History Music / BoardsOfCanada

* FadingIntoTheNextSong: "The Beach at Redpoint" and "Opening the Mouth."

Among their influences, the brothers have cited Music/TheIncredibleStringBand (claiming shared pastoral sensibilities), Music/TheBeatles and Music/MyBloodyValentine.

Boards of Canada are an electronic music duo formed of two Scottish brothers, Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin. [[hottip:* :(For a while they pulled a WhiteStripes and pretended they were just friends; when asked why they explained that they didn't want to attract needless comparisons to {{Orbital}}, another SiblingTeam electronic band.)]] They are known for their ambient-downtempo-psychedelic-trippy sound constructed by a combination of electronic and normal instrumentation with TripHop-influenced beats and [[{{Sampling}} samples]] of old [[TheSeventies seventies]] media (their name is a nod to the documentaries produced by the National Film Board of Canada, which they were heavily influenced by as their family moved to Canada during their childhood), giving their music a more pastoral and human character compared to other purely synthetic electronic bands. A frequent metaphor/comparison among reviewers is that their music sounds like "the last sounds of a dying machine from TheSeventies that just got recently excavated," or something along those lines.

* DaylightHorror: ''Geogaddi'' feels like this, due to the use of bright, happy synths and samples contrasted with horrifically disturbing hidden messages and distorted vocals.

* {{Sampling}}: Heavy use of this, especially from field recordings, movies, ''SesameStreet'' (yes, really) NationalFilmBoardOfCanada documentaries, numbers stations (especially on ''Geogaddi'') and lots and lots of children's voices, as well as more "normal" sampling of other songs ("Aquarius", for instance, is driven by a sample from the ''Hair'' soundtrack). Children's voices were deliberately removed from ''Headphase'', with Marcus explaining that it was meant to avoid being pigeonholed:

** "Aquarius" is named that because its primary sample comes from "Aquarius" by Galt [=MacDermot=], from the ''Theatre/{{Hair}}'' soundtrack (specifically, the 1979 soundtrack). This is a bit more noticeable on the ''Aquarius'' EP version (pay attention for the slap bass riff), as the ''Music Has the Right to Children'' version runs the sample through some heavier EQ'ing and processing. The song also uses samples from vintage ''SesameStreet'' episodes (the man saying "orange", kids laughing and saying "yeah, that's right").

** "Telephasic Workshop", among other things, is suggested by [[http://bocpages.org/wiki/Telephasic_Workshop_(song) the BoCpages fansite]] to be a reference to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, best known for its contributions to ''{{Doctor Who}}''.

* {{Sampling}}: Heavy use of this, especially from field recordings, movies, ''SesameStreet'' (yes, really) NationalFilmBoardOfCanada documentaries, and lots and lots of children's voices, as well as more "normal" sampling of other songs ("Aquarius", for instance, is driven by a sample from the ''Hair'' soundtrack). Children's voices were deliberately removed from ''Headphase'', with Marcus explaining that it was meant to avoid being pigeonholed:

Boards of Canada are an electronic music duo formed of two Scottish brothers, Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin. [[hottip:* :(For a while they pulled a WhiteStripes and pretended they were just friends; when asked why they explained that they didn't want to attract needless comparisons to {{Orbital}}, another SiblingTeam electronic band.)]] They are known for their ambient-downtempo-psychedelic-trippy sound constructed by a combination of electronic and normal instrumentation with TripHop-influenced beats and [[{{Sampling}} samples]] of old [[TheSeventies seventies]] media (their name is a nod to the documentaries produced by the National Film Board of Canada), giving their music a more pastoral and human character compared to other purely synthetic electronic bands. A frequent metaphor/comparison among reviewers is that their music sounds like "the last sounds of a dying machine from TheSeventies that just got recently excavated," or something along those lines.

!Discography:

* {{Nonappearing Title}}: None of their albums or EPs feature the album title in a song, ''In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country'', ''Twoism'', and ''Boc Maxima'' being exceptions.

* {{Old Shame}}: They refuse to acknowledge the existence of any of their work prior to Twoism.

* {{Sampling}}: Heavy use of this, especially from field recordings, movies, ''SesameStreet'' (yes, really) NationalBoardOfCanada documentaries, and lots and lots of children's voices, as well as more "normal" sampling of other songs ("Aquarius", for instance, is driven by a sample from the ''Hair'' soundtrack). Children's voices were deliberately removed from ''Headphase'', with Marcus explaining that it was meant to avoid being pigeonholed:

Discography:

* TheBlank: The cover of ''Music Has The Right To Children'' shows a faceless family.

* {{Sampling}}: Heavy use of this, especially from field recordings, movies, National Board of Canada documentaries, and lots and lots of children's voices. Children's voices were deliberately removed from ''Headphase'', with Marcus explaining that it was meant to avoid being pigeonholed:

* {{Shout Out}}: The group name is a reference to the NationalFilmBoardOfCanada.
** Also, ''In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country'' is heavy with references to the Branch Davidians cult.
* SignatureSong: "Roygbiv"
** Arguable. "Dayvan Cowboy," "1969," and "Music Is Math" also are contenders.
* SubliminalSeduction: All of their albums employ heavy use of reversing, which sometimes has landed them in hot water.
* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: Although it's not known if Boards of Canada does drugs when composing music, many fans feel that listening to Boards of Canada's trippy, psychedelic sounds is a drug experience in itself.
** Especially when on drugs.

