that i’d like to mention, but i’d take up too much space. Please, go listen to this album for yourself. It may be a bit long buts it’s so worth it in my opinion. I loved this album, and i’m glad that I did! I highly recommend this one. :)

PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT... Well nearly perfect but its still getting 5 stars because its just so fucking fun to listen too, and has so many textures and colors to delve into. it makes it so re-playable

5/5. I actually really enjoyed this, kind of defined the whole "chill beats to listen to" wave. Very good music to pay attention to and vibe with or let it sit in the background and create the environment. This was peaceful and yet dark at the same time. I don't quite get the childhood reminiscence from the album, I also didn't grow up with any electronic music so that might be the reason. Either way, this was a great listen and will definitely be playing this many times to hear other songs I might not have fully digested. Great stuff. Best Song: Telephasic Workshop, Sixtyten, Pete Standing Alone

## In-Depth Review of *Music Has the Right to Children* by Boards of Canada *Music Has the Right to Children*, released in April 1998, is the debut album from the Scottish electronic duo Boards of Canada, consisting of brothers Marcus Eoin and Michael Sandison. This album has garnered critical acclaim for its innovative soundscapes, emotional depth, and thematic complexity, establishing it as a landmark in electronic music. Here, we will explore the album's lyrics, music, production techniques, themes, and its lasting influence while also weighing its pros and cons. ### Lyrics ****Vocal Elements and Themes**** Boards of Canada are known for their minimal use of lyrics. In *Music Has the Right to Children*, vocal snippets are primarily sampled from various sources, including documentaries and children’s programming. This approach creates an ethereal atmosphere that complements the instrumental nature of the music. The lyrics that do appear often evoke childhood memories and experiences. For instance, tracks like “Pete Standing Alone” include distorted voices that hint at nostalgia and innocence. The title track's refrain—“music has the right to children”—serves as a manifesto for the duo’s belief that electronic music should be accessible to all ages, not confined to dark clubs or exclusive spaces. The fragmented nature of the lyrics allows listeners to project their interpretations onto the music, enhancing its emotional resonance. This ambiguity is a hallmark of Boards of Canada's style, inviting listeners to engage deeply with the soundscape. ### Music ****Soundscapes and Composition**** Musically, *Music Has the Right to Children* is characterized by its unique blend of ambient, downtempo, and psychedelic influences. The album features lush synthesizer melodies, intricate layers of sound, and organic textures that create a warm yet otherworldly listening experience. Key tracks include: - **“Aquarius”**: This track showcases a funky bassline layered with shimmering synths. Its rhythmic complexity invites head-nodding while maintaining an introspective quality. - **“Telephasic Workshop”**: A standout track known for its climactic build-up and playful synth patterns. The combination of rhythmic elements and melodic hooks exemplifies BoC's ability to craft engaging compositions. - **“Roygbiv”**: This piece is notable for its childlike innocence conveyed through bright melodies and a gentle rhythm. It encapsulates the album's exploration of childhood wonder. The album employs a variety of production techniques that contribute to its distinctive sound. Boards of Canada utilize analog synthesizers, tape manipulation, and field recordings to create a rich auditory tapestry. The use of vintage equipment lends a nostalgic quality to the music, aligning with the themes of memory and time. ### Production ****Craftsmanship and Techniques**** The production quality on *Music Has the Right to Children* is exceptional. Eoin and Sandison meticulously crafted each track in their rural Scottish studio, employing techniques that emphasize warmth and depth. The duo has stated their preference for using decrepit equipment, which adds character and texture to their sound. Key production elements include: - **Layering**: