Boards of Canada The campfire Headphase
  full reviewuser ratings (122) 
Tracklist:
1.Into The Rainbow Vein
2.Chromakey Dreamcoat
3.Satellite Anthem Icarus
4.Peacock Tail
5.Dayvan Cowboy
6.A Moment Of Clarity
7.'84 Pontiac Dream
8.Sherbet Head
9.Oscar See Through Red Eye
10.Ataronchronon
11.Hey Saturday Sun
12.Constants Are Changing
13.Slow This Bird Down
14.Tears From The Compound Eye
15.Farewell Fire

Ranking: #96 for 2005

user rating
4
excellent
Chart.

related



members also liked
DJ Shadow Endtroducing
Massive Attack Mezzanine
Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin Drukqs
Portishead Dummy
Aphex Twin Richard D. James Album
Aphex Twin Come to Daddy (EP)
Daft Punk Discovery

  On 16 Lists

5.0
classic
dvs USER (9 Reviews)

2006-02-14 | 17 comments | 2,849 views

1 of 1 thought this review was well written

Boards of Canada, have over the course of their last 3 full length albums and numerous e.p's varied the atmosphere they create greatly, from the darker geogadi to the thick analogue synths of music has the right to children, yet boards of Canada have always managed to retain their own unique sound.

With the campfire headphase B.O.C have managed to introduce a new element to their sound, the major change on this album is addition of guitars and other live instruments all recorded by the duo themselves. The mood of the album has changed to a more upbeat sound from geogadi, which was much darker (The song Beware The Friendly Stranger is used extensively on the bizarre salad finger's online cartoon). The campfire headphase has a warm acoustic sound to it and many of the tracks can bring back memories of summer days spent in fields, and walking through the countryside.

The addition of live instruments and guitars for me is one of the greatest changes on this album, the guitars are all heavily filtered and the sounds they get from them are beautiful. The guitars are usually repeated chords or riffs but they work with the songs really well and the single chords complement the swirling synth sounds very well. On the track Dayvan Cowboy a long intro of some simple nicely distorted guitars make's way for some delayed chords and about half way through the song drums come in and some lovely synths, although the song like many songs and the album has many elements to it the sound is never cluttered and nothing needless is present.

The second track on the album Chromakey Dreamcoat, demonstrates how well boc have used guitars to introduce a lovely drum beat and they managed to include some sample's of what to me sounds like seagulls, it's hard to describe but all these sounds fit together perfectly. Boc frequently use samples for elements of their songs but often they modify them to the extent where they aren’t really samples and form vital parts of the songs sound. Boc always use very nice drum sounds and this album is no exception with the snares and cymbals all having a unique sound that always manages to fit into the song perfectly.

Although the album is new it has a certain retro vibe to it, to me it would be just as suited to the 60's but at the same time i could just as easily imagine people listening to it in the future on a space colony as i could picture people listening to it at Woodstock.

Although the album works perfectly as a whole and none of the tracks are weak if asked for the strongest tracks davyn cowboy, Chromakey Dreamcoat and '84 Pontiac Dream are all outstanding.

This is my first review i hope it's not too bad and it has persuaded some people to check out this album, it's a great album to listen to and everyone i have played it to has enjoyed it and boc seems to appeal to people with varied musical tastes.

A great album to relax to just sitting in a room, or listen to while watching the sunset in a beautiful place out in the country. (B.O.C also put subliminal messages in their music, which to me is always good)

Share: Facebook Stumble Digg!Digg Twitter Del.icio.us


Recent reviews by this author
Merzbow Minazo
Boris Sun Baked Snow Cave
Boris Megatone
Agoraphobic Nosebleed PCP Torpedo / ANbRX - Double CD
AFX Chosen Lords
Queen Adreena The Butcher and the Butterfly

Comments:Add a Comment 
Two-Headed Boy


Comments: 4506
02.14.06


Good review. Never heard of these guys, and they sound interesting.
Again, good review.

Digging: Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

Zebra
Moderator


Comments: 2647
02.14.06

Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off

Average review. You said a lot about the guitar additions and that was great but you never told us the feel of the album. You also mentioned a few tracks without a proper description which is quite upsetting.
'Music Has the Right to Children' is BOC's finest moment. 'Geogaddi' was decent and this is an excellent album. The last four or five tracks are just genious.

analrightstart


Comments: 96
03.01.06

Album Rating: 4

brilliant chill out album.
tracks two and three are stand outs.


ToMsK


Comments: 10
04.14.06

Album Rating: 4

these guys are geniuses at creating layered chilled music, i cant make my mind up between CHP or MHtRtC as to which one is better, i havent had a chance to listen to Geogaddi though

Zebra
Moderator


Comments: 2647
04.14.06

Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off

Geogaddi is BoC's worst album by a long shot. It's still worth checking out, but don't expect something as good as this or MHTRTC.

slack


Comments: 235
04.14.06


I don't like this album as much as MHTRTC or Geogaddi. There's fewer songs since more of them tend to be around 3-5 minutes long, so it doesn't feel as varied, in my opinion. The guitar loops get old after awhile, and they don't use voice clips as often, which is part of what made MHTRTC and Geogaddi so interesting.

mx
Moderator


Comments: 670
04.17.06

Album Rating: 3.5

I wasn't too impressed with this until I heard 'Dayvan Cowboy'. Spectacular

Digging: Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose

AlienEater


Comments: 716
06.06.06

Album Rating: 4

I really like Dayvan Cowboy, I saw the video on MTV2. I'll probably get this after 'Music has a right to the children'.

MrKite


Comments: 5014
11.13.06

Album Rating: 4.5

I just heard a track from this and it was quite odd. I liked it.

Anglachel


Comments: 135
12.21.06


I've been falling asleep to this album for the past week :p

As in its nice to listen to when you're tired, not as in its boring.

>_>


Digging: Paul Baribeau - Paul Baribeau

AlienEater


Comments: 716
05.09.07

Album Rating: 4

I just got. It's pretty awesome

Zorg


Comments: 62
08.15.07

Album Rating: 4

The additional track for the Japanese version is one of the best. With that track, it becomes more than just great.

Digging: Hot Snakes - Audit In Progress

Nadinus


Comments: 18
03.21.08

Album Rating: 3

I liked this album but it seemed to be missing something that MHTRTC had. I have no idea what, it just doesn't sound as good.

Aaron


Comments: 446
05.10.09

Album Rating: 4.5

I think MHTRTC is better, but I seem to listen to this album a lot more.

Digging: Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night

xNintendoCorex


Comments: 1210
05.10.09

Album Rating: 2.5

just cant get into this band >

Digging: The Middle East - The Recordings of the Middle East

Meatplow


Comments: 2455
05.10.09

Album Rating: 4

Pretty damn good album, this. MHTRTC really blows my mind, however.

Meatplow


Comments: 2455
05.10.09

Album Rating: 4

Geogaddi is BoC's worst album by a long shot.


oh man, Geogaddi is incredible in it's own right.



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





FAQ // STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // SITE FORUM // CONTACT US

Site Copyright 2005-2009 Sputnikmusic.com
All Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Privacy Policy