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Boards of Canada

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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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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, there has been rumors that they actually may release a boxset with their earlier work in it. Most of this is 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[edit]

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, 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.

See List of samples used by Boards of Canada for more information.

Live sets[edit]

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 for more information.

Influences[edit]

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

Discography[edit]

See Discography

Interviews[edit]

See Interviews

Videos[edit]

See Videos

Related pages[edit]

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

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