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β | April 20th, 2013 marked the 6th annual [http://recordstoreday.com/ Record Store Day], a global celebration of independent record stores for which record labels produce special limited edition releases and reissues and distribute them for release on this date. On this date, | + | April 20th, 2013 marked the 6th annual [http://recordstoreday.com/ Record Store Day], a global celebration of independent record stores for which record labels produce special limited edition releases and reissues and distribute them for release on this date. On this date, Twitter user [https://twitter.com/ImNoPandaBear @imnopandabear] found a mysterious [[Boards of Canada]] 12" vinyl in [http://www.othermusic.com/|Other Music, NYC]. This vinyl provided one of [[Record Store Day incident#Message Distribution|six messages]] forming part of a [[Record Store Day incident#Key Format|36-digit key]]. Following this event, more [[Record Store Day incident#Message Distribution|messages]] have been broadcast over different media. Despite initial skepticism, the [http://www.youtube.com/user/AtalantaFugiens AtalantaFugiens] YouTube account (known to be [[Live_@_ATP|official]]) updated the annotation on its [[Julie And Candy]] live video to briefly show the key format at time 4:19, confirming the legitimacy of the record. |
+ | |||
+ | Below the table of contents you can find a detailed flow of events. For a brief summary of the events you can browse the following resources: | ||
+ | * [http://boardsofcanada2013.tumblr.com/ Compilation of related images by Jason Donervan]. | ||
+ | * [http://markjameslyell.tumblr.com/post/50366859970/sick-times-for-viral-marketing Sick Times for viral marketing - a recap by Evil Sounds]. | ||
+ | * [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12Qm1d-eyN1KDY6-qsB_hoRXRkM5HeUGL8C_ygtizW_Y/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000#slide=id.gdefe8c18_14 A visual presentation of the Record Store Day incident by Rikkiebags]. | ||
__TOC__ | __TOC__ | ||
== Key and Message Format == | == Key and Message Format == | ||
β | The term ''key'' refers to the entire 36-digit code. The term ''message'' refers to a broadcast | + | The term ''key'' refers to the entire 36-digit code. The term ''message'' refers to a broadcast that provides any number of digits from the key. The term ''message position'' refers to the position of the message within the key. |
β | It is unclear at this stage whether the key represents a mathematical challenge, | + | It is unclear at this stage whether the key represents a mathematical challenge, an encrypted ciphertext, or a key for decoding some as-yet-unknown ciphertext. If it is ciphertext or an encryption key, then information theory and Shannon's noisy coding theorem tells us that it is not useful information until the full message and its related key/cipher are known. |
===Key Format=== | ===Key Format=== | ||
Line 13: | Line 18: | ||
===Message Format=== | ===Message Format=== | ||
β | The messages are distributed by 45 second audio sequences following a set format: | + | The messages are distributed by 45-second audio sequences following a set format: |
* a shortwave-radio-like noise floor with a numbers station sample being played quietly and noisily throughout. | * a shortwave-radio-like noise floor with a numbers station sample being played quietly and noisily throughout. | ||
* a musical callsign announcing that a message is ready to be played | * a musical callsign announcing that a message is ready to be played | ||
β | * a 6 digit numerical message being read in a distorted, | + | * a 6-digit numerical message being read in a distorted, computerized manner |
Each message is partnered by a textual 'title' of the following format: | Each message is partnered by a textual 'title' of the following format: | ||
<blockquote>----- / ------ / ------ / XXXXXX / ------ / ------</blockquote> | <blockquote>----- / ------ / ------ / XXXXXX / ------ / ------</blockquote> | ||
β | The 6 digit message is taken to fit into the marked six positions in the title. | + | The 6-digit message is taken to fit into the marked six positions in the title. |
+ | |||
+ | * The XXXXXX pressed on each album cover may have additional significance. X is the 24th letter of the alphabet. Numerically, XXXXXX would be transcribed as 24-24-24-24-24-24. When 2 and 4 are added, the sum is 6. Therefore XXXXXX becomes 666666. Six 6's equals 36, the numerical sequence that is found on each [[Aquarius]] release. The sum of all numbers from 1 to 36 is 666. | ||