The intricate layering of sounds creates a sense of depth and movement within tracks. Subtle details emerge upon repeated listens, revealing hidden complexities. - **Sampling**: The strategic use of samples from educational films and children’s shows enriches the soundscape while reinforcing thematic connections to childhood. - **Effects Processing**: Reverb and delay are used extensively to create an expansive atmosphere. This processing enhances the dreamlike quality of the music, making it feel both intimate and vast. The album's production is not merely technical; it reflects an artistic vision that prioritizes emotional impact over conventional structures found in mainstream electronic music. ### Themes ****Nostalgia and Childhood**** One of the central themes in *Music Has the Right to Children* is nostalgia—specifically, a longing for childhood innocence and simplicity. The album evokes memories through its sonic palette, often conjuring images of pastoral landscapes or moments from youth. The title itself suggests a dual meaning: 1. **Access to Music**: It advocates for children’s access to diverse musical experiences beyond traditional genres. 2. **Evolution of Music**: It implies that music should evolve over time, much like childhood experiences shape individuals into adulthood. ****Nature and Technology**** Another prominent theme is the relationship between nature and technology. Boards of Canada’s rural upbringing informs their sound; they blend organic sounds with electronic elements seamlessly. Tracks like “Wildlife Analysis” incorporate naturalistic sounds that evoke a sense of place while contrasting with synthetic tones. The juxtaposition highlights an essential tension in contemporary life—how technology can both connect us to nature while simultaneously alienating us from it. ### Influence ****Impact on Electronic Music**** *Music Has the Right to Children* has had a profound influence on electronic music since its release. It paved the way for subsequent artists in ambient and downtempo genres who sought to explore similar themes through innovative sound design. The album's unique approach has inspired numerous musicians across various genres: - **Ambient Artists**: Many have adopted BoC’s atmospheric style while experimenting with their own sonic identities. - **Hip-Hop Producers**: The funky beats found in tracks like “Aquarius” resonate with hip-hop producers who seek to incorporate lush samples into their work. - **Film Scorers**: The cinematic quality of BoC's music has made it appealing for film scoring, influencing composers looking for evocative soundscapes. Overall, *Music Has the Right to Children* stands as a testament to Boards of Canada's artistry and vision within electronic music. ### Pros and Cons ****Pros**** - **Innovative Sound Design**: The album features groundbreaking production techniques that have influenced countless artists. - **Emotional Depth**: Its exploration of nostalgia resonates deeply with listeners, evoking personal memories tied to childhood experiences. - **Timelessness**: Despite being released over two decades ago, it remains relevant due to its unique soundscapes that continue to captivate new audiences. - **Accessibility**: The minimalistic approach allows listeners from various backgrounds to find meaning in its abstract compositions. ****Cons**** - **Limited Lyrics**: Some listeners may find the sparse use of lyrics limiting or unengaging compared to more lyrically-driven genres. - **Pacing Issues**: Certain tracks may feel slow or meandering for those accustomed to more structured compositions typical in popular music. - **Niche Appeal**: While critically acclaimed, its experimental nature may not appeal broadly outside dedicated electronic or ambient music circles. ### Conclusion *Music Has the Right to Children* by Boards of Canada is an extraordinary debut album that transcends conventional boundaries within electronic music. Its innovative sound design, emotional depth, thematic richness, and lasting influence solidify its status as a classic. While it may not cater to all musical tastes due to its experimental nature and limited lyrical content, those who embrace its unique qualities often find themselves on a journey through memory and emotion—a testament to the power of music itself.

