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Boards of Canada

Revision as of 22:59, 3 April 2026 by Fredd-E (talk | contribs) (Influences upgrade)

Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music group. At present, the band is comprised of the brothers Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin, although there have been as many as twelve members at one point.

The Sandison brothers were both born in Scotland, but moved to Canada at an early age. It's arguable that without this move, Boards of Canada would not exist; the sense of displacement and nostalgia in the music that seems to be mentioned in every review, and obviously the band's namesake, the National Film Board of Canada all seem to hark back to a period in the late seventies and early eighties when there were psychedelic videos on Sesame Street, and the Cold War was in full swing.

At present, the duo live in Scotland again, working out of the Hexagon Sun Studio.

Family relation

Before their 2005 interview with Pitchfork, Michael and Marcus were seen as just two friends with a mutual appreciation for music and the art of music creation. They had often talked about their youth together, creating ramshackle musical projects with buddies and by themselves and how they met at a young age. However, during the interview with Pitchfork Media, they revealed that they are in fact brothers. The reason behind hiding this fact was that they did not want to be seen as just another brotherly-owned electronic band, such as Orbital, another influential electronic group consisting of Paul and Phil Hartnoll.

In the same interview Michael clarified that they both share the Sandison surname and that Eoin is Marcus' middle name. Despite this, Marcus has continued to be credited simply as Marcus Eoin on all Boards of Canada releases, including those released after the Pitchfork interview.

Recording history, commercially known work

Boards of Canada's commercially known and full-length discography begins with their smash-hit album Music Has the Right to Children. Being dubbed one of the greatest creations in electronic music history, Music Has the Right to Children introduced many to Boards of Canada and left awfully big shoes for the duo to fill for their next album. During the time between Music Has the Right to Children and In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country, an EP named Peel Session was released - a recording of a broadcast on BBC Radio 1 from July 21, 1998, released on January 11, 1999. Two years after their first full-length album was released, they shipped out In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country - a four track EP that first made mention of the mysterious Branch Davidian group that Boards of Canada are so fond of remarking upon in their songs and albums. Two of its songs have to do with the group. The duo's next release, on February 18, 2002, was the fascinating Geogaddi. Geogaddi's stellar kaleidoscopic artwork lavishly coats the album cover on all of the versions, but is truly magnificent on the triple vinyl set. Within the gatefold package are three sleeves showing an array of hexagonally-styled artwork with different images each side. Many would agree that this is what twelve inches of free space is really for.

Interestingly Geogaddi was not a fan favorite from the beginning. With many still hung onto Music Has the Right to Children, reviews looked down on Michael and Marcus' sophomore album as "under-produced" or not as good as their last album. Despite this, the album has mystified listeners with its large amounts of hidden details, subtle hints towards cosmic entities and kaleidoscopic imagery, Geogaddi is now held as one of the duo's best albums to date, auditorily and visually. Jump a couple years into the future to 2005 when Boards of Canada finally released their first album in three years. The Campfire Headphase made two milestones: it incorporated guitars and lacked the trademark laughter. Instead of kids playing and laughing, and educational tunes chiming, there was the sound of an untuned, poorly-kempt guitar to create a totally new sound for Boards of Canada. Some welcomed this change, while others disagreed with it, citing the difference between this and their early, "better" work.

On April 20th, 2013, Warp Records scattered six exclusive vinyl records across various countries for International Record Store Day. These records contained a short transmission, which lead to the beginnings of what would be called the Cosecha Transmisiones, that would eventually lead up to the release of Boards of Canada's first full length record in eight years, "Tomorrow's Harvest", on June 10th, 2013 (June 11th release for America). A full Tomorrow's Harvest Viral Marketing Campaign followed in the weeks after these transmissions. This record saw a more visual and fan interaction oriented era. The album's lead promotional single "Reach For The Dead" premiered on BBC's Radio 1, quickly followed by an official stream on Soundcloud.com, as well as a YouTube video on the duo's official account. All in all, this seemed to be the Sandisons' return to a more electronic influenced record, recalling the days of Geogaddi and arguably even back to the "A Few Old Tunes" releases.

Pre-commercially known work

Besides their successful full-length albums, Boards of Canada also have an extensive list of early work. The assorted creations date back to the 1980s and most information regarding them is widely available. This includes album artwork and titles, song lengths and times and so on. Although at present most of this work has never been released to the general public and may never be heard by people other than the brothers friends and family. However, there has been rumors that they actually may release a boxset with their earlier work in it but this is all purely speculation.