==Message Distribution== | ==Message Distribution== | ||
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I want to figure this out<br /> | I want to figure this out<br /> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
β | * Two weeks after finding the record that gave the first clue about [[Boards of Canada]]'s new album, a US student is putting the disc up for auction. Pleading for money to "help me start out on my own", the seller has already attracted drawn bids of $4,000 (Β£2,500)." <ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/may/01/boards-of-canada-record-auction</ref><ref>http://pitchfork.com/news/50543-boards-of-canada-record-store-day-12-on-ebay/</ref>. Bidding for the record ended on May 6th, | + | * Two weeks after finding the record that gave the first clue about [[Boards of Canada]]'s new album, a US student is putting the disc up for auction. Pleading for money to "help me start out on my own", the seller has already attracted drawn bids of $4,000 (Β£2,500)." <ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/may/01/boards-of-canada-record-auction</ref><ref>http://pitchfork.com/news/50543-boards-of-canada-record-store-day-12-on-ebay/</ref>. Bidding for the record ended unsuccessfully on May 6th, due to non-paying bidders. The record was then sold outside of eBay for $900 and then later sold to an anonymous buyer from the UK for $1150 <ref>http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boards-of-Canada-RSD-Promo-Record-XXXXXX-/281100905866</ref> |
<gallery heights="325px" widths="325px"> | <gallery heights="325px" widths="325px"> | ||
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==== Vinyl 2 ==== | ==== Vinyl 2 ==== | ||
β | * The second identical copy has been found in [[wikipedia:Rough_Trade_(shops)|Rough Trade | + | * The second identical copy has been found in [[wikipedia:Rough_Trade_(shops)|Rough Trade East shop]] in London. |
*[https://twitter.com/RoughTrade @RoughTrade] tweeted the following: | *[https://twitter.com/RoughTrade @RoughTrade] tweeted the following: | ||
** 5:44 AM - 23 Apr 13 "Here's the moment the @RoughTrade East Boards of Canada record was purchased... pic.twitter.com/uQrjfDlxrX"<ref>https://twitter.com/RoughTrade/status/326678063599456257</ref> | ** 5:44 AM - 23 Apr 13 "Here's the moment the @RoughTrade East Boards of Canada record was purchased... pic.twitter.com/uQrjfDlxrX"<ref>https://twitter.com/RoughTrade/status/326678063599456257</ref> | ||
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==== Vinyl 4 ==== | ==== Vinyl 4 ==== | ||
β | + | The fourth vinyl has been found by Discogs user "[https://www.discogs.com/user/impolitov impolitov]". <ref>https://www.discogs.com/Boards-Of-Canada-XXXXXX-/release/4516654</ref> | |
==== Vinyl 5 ==== | ==== Vinyl 5 ==== | ||
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=== YouTube === | === YouTube === | ||
β | On the 22nd April, the [http://www.youtube.com/user/AtalantaFugiens AtalantaFugiens] YouTube account again updated the annotations for the "[[Julie And Candy]]" live video to briefly flash for 0.1 seconds "ONE GOT FAT" at time 4:20 ([[Record Store Day incident#Video 1|Video 1]]), | + | On the 22nd of April, the [http://www.youtube.com/user/AtalantaFugiens AtalantaFugiens] YouTube account again updated the annotations for the "[[Julie And Candy]]" live video to briefly flash for 0.1 seconds "ONE GOT FAT" at time 4:20 ([[Record Store Day incident#Video 1|Video 1]]), about the source video for an [[Everything You Do Is A Balloon]] fan video ([[Record Store Day incident#Video 2|Video 2]]). Also at this point, the [[Boards of Canada]] [[YouTube.com|YouTube account]] updated its top favourite video to "[[Everything You Do Is A Balloon]]" fan video. On that fan video, a comment from a YouTube account [[Hell Interface|hellinterface]] links to the nuevas semillas private video ([[Record Store Day incident#Video 3|Video 3]]) shown below with interesting graphics from little house on the prairie. That private video contains a link to the fourth video ([[Record Store Day incident#Video 4|Video 4]]) shown below in which the new message is played (with digits [[Record_Store_Day_incident#Hint_2|717228]]) and the message position is flashed on the screen. |