** Heck, check out [[http://bocpages.org/wiki/Geogaddi this fansite's page on Geogaddi]], and ''especially'' the page on [[http://bocpages.org/wiki/You_Could_Feel_the_Sky "You Could Feel The Sky"]]'s SubliminalSeduction Satanic themes. Brrr.

* {{Old Shame}}: They refuse to acknowledge the existence of any of their work prior to Twoism. {{YMMV}} though, on the quality of their older work, so possibly [[{{Justified Trope}} justified]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/boc.jpg

-->''Come out and live with a religious community in a beautiful place out in the country''.

Despite the general sunny, optimistic character of their music, the brothers have been known to dip into the HighOctaneNightmareFuel every now and then, especially on ''Geogaddi''.

* NumberOfTheBeast: ''Geogaddi'''s last track, "Hidden Window", is 1:46 minutes of silence in order to make the final album length 66:06. WordOfGod claims this was done ForTheLulz after a suggestion from Warp Records president Steve Beckett, playing on more gullible listeners' worries about the SubliminalSeduction and NightmareFuel in their material.

* {{Zeerust}}: Boards of Canada was directly influenced by the National Board of Canada's old 1970s music, so this is no surprise.

Boards of Canada are an electronic music duo formed of two Scottish brothers, Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin. [[hottip:* :(For a while they pulled a WhiteStripes and pretended they were just friends; when asked why they explained that they didn't want to attract needless comparisons to {{Orbital}}, another SiblingTeam electronic band.}]] They are known for their ambient-downtempo-psychedelic-trippy sound constructed by a combination of electronic and normal instrumentation with TripHop-influenced beats and [[{{Sampling}} samples]] of old [[TheSeventies seventies]] media (their name is a nod to the documentaries produced by the National Film Board of Canada), giving their music a more pastoral and human character compared to other purely synthetic electronic bands. A frequent metaphor/comparison among reviewers is that their music sounds like "the last sounds of a dying machine from TheSeventies that just got recently excavated," or something along those lines.

Pre-Warp releases (generally unavailable unless you really dig after them):

* {{Old Shame}} They refuse to acknowledge the existence of any of their work prior to Twoism (the Old Tunes). {{YMMV}} though, on the quality of the Old Tunes.

* {{Crowning Music Of Awesome}}: The fandom is divided between the albums ''Music Has the Right to Children'' and ''Geogaddi''.

Boards of Canada are an electronic music duo formed of two Scottish brothers, Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin [[hottip:*:For a while they pulled a WhiteStripes and pretended they were just friends; when asked why they explained that they didn't want to attract needless comparisons to {{Orbital}}, another SiblingTeam electronic band]]. They are known for their ambient-downtempo-psychedelic-trippy sound constructed by a combination of electronic and normal instrumentation with TripHop-influenced beats and [[{{Sampling}} samples]] of old [[TheSeventies seventies]] media (their name is a nod to the documentaries produced by the National Film Board of Canada), giving their music a more pastoral and human character compared to other purely synthetic electronic bands. A frequent metaphor/comparison among reviewers is that their music sounds like "the last sounds of a dying machine from TheSeventies that just got recently excavated", or something along those lines.

Boards of Canada has existed since 1986, when Marcus joined Mike's band, but ever since 1989 the band consists solely of the Sandison brothers. Their early songs were released through self-financed cassette releases on their [=Music70=] label, but ever since 1998 their albums have appeared through Warp Records.

* {{Shout Out}}: The group name is a reference to the National Film Board of Canada.

* SignatureSong: Roygbiv
** Arguable. Dayvan Cowboy, 1969, and Music Is Math also are contenders.

* {{Zeerust}}: Boards of Canada was directly influenced by the National Board of Canada's old 70s music, so this is no surprise.
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* {{High Octane Nightmare Fuel}}: Parts of ''Geogaddi'' (there's also a few normal, soothing ambient tracks in it as well) and the ''In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country'' EP
** How about the "I... Lovveee... You..." samples on ''Music Has The Right To Children''? Downright UncannyValley stuff right here.
** And within ''Geogaddi'' itself, "You Could Feel the Sky". See below for further info.
** Opening The Mouth. My God.
** "The Devil Is is in The Details". Not a good idea to listen to in a dark room.
** "1969," which crosses Boards of Canada's ''Right to Children''-era sunny sound with unsettling vocoder bits and references to cults.

Boards of Canada are an electronic music duo formed of two Scottish brothers, Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin [[hottip:*:For a while they pulled a WhiteStripes and pretended they were just friends; when asked why they explained that they didn't want to attract needless comparisons to {{Orbital}}, another SiblingTeam electronic band]]. They are known for their ambient-downtempo-psychedelic-trippy sound constructed by a combination of electronic and normal instrumentation with TripHop-influenced beats and [[{{Sampling}} samples]] of old [[TheSeventies seventies]] media (their name is a nod to the documentaries produced by the National Film Board of Canada), giving their music a more pastoral and human character compared to other purely synthetic electronic bands. A frequent comparison among reviewers is that their music sounds like "the last sounds of a dying machine from TheSeventies that just got recently excavated".

* {{Nonappearing Title}}: None of their albums or EPs feature the album title in a song, ''In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country'' and ''Twoism'' being exceptions.