Sorti sur l'excellent label Warp en 1998, l'album "Music Has the Right to Children" de Boards of Canada reste à ce jour leur album le plus facile d'accès. "Music Has the Right to Children ", c'est 17 morceaux que l'on écoute sans le moindre effort. Des boucles qui se répètent, des beats lents, des touches subtils de synthé, des voix robotiques et métalliques, un sample de Sesame Street. La mélancolie profonde des morceaux ravive des souvenirs d'enfance et nous touche en plein coeur. La froideur de la pochette se retrouve dans la quasi-intégralité des titres avec son atmosphère glaciale. Suite à cet album, Boards Of Canada est devenu une énorme source d’inspiration et de respect. Un album hors du temps et un gros 5/5 pour un pur moment de bonheur.

one of the best albums ever made. id give it 10/5 if i could… back in around 2009 i got on craiglist a 1984 cadillac fleetwood bougham from this guy selling it for his mom down in thousand oaks, ca.. 112,000 miles on it, kept covered in the garage the entire time theyd owned it. it was a showroom floor model, it was sexy.. but the speakers in it were practically untouched.. i would use this album (telephasic workshop or roygbiv usually) to show my bandmates and friends how warm and super crisp they sounded.. ill forevee think of that caddy every time i hear this already perfect album.

Otherworldy. The album cover perfectly encapsulates the unsettling paranoia that a lot of the tracklist evokes. Loved it. Best song: Turquoise Hexagon Sun / Happy Cycling Worst song: Rue the Whirl

This was a really interesting listen, it was hypnotizing and immersive. It felt like a robot trying to communicate human emotions, and the sound was foreign but comforting at the same time. I enjoyed every minute of it. Best song: Aquaris / Roygbiv Worst song: An Eagle In Your Mind

lake 😃😃😃

This is a tough one. It almost feels right to just give it a perfect score and move on. When a record has a “Legacy” sub-heading on its Wikipedia page, you know at the very least that it’s an influential one. But this is a double-edged sword since, in providing the template for IDM in the late nineties, its initial edge is somewhat blunted by the scores of imitators. But, on the other hand, Boards of Canada are pretty inimitable in their vision for what electronic music could be: purposeful, meticulously thought out and with an intellectual profundity that flipped the dance music’s drug-induced transience on its head. This isn’t an album of momentary hedonism, it’s a soundtrack to childhood that captures the bittersweet essence of what it is to be nostalgic. Does that necessarily make for an immediate listen? No. In fact, on first listen I remember this album leaving me could. But revisiting it now, everything sort of fell into place. That’s not to say that I’ve made sense of Music Has the Right to Children and its ambitious reflections. But I guess that’s kind of the point.

Scottish electronic. Chill lo-fi synths. Very atmospheric. Cool beats. I dig this. Interesting and varied. Pleasant and floaty. 80s vibes.

Good album, really enjoyed the sound. Would listen some more.

I have another album from these folks and hadn't heard this one, but it's cool ambient music without being just drone tones or breathy white noise. It has musical ideas but is laid back and cosmic feeling.

This is a 3.5 for me. I'm familiar with BoC, but my go to album has always been Campfire Headphase. I was happy to get the push to listen to this album again since it's been a while. It's good, but I don't really get the hype. I never did. Sonically this album is a trip worth the listen, but I probably won't come back to it too often (3 stars). Extra point for being so influential. I can think of several artists I like that site this album as inspiration. Maybe one day it'll break through to me.

Love the album cover and title! Maybe one of the best titles yet. I wasn't getting into it until Telephasic Workshop grabbed me. I'll explore this album in another state of mind in the future...even dropped TW into the Broccoli Alien Mix :)

Bored of Canada, am I right? Background music at its most self indulgent. If your idea of a good time is the same drum loop for six minutes interspersed with a bit crushed child’s voice intermittently vocalising the names of primary colours, then this record is for you!

Very 90s, minimal chilled electronic. Pretty easy to listen to but after first few tracks I'm not that bothered about it. Nothin particularly wrong with it but it just did nothing for me. 2/5

02/02 - Yesterday I worked on developing door details for the Drum Storage Building as well as some professional development toward AXP. I had a good conversation with Jake on how to address questions that might come up during the week (work on creating a list and asking for someones time in advance to go through the list). He also helped me with breaking down Project Management hours. I thought this album was okay, definitely different then the types of beats I would listen to today. It seemed to be missing a lot of base but I thought it was very unique in style regardless.

This is like music you'd put on in the background while you listen to other music.

Fuck Ziggy Stardust. This is the one!

Good grief this album is boring. Slow, ambient, thoroughly unenjoyable. I can't find a single redeeming quality off this album.

Really a transcendent and flawless album from front to back. 5/5

Super cool. Sounds like a video game sound track.

This album definitely evokes a sense of false nostalgia. Boards of Canada incorporate analog synths, samples of old broadcasts, field recordings, and snippets of children’s voices, which will definitely connect you with your childhood or make you reminisce about memories that might not even be real. They have a very strong ’70s and ’80s hazy vibe through a mystical soundscape. I love how they bring out these dream-like memories all through sound and music. These qualities are what really set Boards of Canada apart from every other ambient, downtempo, and experimental electronic artist out there.

A true oxymoron in audio form. Finding warmth in the coldness of steel machinery; finding structure in the unordered; finding the future in your nostalgia; finding childlike joy in growing up. A misremembered memory you wouldn't want to remember any other way.

I enjoyed every song on this. Absolutely wonderful.

A beautifully charming and encompassing collection of bloops and bleeps.

Now we’re talking…aaand now we’re melting.

There's never been a group that sounded quite like Boards of Canada. They rejected the trend of electronic dance music that was growing in popularity at the time. Instead they drew influence from early electronic composers, mainly from film scores. Their name refers to the Film Board of Canada which produced documentaries that the brothers used to watch and were influential on their sound. The music evokes strong feelings of nostalgia, childhood and nature. I've always felt that there was also something unsettling about the music. For me, it recalls the feelings of being a child and experiencing a huge world. There's innocence, wonder and some fear in this music. This is the mature world of adults seen from the vantage point of a child. I also find a sense of isolation from the world in BoC's music. Like it's separated from the city and from home, to discover a new place. For an adult that might just be a camping trip. But for the child, it's the opening up to a new and curious world. Few artists can manage to create such vivid imagery with no lyrics.