==== Video 1 ==== | ==== Video 1 ==== | ||
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==== Video 3 ==== | ==== Video 3 ==== | ||
β | {{#widget:YouTube|id= | + | {{#widget:YouTube|id=pFEp2i36Ohw}} |
+ | |||
+ | https://web.archive.org/web/20130720125431/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDKGVd7B7Sk&feature=youtu.be | ||
==== Video 4 ==== | ==== Video 4 ==== | ||
β | {{#widget:YouTube|id= | + | {{#widget:YouTube|id=qa6sJASwTTk}} |
+ | https://web.archive.org/web/20130528204218/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lub89YirmC4&feature=youtu.be | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Timeframe ==== | ||
[[user:Moebius|Moebius]] distilled the following timeframe using the YouTube API. The times are in [http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/central-time/central-daylight-time.htm US CDT]. | [[user:Moebius|Moebius]] distilled the following timeframe using the YouTube API. The times are in [http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/central-time/central-daylight-time.htm US CDT]. | ||
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===Messageboard=== | ===Messageboard=== | ||
β | The fifth clue was distributed | + | The fifth clue was distributed in the early morning (GMT+2) of 26 April, on the [[Twoism (messageboard)|Twoism messageboard]]. To officially confirm this, [[Boards of Canada]]'s [[YouTube.com|official YouTube channel]] updated its top favourite videos to three [[Twoism_(song)|Twoism]] fan videos in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQEmaj9C6ko&list=PL221B13914A7EF3A2 The Video Playlist]. |
==== Twoism Video 1 ==== | ==== Twoism Video 1 ==== | ||
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GIF89ai | GIF89ai | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
β | The first part of the strings links to two [[wikipedia:Soundcloud|Soundcloud]] uploads called β, Greek uppercase Sigma, which means SUM in maths, with album art showing a signal mixer | + | The first part of the strings links to two [[wikipedia:Soundcloud|Soundcloud]] uploads called β, Greek uppercase Sigma, which means SUM in maths, with album art showing a signal mixer that sums two inputs. By summing the two Soundcloud files he retrieved the clue: [[Record_Store_Day_incident#Hint_5|628315]] |
[[File:Artworks-000046443470-2s6v5f-t500x500.jpg|200px|included on the two soundcloud links]] | [[File:Artworks-000046443470-2s6v5f-t500x500.jpg|200px|included on the two soundcloud links]] | ||
β | + | [[File:628315.mp3]] | |
[http://traffic.libsyn.com/repose/AAAA.wav AAAA.wav] | [http://traffic.libsyn.com/repose/AAAA.wav AAAA.wav] | ||
Line 198: | Line 210: | ||
*take your hex-editor | *take your hex-editor | ||
*notice that all gifs are v89a, so they start with the letters "GIF89a" | *notice that all gifs are v89a, so they start with the letters "GIF89a" | ||
β | *go to the offset where the | + | *go to the offset where the SoundCloud links are hidden |
*notice the "there is another" hint | *notice the "there is another" hint | ||
*which is followed by a GIF89a and some more binary stuff | *which is followed by a GIF89a and some more binary stuff | ||
Line 210: | Line 222: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
β | By | + | By analyzing the ID tags of the WAVE files from Soundcloud (second image above), we find the following interesting information: |
<blockquote>AAAA.wav description:<br /> | <blockquote>AAAA.wav description:<br /> | ||
RPP:/Volumes/graphics/Boc Graphics/Record Sleeves/Cosecha Teaser/TH Coseacha Numbers Station Trail/Cosecha Clue 2 for fans/Cosecha Clue 2 for fans.RPP | RPP:/Volumes/graphics/Boc Graphics/Record Sleeves/Cosecha Teaser/TH Coseacha Numbers Station Trail/Cosecha Clue 2 for fans/Cosecha Clue 2 for fans.RPP | ||
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=== Projection === | === Projection === | ||
==== London Bay Art Gallery ==== | ==== London Bay Art Gallery ==== | ||