Possibly the most well known early album was Twoism. An album with a strong fan following, Twoism was the reason the duo received their record deal. Sean Booth, from Autechre, brought Twoism to the attention of Skam Records president Andy Maddocks and it took off from there.

Lyrics, garbled speech and sounds

Boards of Canada utilize many tricks and sounds during the creation of their albums. Most of the assorted sounds used went on later to become trademarks of the band and give them reason for their "nostalgic" label. They also use many lyrics in their albums ranging from one-liners to full paragraphs. Most of their speech bits are words that are simple or things you would hear in movies literally. But most of the other lyrics are equally as garbled, cut-up, destroyed, mixed or reversed.

One of the more prominent methods in the production of their albums is making them sound as if they came right off an old educational program from the 1970s. Being born during the early '70s and growing up on its shows, Michael and Marcus delight in bringing back old memories with imitating the faint, childish and artificial sounds of the time.

List of samples used by Boards of Canada

Live sets

As a band, Michael and Marcus have only played a handful of live shows. But what makes these shows so special is that besides playing original, well-loved songs, they often also play never before heard, unnamed songs. Some of their most fascinating and finest songs are played during these live shows.

The show with the largest amount of unreleased work is their 2001 performance during All Tomorrow's Parties. Encompassing five unknown songs and seven known, this collection displays what Boards of Canada really has in their unreleased music rack.

See Gigs

Influences

Over time, Boards of Canada have identified numerous influences that have affected their work.

There is a Spotify playlist of musicians Boards of Canada mentioned in their interviews. Sorted by era.

Additional playlists: Apple Music, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Compiled with ❤️ by Fredd-E & Moz.