Favourite tracks: roygbiv; wildlife analysis; an eagle in your mind; sixtyten; happy cycling

Sähköisen kuuntelumusan klassikoita, ja vieläkin kolisee mainiosti. 5/5.

"Music Has the Right to Children" is the debut album by Scottish electronic duo Boards of Canada. The music is described as a "distinctive style of electronica featuring vintage synthesizers, degraded analogue production, found sounds and samples and hip hop-inspired rhythms." It was self-produced by brothers Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin. The album received critical acclaim and is considered a landmark work in electronica music. Layered synths open the album in the short "Wildlife Analysis" which transitions to "An Eagle in Your Mind." Oscillating synths and a electronic drum beat. Samples of a deep voice talking and of Sesame Street's "I Love You." A downtempo vibe. "Turquoise Hexagon Sun" lays down a hip hop beat with xylophone-sounding synth keys and people talking and laughing in the background. The beat keeps it steady and hypnotic. Deep and dark synth keys open "Roygbiv." Backed by a constant beat, the song changes to more happy-sounding. This is almost danceable....almost. Wobbly synths and an electronic bass and drumbeats anchor "Aquarius." A repeating sample of Sesame Street's "O is for Orange" with children laughing and a woman counting numbers sometimes randomly. This is a unique-sounding album. Dreamy, ambient, downtempo, hypnotic. The songs tend to lay down a beat and/or synth line and build with various sounds, noises and samples. They do capture a retro 70's sound with the synths. I don't think this album is for everyone but a must listen for anyone who likes electronic music. The changes between songs kept it interesting. I don't know if I've heard an album quite like it (on the good side).

Yeah it’s great, don’t need to overthink this one. Fave Tracks: most of it really - Wildlife Analysis, Roygbiv, Rue the Whirl, Aquarius, One Very Important Thought, Happy Cycling 4.8/5

Bet this is great on mushrooms. Really enjoyed everything. Like this style more now. Good flow throughout. Album works as a whole. Feels like being inside someone’s head. Not finding any flaws. Really smart. 5/5

9/10 Of course I already knew this one, I’m Scottish and liked electronic music in the late 90s onward… This is a super influential album on what was the record label at the time They had some mega contemporaries there - Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Autechre, and BoC always had the best grasp of melody for me, and beats that showed more hip hop influence Those beats are probably the highlight of the album, when they are chunky they are very chunky Not all of it has a soul, some is a little clinical, and there is some ambient burbling. But the whole thing works, with their distinctive style of chopped up vocals and samples Best: Roygbiv

I love this kind of ambient music, I love the sound of old synthesizers. I love how this kind of music is painting sound-/landscapes and to immerse myself in those.

Very nice.

One of my favorite albums to listen to while working and listened a lot while studying. Pretty perfect for an instrumental electronic album and is probably top 2 or 3 in that category

Was skeptical at the beginning, because I looked at the global reviews before listening. Great sampling and overall I really enjoyed it. Reminds me a little of 'Entroducing.....' by DJ Shadow which is one of my favorite albums.

Listening to an electronic album with music so natural and organic feels like scratching an itch deep in my brain. This album includes sounds I remember from early childhood programs that aired on public television when I was a kid making it even more of a satisfying listen.