β | The following video projection played at the [http://www.trumanbrewery.com/cgi-bin/venue2.pl?sub=&rID=3342 Loading Bay art gallery] which is located across the [[wikipedia:Rough_Trade_(shops)|Rough Trade South shop]] in London. Allegedly it started playing at approximately 20:35 (GMT) the 26th of April 2013. See the [http://www.roughtraderecords.com/ Rough Trade Records] tweets [[Record Store Day incident#Twitter|below]] which initiated the hint. | + | The following video projection played at the [http://www.trumanbrewery.com/cgi-bin/venue2.pl?sub=&rID=3342 Loading Bay art gallery] which is located across the [[wikipedia:Rough_Trade_(shops)|Rough Trade South shop]] in London. Allegedly it started playing at approximately 20:35 (GMT) on the 26th of April 2013. See the [http://www.roughtraderecords.com/ Rough Trade Records] tweets [[Record Store Day incident#Twitter|below]] which initiated the hint. |
===== Art Gallery Video Projection ===== | ===== Art Gallery Video Projection ===== | ||
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===== Art Gallery Audio Clips ===== | ===== Art Gallery Audio Clips ===== | ||
β | These audio clips have been made by people who witnessed this video projection in real time at the event. | + | These audio clips have been made by people who witnessed this video projection in real-time at the event. |
{{#widget:SoundCloud|id=89663052|width=100%}} | {{#widget:SoundCloud|id=89663052|width=100%}} | ||
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===== Art Gallery Resources ===== | ===== Art Gallery Resources ===== | ||
β | * https:// | + | * https://www.dropbox.com/s/4r17jjvgh99tnxs/loadingbaycode.wav |
* http://www.trumanbrewery.com/cgi-bin/venue2.pl?sub=&rID=3342 | * http://www.trumanbrewery.com/cgi-bin/venue2.pl?sub=&rID=3342 | ||
* http://imgur.com/a/onf37 | * http://imgur.com/a/onf37 | ||
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===== @aeiouer ===== | ===== @aeiouer ===== | ||
β | [https://twitter.com/ | + | [https://twitter.com/robgbiv @aeiouer] tweeted the following: |
* 11:03 PM - 26 Apr 13 "I'm here! No audio i can hear. Video's of a desert, very sunny. Only shows the Xs in the code, 1st block <ref>https://twitter.com/aeiouer/status/327890724987211776</ref> | * 11:03 PM - 26 Apr 13 "I'm here! No audio i can hear. Video's of a desert, very sunny. Only shows the Xs in the code, 1st block <ref>https://twitter.com/aeiouer/status/327890724987211776</ref> | ||
* 11:11 PM - 26 Apr 13 "Don't think the live stream's gonna happen. Sorry. Just a video on loop, no new numbers" <ref>https://twitter.com/aeiouer/status/327892624818188289</ref> | * 11:11 PM - 26 Apr 13 "Don't think the live stream's gonna happen. Sorry. Just a video on loop, no new numbers" <ref>https://twitter.com/aeiouer/status/327892624818188289</ref> | ||
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* 6:19 AM - 28 Apr 13 "Hm, did [https://twitter.com/adultswim @adultswim] and [http://toonami.tumblr.com/ #toonami] just run a new BOARDS OF CANADA thing?? ...yep, we did. :)" <ref>https://twitter.com/Clarknova1/status/328362689913036800</ref> | * 6:19 AM - 28 Apr 13 "Hm, did [https://twitter.com/adultswim @adultswim] and [http://toonami.tumblr.com/ #toonami] just run a new BOARDS OF CANADA thing?? ...yep, we did. :)" <ref>https://twitter.com/Clarknova1/status/328362689913036800</ref> | ||
β | The [http://toonami.tumblr.com/ Toonami tumblr] also made the following cryptic announcement | + | The [http://toonami.tumblr.com/ Toonami tumblr] also made the following cryptic announcement on Fri April 26th, 2013 at 1:37 pm [http://toonami.tumblr.com/post/48939425279/announcement-about-tomorrow-night]: |
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT!<br /> | ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT!<br /> | ||
Line 315: | Line 327: | ||
So apparently [http://www.neilkrug.com/VIDEOS Neil Krug] from [http://www.honeybadgerco.com/ Honey Badger] created the video which aired on [[wikipedia:Adult_Swim|Adult Swim]]. | So apparently [http://www.neilkrug.com/VIDEOS Neil Krug] from [http://www.honeybadgerco.com/ Honey Badger] created the video which aired on [[wikipedia:Adult_Swim|Adult Swim]]. | ||
β | He also created this video for "[[In_a_Beautiful_Place_out_in_the_Country_(song)|In a Beautiful Place out in the Country]]": | + | He also created this video for "[[In_a_Beautiful_Place_out_in_the_Country_(song)|In a Beautiful Place out in the Country]]":<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131103125839/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrnYccMJmF8</ref> |
β | {{#widget: | + | {{#widget:YouTube|id=Q-DorI9ha-Y}} |
===Website=== | ===Website=== | ||
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==== HTTP response headers ==== | ==== HTTP response headers ==== | ||