type influence era source discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
1. musician 33.10.3402 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Alan Parker 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Alias 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Aphex Twin 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Aspera 2. geogaddi interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Autechre 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Beach Boys 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Beck 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Bibio 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Bob Dylan 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Bola 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Bonnie Prince Billy 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Boom Bip 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Break Machine 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Brian Chatton 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Brian Eno 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Bruce Haack 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Bulgarian State Television Female Choir 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Buzzcocks 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Carl Matthews 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Chaka Khan 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Christian Chevallier 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Claude Denjean 1. mhtrtc interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Clint Mansell. 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician cLOUDDEAD 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Cocteau Twins 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Coil 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician coL 4. harvest interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Colourbox 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Consolidated 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a unavailable
1. musician DAF 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician David Bowie 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Devo 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Dexy's Midnight Runners 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Dolphins Into The Future 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Dose One 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Doxa Sinistra 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Dreamers Cloth 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Dykehouse 3. campfire interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Earth, Wind and Fire 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Edgard Varese 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Egberto Gismonti 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Electric Light Orchestra 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Esplendor Geométrico 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Fabio Frizzi 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Fausto Papetti 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Fennesz 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Filmmaker 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Flayer 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Francis Rimbert 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Frederick Rousseau 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Front 242 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician G. Wayne Thomas 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
1. musician Gary McFarland 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician George Duke 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Gershon Kingsley 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Glenn Gould 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Godspeed You! Black Emperor 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Hajime Tachibana 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Heldon 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Herbie Hancock 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Horrific Child 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Incredible String Band 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Jack Dangers 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician James Taylor 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Jasper Van't Hof 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Jeff Lynne. 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Jesus Christ Superstar 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
1. musician John Abercrombie 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician John Cage 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician John Carpenter 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician John Denver 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician John Frusciante 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician John Harrison 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Johnny Klimek 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Joni Mitchell 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Joy Division 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Joy Zipper 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Julian Cope 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Jupiter Prophet 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a unavailable
1. musician Killing Joke 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Kraftwerk 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Lena Platonos 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Louis Armstrong 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician M. S. Subbulakshmi 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Marcos Valle 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Marilyn Manson 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Mark Isham 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Mark Johnson 3. campfire interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Meat Beat Manifesto 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Mercury Rev 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Michael Fakesch 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Michael Nyman 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Mike Oldfield 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Morgan Page 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician My Bloody Valentine 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Neil Young 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician NEU! 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Nine Inch Nails 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Nitzer Ebb 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Odd Nosdam 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician One Foundation 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a unavailable
1. musician Parsley Sound (Slum) 1. mhtrtc interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Paul Giovanni 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Paul Hart 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Paul John 4. harvest interview unavailable unavailable n/a unavailable
1. musician Pauline Oliveros 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Peter Schikele 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
1. musician Phil Harris 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Phil Spector 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Philip Glass 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Pink Floyd 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Radiohead 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Raymond Scott 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Reinhold Heil 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Riz Ortolani 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician RZA 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Severed Heads 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Sinking Ships 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Siouxsie and the Banshees 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Smith Perkins Smith 3. campfire interview discogs unavailable n/a unavailable
1. musician Soul City Orchestra 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a unavailable
1. musician Souls of Mischief 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Stefan Zauner 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Stefano Mainetti 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Steve Reich 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Stevie Wonder 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Sufjan Stevens 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Talk Talk 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Test Department 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The "Picnic at Hanging Rock" soundtrack 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
1. musician The Beatles 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Black Dog 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Creed Taylor Orchestra 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Doors 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Elegants 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Future Sound Of London 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Misfits 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Orb 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Pixies 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician The Polyphonic Spree 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician These Trails 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Thomas Newman 4. harvest interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Tomita 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Tortoise 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Tranquility Bass 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Ultramarine 0. myspace myspace discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Vangelis 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Vaughan Williams 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Velvet Underground 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Victrola 5. sxt interview discogs unavailable n/a spotify
1. musician Ween 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Wendy Carlos 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician William Basinski 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Win 6. other other discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Wu-Tang Clan 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Yellow Magic Orchestra 5. sxt interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
1. musician Yo La Tengo 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia n/a spotify
2. movies A Man Escaped 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia imdb unavailable
2. movies Alice 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia imdb n/a
2. movies Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Capricorn One 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Crystal Voyager 3. campfire interview n/a wikipedia imdb unavailable
2. movies Dandelion Seed 1. mhtrtc interview unavailable unavailable unavailable unavailable
2. movies Dark Star 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia imdb unavailable
2. movies Diagram 1. mhtrtc interview unavailable unavailable unavailable unavailable
2. movies Followers 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia unavailable n/a
2. movies Glenn Larson 3. campfire interview n/a wikipedia imdb n/a
2. movies Heavenly Creatures 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Ice Core Drilling 1. mhtrtc interview n/a n/a unavailable n/a
2. movies Invention for Destruction 1. mhtrtc interview unavailable wikipedia imdb unavailable
2. movies Jan Svankmeyer 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia imdb n/a
2. movies Jesus Christ Superstar 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Logan's Run 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Norman McLaren 3. campfire interview n/a wikipedia imdb n/a
2. movies Papillon 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Picnic at Hanging Rock 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Revolution 1. mhtrtc interview unavailable unavailable unavailable unavailable
2. movies Silent Running 3. campfire interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Soylent Green 3. campfire interview unavailable wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Stephen J. Cannell 3. campfire interview n/a wikipedia imdb n/a
2. movies The Andromeda Strain 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies The Elephant Man 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb unavailable
2. movies The Illustrated Man 2. geogaddi interview unavailable wikipedia imdb unavailable
2. movies The New Numbers 1. mhtrtc interview unavailable unavailable unavailable unavailable
2. movies The Wizard of Oz 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
2. movies Zabriskie Point 1. mhtrtc interview discogs wikipedia imdb spotify
3. other 1970's Reggae 2. geogaddi interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Andy Maddocks 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Anticon 2. geogaddi interview discogs wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Dmitry Orlov 4. harvest interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other H.R. Giger 3. campfire interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Hieronymus Bosch 3. campfire interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Hundertwasser 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other James Howard Kunstler 4. harvest interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other National Film Board of Canada 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other New Scientist 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Nikola Tesla / maths 2. geogaddi interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Robert Anton Wilson 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Robert Blake 2. geogaddi interview n/a wikipedia imdb n/a
3. other Rockford Files 2. geogaddi interview n/a wikipedia imdb n/a
3. other TV themes 1. mhtrtc interview n/a wikipedia n/a n/a
3. other Wim Wenders 3. campfire interview n/a wikipedia imdb n/a

Discography

See Discography

Interviews

See Interviews

Videos

See Videos

Related pages

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