Very chill ambient/tripop

BoC are mechanistic, experimental, cerebral musique concrete with a very specific attitude as an art project. Late 90s Electronic music was Big Beat, danceable throbbing rave-oriented controlled chaos that required little to no cognitive effort on the listener's part. This is a completely different thing. It is electronic music to be sure. Some bits also bear a resemblance to dance tropes of that era. Well-executed similarity to other forms of electronic music, serve as an entry point for something far more interesting, yet entertaining. From simple bass and drum grooves, they wash the whole with other colors that seem unintentional in their effect. Moods shift from joyous to anxious, naïve to wizened, celebratory to frosty boredom. BoC create art that occupies an unnameable state of mind that existed in its past. Perhaps. I think I remember hearing this or that, I remember what it felt like (or I think I do), but that might only be because the sound suggests it. What you are hearing never actually existed. What exists is your memory of something similar, buried now because it's unimportant or unused. There is a way to dive into how this fits into postmodernism in a way that I won't go into today, but it can spin off in an epistemological direction for sure. What do you really remember? Is memory a real thing in the world? We probably invent an abstraction of the past so that the world has some structure., even though the "world" is just complete uncontrolled chaos. It's why we invented God, or maybe music This music works in that role for me really well. A structure where the mind can wander down weird little paths of memory and emotion, some I've seen before, some remind me of places I've been or people I've heard in other rooms while multiple TVs play various indecipherable and unimportant things. "Music Has the Right to Children" is accidentally popular, it seems. Kind of divisive, looking at the reviews here. I love it, but you don't have to. Give it a chance if you want something to think about.

The perfect background beats for all endeavors of coolness. Harmonious, but pleasantly jarring at the same time. A perfect encapsulation of the mellow, chiller-than-thou spirit of the late 90s, and somehow still as fresh as a first listen.

Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: die verfremdeten Gesichter machen doch neugierig - privates Familienporträt oder Dachboden-Fund eines anonymen Fotos? Mix: analog, texturiert und detailreich - egal ob entspannt vom inzwischen ordentlich abgerocktem Vinyl oder analytisch mit hochauflösenden Kopfhörern Musik: absoluter Ambient-, Beat- und persönlicher Produktivitäts-Klassiker Wertung: 🥸🥸🥸🥸(🥸)/5

Something about this album in all its simplicity that I absolutely adore. The album cover suits the music so well.

Gosh and blimey! This is an absolute tour de force and one of my favourite albums. I've listened to thousands of albums in my 50+ years and I know quality when I hear it. You're all tone-deaf and ignorant ;-)

I’m afraid I fw this one.

Loving the ambient grooves

A+, favorite album.

Plaza sésamo

Plug laced my shit with the shadow dimension polyhedron fungus. I'm blown away. I can't believe I've never heard this before. It's hard to describe, but something about this screams "Early Internet Era" to me. The futuristic, yet strangely creepy vibes of early Geocities websites, also the strangeness of early Internet animations like Salad Fingers. I can also hear some Silent Hill 2 in this. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Akira Yamaoka was a fan of these guys - the beginning of "Smokes Quantity" is literally "Black Fairy" from the SH2 soundtrack. Motherfuckers almost moved me to tears. I feel like I just relived my entire childhood in the span of 60 minutes. Has to be 5/5.

Ультра абстрактно, но при этом хрустяще, вайбово, хайпово, велико. Это такая, ранняя, но очень чёткая при этом электроника. Я б совершенно не удивился если бы этот альбом я встретил в группе IDM или где-нибудь ещё. Пять звёзд, это мега хайпово и я хочу под это играть в майнкрафт.

Loved it. Great experimental and instrumental album. Easy to listen to.

Iconic

Listened to this staring syraight ahead whilst moving backwards on a train. Sesame Street samples a highlight

fond fond memories and an easy 5 star

Bought this album at Academy of Sciences. Heard about it through Amoebas Recommended vinyl collection staples... Used to zone out to this at work... ROYGBIV is legendary

I believe this is the duo's most acclaimed album. A very chill electronic/trip hop/ambient record. Weird samples and I think seminal. I prefer Geogaddi but I think that's subjective. This is still a great album for focusing, night drive, being wired into the dystopic future nightmare that is the future present. Very alien hip hop/trip hop beats. Odd vocal samples and spacey alienating synths. Definitely a must listen to get into the weirder side of electronic music.

Fantastic

One of my more favourite albums as of late. Great to have on whilst working or in the background. Smooth, consistent, made with care and attention. I'm a big sucker for electronic that is able to see where things are going and almost predict futures that don't yet exist, and this album does that to a T.

Just a great listen all-around. The album ebbs and flows with really good pacing, mixing really chill IDM beats with some harder, more normal electronic songs. I feel like I could wake up and play this album every day and it would be a great start to my day! 9/10

sweet

Great electronica to listen to while working, really enjoyed that album as a synthead

chill blip bloop music is my jam

banger

Na

The music of my dreams. Precisely the hazy world I want to stay lost in forever. Ideal for introverted headphone rides late at night. Rich, deeply textured, evocative, and hypnotic, to the point of practically being intoxicating - all without ever being overbearing. An exquisite example of what electronic music can do when freed from a purely dance oriented context.