β | The HTTP response headers for the index.php page at [http://cosecha-transmisiones.com] | + | The HTTP response headers for the index.php page at [http://cosecha-transmisiones.com] have an unusual entry called "Nuevas-Semillas", containing the following base-64 code: |
<blockquote>aHR0cDovL2Qyejczdmg3Y3I3OXJ5LmNsb3VkZnJvbnQubmV0L2Nvc2VjaGEubXAz</blockquote> | <blockquote>aHR0cDovL2Qyejczdmg3Y3I3OXJ5LmNsb3VkZnJvbnQubmV0L2Nvc2VjaGEubXAz</blockquote> | ||
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Decoding this base-64 code reveals the URL of the MP3 of the clue: [http://d2z73vh7cr79ry.cloudfront.net/cosecha.mp http://d2z73vh7cr79ry.cloudfront.net/cosecha.mp3]. This mp3 states the code [[Record_Store_Day_incident#Hint_6|813386]]. | Decoding this base-64 code reveals the URL of the MP3 of the clue: [http://d2z73vh7cr79ry.cloudfront.net/cosecha.mp http://d2z73vh7cr79ry.cloudfront.net/cosecha.mp3]. This mp3 states the code [[Record_Store_Day_incident#Hint_6|813386]]. | ||
β | + | [[File:813386.mp3]] | |
== Conclusion == | == Conclusion == | ||
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=== Videos === | === Videos === | ||
==== Album Teaser ==== | ==== Album Teaser ==== | ||
β | {{#widget:YouTube|id= | + | {{#widget:YouTube|id=e2lyYEUPat8}} |
==== Cosecha Signal One ==== | ==== Cosecha Signal One ==== | ||
β | [[Boards of Canada]] posted the following video, titled "Cosecha Signal One", on their | + | [[Boards of Canada]] posted the following video, titled "Cosecha Signal One", on their [[Facebook.com|official Facebook page]]. The video was directed by Neil Krug, the same person who did the "[[Reach For The Dead]]" video<ref>https://www.facebook.com/boardsofcanada/posts/10151430839388927</ref> |
{{#widget:YouTube|id=wDCLgTti7xk}} | {{#widget:YouTube|id=wDCLgTti7xk}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | Footage of the video from around 1:20 is used for the cover of "[[Reach For The Dead]]" as a single. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Cosecha Signals ==== | ||
+ | All Codes Together: | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{#widget:YouTube|id=G4Ene4ilK_I}} | ||
== Resources and Discussion == | == Resources and Discussion == | ||
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==== Others ==== | ==== Others ==== | ||
* [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=##boardsofcanada&uio=d4 freenode Web IRC - ##boardsofcanada] | * [http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=##boardsofcanada&uio=d4 freenode Web IRC - ##boardsofcanada] | ||
β | * [http://hosting.earthshine.it/~mark/freenode/%23%23boardsofcanada.txt Live log file of the IRC channel] | + | * [http://hosting.earthshine.it/~mark/freenode/%23%23boardsofcanada.txt Live log file of the IRC channel]. |
β | * [http://boardsofcanada2013.tumblr.com/ Compilation of related images by Jason Donervan] | + | * [http://boardsofcanada2013.tumblr.com/ Compilation of related images by Jason Donervan]. |
+ | * [http://markjameslyell.tumblr.com/post/50366859970/sick-times-for-viral-marketing Sick Times for viral marketing - a recap by Evil Sounds]. | ||
+ | * [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12Qm1d-eyN1KDY6-qsB_hoRXRkM5HeUGL8C_ygtizW_Y/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000#slide=id.gdefe8c18_14 A presentation of the Tomorrow's Harvest campaign by Rikkiebags]. <ref>http://www.twoism.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10582</ref> | ||
+ | * [http://www.mediafire.com/download/kqofjosck1mrjrj/BoC+%5BXXXXXX%5D.zip Unofficial BoC ------/------/------/------/------/------ Album by Elexen containing all the clues]. <ref>http://www.twoism.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=191522#191522</ref> | ||
=== In the Media === | === In the Media === | ||
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* [http://stereogum.com/1336631/boards-of-canada-tomorrows-harvest-details/top-stories/ boards of canada tomorrow's harvest details] | * [http://stereogum.com/1336631/boards-of-canada-tomorrows-harvest-details/top-stories/ boards of canada tomorrow's harvest details] | ||
β | === The Guardian === | + | ==== The Guardian ==== |
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/apr/22/boards-of-canada-clue-new-album does boards of canada's record-store clue point to new album?] | * [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/apr/22/boards-of-canada-clue-new-album does boards of canada's record-store clue point to new album?] | ||
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/may/01/boards-of-canada-record-auction boards of canada fan puts 'clue' record up for auction β asking $5,000] | * [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/may/01/boards-of-canada-record-auction boards of canada fan puts 'clue' record up for auction β asking $5,000] | ||
β | + | ==== Vice ==== | |
* [http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/did-boards-of-canada-create-the-weirdest-musical-rabbit-hole-ever did boards of canada create the weirdest musical rabbit hole ever] | * [http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/did-boards-of-canada-create-the-weirdest-musical-rabbit-hole-ever did boards of canada create the weirdest musical rabbit hole ever] | ||
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=== Audio clips === | === Audio clips === | ||
==== Hint 1 ==== | ==== Hint 1 ==== | ||
β | ------ / ------ / ------ / '''936557''' / ------ / ------ | + | ------ / ------ / ------ / '''936557''' / ------ / ------ |
+ | [[File:4-936557.mp3]] | ||
+ | |||
==== Hint 2 ==== | ==== Hint 2 ==== | ||
β | ------ / ------ / '''717228''' / ------ / ------ / ------ | + | ------ / ------ / '''717228''' / ------ / ------ / ------ |
+ | [[File:3-717228.mp3]] | ||
+ | |||
==== Hint 3 ==== | ==== Hint 3 ==== | ||
β | ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / '''519225''' | + | ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / '''519225''' |
+ | [[File:6-519225.mp3]] | ||
+ | |||
==== Hint 4 ==== | ==== Hint 4 ==== | ||
β | '''699742''' / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ | + | '''699742''' / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ |
+ | [[File:2-699742.mp3]] | ||
+ | |||
==== Hint 5 ==== | ==== Hint 5 ==== | ||
β | ------ / '''628315''' / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ | + | ------ / '''628315''' / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ |
+ | [[File:628315.mp3]] | ||
+ | |||
==== Hint 6 ==== | ==== Hint 6 ==== | ||
β | ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / '''813386''' / ------ | + | ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / '''813386''' / ------ |
+ | [[File:813386.mp3]] | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> |
April 20th, 2013 marked the 6th annual Record Store Day, a global celebration of independent record stores for which record labels produce special limited edition releases and reissues and distribute them for release on this date. On this date, Twitter user @imnopandabear found a mysterious Boards of Canada 12" vinyl in Music, NYC. This vinyl provided one of six messages forming part of a 36-digit key. Following this event, more messages have been broadcast over different media. Despite initial skepticism, the AtalantaFugiens YouTube account (known to be official) updated the annotation on its Julie And Candy live video to briefly show the key format at time 4:19, confirming the legitimacy of the record.
Below the table of contents you can find a detailed flow of events. For a brief summary of the events you can browse the following resources:
The term key refers to the entire 36-digit code. The term message refers to a broadcast that provides any number of digits from the key. The term message position refers to the position of the message within the key.
It is unclear at this stage whether the key represents a mathematical challenge, an encrypted ciphertext, or a key for decoding some as-yet-unknown ciphertext. If it is ciphertext or an encryption key, then information theory and Shannon's noisy coding theorem tells us that it is not useful information until the full message and its related key/cipher are known.
The key is 36 digits long and numerical in nature. The message titles suggest that the key follows the format:
----- / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------
The messages are distributed by 45-second audio sequences following a set format:
Each message is partnered by a textual 'title' of the following format:
----- / ------ / ------ / XXXXXX / ------ / ------
The 6-digit message is taken to fit into the marked six positions in the title.
BOARDS OF CANADA
------ / ------ / ------ / XXXXXX / ------ / ------
(P) 2013 WARP RECORDS LIMITED (C) 2013 WARP RECORDS LIMITED
Just like to share that there are 6 vinyls out there and a few yet to be found! Although all with the same code.