Pretty pivotal album for a certain aesthetic of electronic music that is still influential to this day. Not every track on here is one I'd listen to in isolation, but the atmosphere and vibe of the album is almost perfect for what they are going for. There's a lot of little subtle and reserved sound choices that really make certain things stand out, in a way it's sort of like good ambient: you can really listen to them deliberately a get something completely different out of it than if you passively had this in the background, which is also a valid listen. It's background music that is there for you to listen to it more deeply when you have the moment.

Although I don't think I ever get excited about this genre, there is much I loved about this album. It's hard for me to really stay engaged in the long, ambient bits, but when I pull them back into consciousness, these are really, really good. I love the mix of seventies synthesizer and hip hop beats.

This was new to me. I listened and I really liked it. I had thoughts that it wasn't as interesting as some of the other albums of this sound that we have heard and was going to rate it down for that. Then I figured that if I wasn't comparing it to the other albums that I must hear before I die, then I would love this one. So, ...

I have heard of Boards of Canada and thought I knew their genre, but either they changed to something very different or I knew nothing about them. This was way more interesting and engaging than expected. A wonderful journey… trancelike at times… and definitely something I will be revisiting!

such good shit

Oh la dingz

Devine to listen to with headphones.

Ah, I do love me some BoC... Good old downtempo electro-psych. This album in particular has always commanded my attention. Album opens with some very BoC aura sounds. A roaming synth playing through some hazy fog; evokes something of some colorful light roaming through space. An Eagle In Your Mind follows on with a warbly synth plus stumbling, ever-evolving drum. Some spoken word samples in the background add to the already eerie vibe. The "I Love You" sample always kills me. Feels so out of place, and yet... This song in particular is everything I love about BoC; slow building aura music that makes you slightly uncomfortable, while also wrapping around you like a blanket. The Color of the Fire, once again dips heavily into the "I Love You" sample. This time opening up with a super slowed down and spread out rendering. The stuff of nightmares. Uncomfortably paired with some moody synth aura and twinkling electronic bells. It is as if they deliberately made this song to induce a bad trip. Would absolutely do drugs to this and regret it. Telephasic Workshop ditches the majority of the eerieness in favor of a fairly straightforward drum and bass number with a strange (awesome) syncopated vocal track serving as a percussive element. All throughout, things are held together by familiar synth tones and background vocal samples that make it clear we have not left the BoC universe. Second favorite song so far after An Eagle In Your Mind (I'm a whore for a slow build). Sixtyten features a very hip-hop infused beat with boom-bap drums and a vocal sample featuring at the center of the rhythm. This song jams end to end. Turquoise Hexagon Sun starts out so very pretty. Trip-hop infused beat lead by some angelic keys that just never stops moving. On this song, I think I realize what I like so much about BoC is the lived-in feel that they create with their songs. Every song is kind of homey and cluttered in a delightful sort of way. This song in particular makes me think of walking through a not-long abandoned house on a sunny day where the blinds are mostly drawn, but there is enough light shining through so you can see the dust floating about. Hard to explain, but there it is. A couple of short sandwich tracks separate this and obvious standout Roygbiv. The simplicity of the lead synth line with the drums is only enhanced as the track builds with successive layers. Such a pretty, forceful song. Rue The Whirl is an aptly named track whose main loop feels like something unwinding over and over again. Paired with a punchy drum beat, this feels like something that should be rapped over, or at least bobbed to very confidently. Aquarius gives way to a sprawling number with a funk-infused base line and cowbell(?) marking time. Seems music fit for the intro of a porno, that is until the creepy samples start rollings. For some reason, the sample of the woman counting just works amid all the other sample layers. God I love BoC. Vocal samples just keep getting better -- One Very Important Thought busting out the government PSA about serving as a juror. Album closes out with Happy Cycling, which has one of the more unnerving backing synth lines on the album (which is saying something). But I mean come on... that seagull sample? How? Absolute classic electro-psych album. Guaranteed to lull you into a sense of safety and then induce nightmares in children and grown men alike. I love everything about this album from front to back. While they have a distinctive sound and aura, BoC are able to jam a lot of ideas and permutations into this environment. This album is truly timeless. Hard to believe it is 25 years old. 5/5.

My heart jumped a bit when this came up for the day. It's a pure classic that I go back to again and again. One of the best in any sort of electronic genre.