Hey, so i recently posted something on facebook about a record I got today at Other Music, its a new BoC release from warp, dated 2013. The record is single sided, and has about a roughly 20 second clip of a very boards-of-canada-ey voice with synth backing saying a six digit number once, and then cuts out. on the front of the record Boards of Canada is written and beneath that a series of -'s, /'s, and X's, are arranged as follows
------ / ------ / ------ / XXXXXX / ------ / ------Clearly I have one of six similar Boards of Canada records released today and distributed "randomly" around the world (Other Music said they received the record with no word / acknowledgement of its existence, it was just there in a shipment they received). I think that if all of the numbers are gathered and arranged in a proper order, we might be able to figure something out, so we just need the other 5 people who found the record (or maybe they haven't been found yet) to reveal their numbers and where they fit in the sequence, and then of course, have to decipher what the numbers together mean.
I don't work for warp, and am just a college kid who idolizes this group
I want to figure this out
The Rough Trade BoC single was put out on Saturday (Record Store Day) night by Noreen, the manager, who couldn't tell anyone else about it. It was deliberately misfiled under Techno and placed backwards as well. It then had to be removed at some point, as 'somebody' needed to get a photo of the customer buying it (and BoC it up with a blank face), so it was put back into the racks on Tuesday morning, waiting for someone to chance upon it. As they did.
I came in this morning to find a mailer waiting for me in the post and as you will all now know by now it was the Boards of Canada 12β³.
You can hear what it had to reveal here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsUS2C3zPns&feature=youtu.be
Much more on its whereabouts and what we will be doing for the album release tomorrow.
There was a yellow post-it sticker on the record saying sell me. It was sold to the first person who came in after it arrived. The barcode is for a βmusic has the right to childrenβ CD so we sold it for Β£7.99. Iβd actually had a conversation with the young lad who bought it about Warp (after he had bought an Aphex Twin 12β³ and then a Grizzly Bear album the next week) about how Warp had kindly done a poster campaign in Edinburgh before Christmas tagging Avalanche so it seemed appropriate.
The fourth vinyl has been found by Discogs user "impolitov". [11]
Has not been found yet.
Has not been found yet.
On the 22nd of April, the AtalantaFugiens YouTube account again updated the annotations for the "Julie And Candy" live video to briefly flash for 0.1 seconds "ONE GOT FAT" at time 4:20 (Video 1), about the source video for an Everything You Do Is A Balloon fan video (Video 2). Also at this point, the Boards of Canada YouTube account updated its top favourite video to "Everything You Do Is A Balloon" fan video. On that fan video, a comment from a YouTube account hellinterface links to the nuevas semillas private video (Video 3) shown below with interesting graphics from little house on the prairie. That private video contains a link to the fourth video (Video 4) shown below in which the new message is played (with digits 717228) and the message position is flashed on the screen.
Moebius distilled the following timeframe using the YouTube API. The times are in US CDT.
1/27/2008 | 21:55:48 OGF fanvideo published by nonameno5 |
8/23/2011 | 11:21:14 nuevas semillas video published by tarekeys |
4/22/2013 | 9:31:55 csch video published by hellinterface |
4/22/2013 | 15:57:07 hellinterface posts comment linking to neuvas |
4/22/2013 | 18:05:23 csch video updated |
4/22/2013 | 18:06:54 One Got Fat annotation added to Atalanta video |
4/22/2013 | 19:23:04 OGF fanvideo updated |
4/22/2013 | 19:38:47 nuevas semillas video updated |
On the evening (GMT) of 23rd April, Zane Lowe played the sixth message of the key on BBC Radio One. Upon consulting the show's playlist on the BBC website, it lists a track by Artist: Unknown, Title: ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / XXXXXX. The message was 519225.
On the evening (EST) of the same day, NPR played another message on All Songs Considered. This message was 699742. The title is unknown and therefore the message position has not been confirmed, although when future messages are broadcast then this can be deduced.
The fifth clue was distributed in the early morning (GMT+2) of 26 April, on the Twoism messageboard. To officially confirm this, Boards of Canada's official YouTube channel updated its top favourite videos to three Twoism fan videos in The Video Playlist.
The clue was found on Twoism when DaveJ from the Twoism messageboard discovered one of the rotating banners of the forum had changed, as shown below: [12]
The overlay added to the banner shows an image resembling the csch video above. Royce Ausburn found running the unix "strings" command on the gif file returns the following:
GIF89a
csch,hexagon sun,boc,hell interface,boards of canada,music70,boctransmission,hexagonsun,fyt,twoism
http://snd.sc/11W7vpv
http://snd.sc/11W726Q
there is another...
GIF89ai
The first part of the strings links to two Soundcloud uploads called β, Greek uppercase Sigma, which means SUM in maths, with album art showing a signal mixer that sums two inputs. By summing the two Soundcloud files he retrieved the clue: 628315
The second part of the strings is a second embedded gif containing the message position of the clip, as explained by rdy2bz from the Twoism messageboard.[13]
I'll explain how to get this image:
- take your hex-editor
- notice that all gifs are v89a, so they start with the letters "GIF89a"
- go to the offset where the SoundCloud links are hidden
- notice the "there is another" hint
- which is followed by a GIF89a and some more binary stuff
- copy everything beginning from this GIF89a and paste it into a new file
- voila, the new file is the shown one.
By analyzing the ID tags of the WAVE files from Soundcloud (second image above), we find the following interesting information:
AAAA.wav description:
RPP:/Volumes/graphics/Boc Graphics/Record Sleeves/Cosecha Teaser/TH Coseacha Numbers Station Trail/Cosecha Clue 2 for fans/Cosecha Clue 2 for fans.RPP
BBBB.wav description:
RPP:/Volumes/graphics/BoC Graphics/Record Sleeves/Cosecha Teaser/TH Cosacha Numbers Station Trail/Cosecha Clue 2 for fans/Cosecha Clue 2 for fans.RPP
Current speculation is that Cosecha, Spanish for "harvest", is the name of the numbers station project rather than the album. This would give meaning to the video titles "csch" and "new seeds".
The following video projection played at the Loading Bay art gallery which is located across the Rough Trade South shop in London. Allegedly it started playing at approximately 20:35 (GMT) on the 26th of April 2013. See the Rough Trade Records tweets below which initiated the hint.
These audio clips have been made by people who witnessed this video projection in real-time at the event.
@RoughTrade tweeted the following:
@aeiouer tweeted the following:
jackbenzie tweeted the following:
Adult Swim is an American timeshare cable television network bundled with Cartoon Network, airing from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am PT/ET in the United States. The ad below has been aired. This video again confirms 699742 being position 1 in the sequence. It was previously hinted at on NPR and on the Loading Bay art gallery video projection.
Jason Demarco who works for Adult Swim and Toonami (which is an animated programming block on Cartoon Network) tweeted the following:
The Toonami tumblr also made the following cryptic announcement on Fri April 26th, 2013 at 1:37 pm [1]:
ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT!
April 27th means A new TOM, a new Absolution, and the resurrection of IGPX @2am! Weβve also got a new game review, a special goodie from one of our friends (thatβs all the hints you get), AND another special surprise. Tune in at the beginning of the night, and keep ooooon watching!
We love you!
xoxo, The Toonami Crew
Posted: Fri April 26th, 2013 at 1:37pm
Tagged: toonami adult swim igpx
@honeybadgerco tweeted the following:
So apparently Neil Krug from Honey Badger created the video which aired on Adult Swim.
He also created this video for "In a Beautiful Place out in the Country":[45]
Since the 29th of April all BoC's original websites are pointing towards cosecha-transmisiones.com.
The HTTP response headers for the index.php page at [2] have an unusual entry called "Nuevas-Semillas", containing the following base-64 code:
aHR0cDovL2Qyejczdmg3Y3I3OXJ5LmNsb3VkZnJvbnQubmV0L2Nvc2VjaGEubXAz
Decoding this base-64 code reveals the URL of the MP3 of the clue: http://d2z73vh7cr79ry.cloudfront.net/cosecha.mp3. This mp3 states the code 813386.
Combining all the codes together, without slashes, is the correct password for the terminal on the site. This leads us to a video which reveals the album's title, Tomorrow's Harvest, and a release date of June 10. [46]
Boards of Canada posted the following video, titled "Cosecha Signal One", on their official Facebook page. The video was directed by Neil Krug, the same person who did the "Reach For The Dead" video[47]
Footage of the video from around 1:20 is used for the cover of "Reach For The Dead" as a single.
All Codes Together:
------ / ------ / ------ / 936557 / ------ / ------
------ / ------ / 717228 / ------ / ------ / ------
------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / 519225
699742 / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------
------ / 628315 / ------ / ------ / ------ / ------
------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / 813386 / ------