Anybody else a little underwhelmed by the new release?

[Fireal420]

on first listen, i found the album to be very dark. and very slow. and it reminded me a lot of geogaddi.

my first listen was with headphones, as was my second and third.

the tracks that really stood out, were
jacquard causeway
telepath
new seeds
come to dust




i listened to the album for the 4th time earlier today. and it really, truly clicked.


i really cant even begin to describe how much i am connected with the songs
split your infinities
nothing is real


the whole album is growing on my faster than i could have imagined. some of the songs already feel like they have been with me for years

[IanRedpoint]

My guitar playing stepson who is quite in demand here in somerset invited friends over a couple of days ago after being out for the night, and being only a day or so after my bday i still have dibs on music played while people are over..so i crack out TH...room goes from rowdy druk/stoned musos to silence....get to collapse and i say im going up and apologize to them for taking up their music listening time..go to eject disk and i am almost lynched...turns out 3 of them bought dl the next day...

Congratulations. You have officially passed the cool dad test!

It used to please me no end when I would play something like BoC or Plaid in the bookshop and customers would enquire what it was and where they could buy it. It's our moral responsibility to introduce the next generation to great music!

[sleepysilverdoor]

One thing I'm really starting to notice with this album is the fact that all of the songs seem to gradually warp beyond recognition. There's a recurring tendency for the tracks to start off with a recognizable cinematic theme, and slowly have the layers peel away to reveal something completely alien and at times unnerving...which for a 'future' themed album sort of makes sense.

Where this album really shines compared to previous releases is the use of layering. Vocal samples that on past albums would have stood out on the first or second listen now make themselves more apparent only upon letting the album have a deep impact on your psyche. While the beats and melodies are nice...the soundscapes that make up the closing of each track imo are the best part of the whole album.

It's completely unlike anything they've done before, despite the superficial resemblance to Geogaddi.

[thepastinsidepressant]

its a different kind of dark than Geogaddi. have listened to it now about 20 times, it sounds more pared back than their past albums yet some underlying parts lead you off in different tangents. 5-6 maybe 7 tracks have that 80s soundtrack vibe, others i don't know where they fit in. New Seeds, although the 3rd last track, really sounds like the type of track would play once the end credits start to roll. many soundtracks play a theme throughout, then there would be this 'rock' type track at the end coming out of nowhere. Mad Max, Rocky, James Bond movies, they all had this sort of thing at the end, a BIG track. So its like they put their own version in there but the closest and most subtle way to do that was create something akin to post-rock, a nod to MBV maybe but not a typical rock track, it sounds post-rock yet it doesnt, quite subtle, its BOCs way. Come to Dust does have an espionage/007 vibe about it espeically the strings and arp. So yea those last 2 tracks are very end credit material, they definitely got the vibe across well for me.

not really an underwhelming comment from me, just what i hear so far. its unsettling in parts and those parts could easily be dismissed as filler if you don't like it but i don't think they are but there to break it up, add dynamic, tension etc, again its the whole cinematic approach they've taken.

it reminds in some ways to Pink Floyds Final Cut, its themes etc, a very dry, dark, unsettling album that for many didnt stick but for many others is regarded as a masterpiece. The Final Cut was originally planned as a soundtrack album.

[Mcm L Xix]

I'm 39, fan since MHTRTC. I find it pleasant, but musically underwhelming and lacking in fresh ideas. In my mind they've gone from the category "musical gods" to "capable producers" (not to mention slightly smug interviewees)...doesn't mean I'm no longer a fan; I'll continue to look forward to what they'll do next. Compared to other idm acts (Orbital completely lost the plot; Aphex dried up), Boards have fared pretty well. I can see them becoming the "Neil Young" of idm, and I hope they do.

If this were Facebook, I would have 'liked' your post

[hexagon son]

I've been a fan since the 90's and IMO this is greatest work they have ever composed.

[Mcm L Xix]

I really like this album, yet I do recognize it is somewhat less easy to swallow than their earlier work, and consequently might be a less pleasant listening experience for some people. Imho there are two main causes for this.

First cause: its moods often differ, subtly of less subtly, from earlier of Boc's works. There is plenty of suspense and darkness in their earlier work, but this one adds a sense of paranoia and desparateness to the spectre. This might make it a less pleasant listening experience to some people. This time there is no escape.

Second cause: in spite of the many great ideas that this albums carries - some of its tracks will be ranking amongst Boc's finest after the album has lost its 'newness' - it also contains tracks that are good yet imho feel like they should have been worked out better, or feel too polished, or maybe even like a manierism. Obvious examples of this are Telepath (a track I definitely like, and will be including on many compilations yet to come, yet at the same time seems a bit underachieving for BoC) and Uritual (not really unpleasant to listen to - within the context of this concept album - but , well, not really very interesting). These are two short intermezzo pieces, but in a more subtle way this 'underachievingness' is present in more tracks, yet less obvious. It is not unlikely that it has been a deliberate artistic choice made by BoC, a style feature to achieve that desperateness I mentioned under cause 1 - and in no way does this 'underachievingness' affect the flow or the concept of the album - but it still might be why some people are a bit disappointed.

Anyway this is just my attempt to profile the dislikers; take it or leave it

The only track I personally have some problems with is New Seeds: I don't like the intro and what happens to the melody at and after 3:57.

[thepastinsidepressant]

I really like this album, yet I do recognize it is somewhat less easy to swallow than their earlier work, and consequently might be a less pleasant listening experience for some people. Imho there are two main causes for this.

First cause: its moods often differ, subtly of less subtly, from earlier of Boc's works. There is plenty of suspense and darkness in their earlier work, but this one adds a sense of paranoia and desparateness to the spectre. This might make it a less pleasant listening experience to some people. This time there is no escape.

Second cause: in spite of the many great ideas that this albums carries - some of its tracks will be ranking amongst Boc's finest after the album has lost its 'newness' - it also contains tracks that are good yet imho feel like they should have been worked out better, or feel too polished, or maybe even like a manierism. Obvious examples of this are Telepath (a track I definitely like, and will be including on many compilations yet to come, yet at the same time seems a bit underachieving for BoC) and Uritual (not really unpleasant to listen to - within the context of this concept album - but , well, not really very interesting). These are two short intermezzo pieces, but in a more subtle way this 'underachievingness' is present in more tracks, yet less obvious. It is not unlikely that it has been a deliberate artistic choice made by BoC, a style feature to achieve that desperateness I mentioned under cause 1 - and in no way does this 'underachievingness' affect the flow or the concept of the album - but it still might be why some people are a bit disappointed.

Anyway this is just my attempt to profile the dislikers; take it or leave it

The only track I personally have some problems with is New Seeds: I don't like the intro and what happens to the melody at and after 3:57.

interesting take on it there. i can't think of how else they may have tried to reference the 80s video nasty vibe other than use of Arp etc, something that most would immediately get. its just how the album theme goes. theres not really much to pick on from their last 3 albums, i mean theres not really that much of an obvious influence from other artists but this one shows more of an influence i.e soundtrack composers of that time. maybe i'm saying this one is just not as original sounding as their last 3. of course theres 9-10 tracks on TH that are up there as BOC, its just those... others.

[realspiel]

I really like this album, yet I do recognize it is somewhat less easy to swallow than their earlier work, and consequently might be a less pleasant listening experience for some people. Imho there are two main causes for this.

First cause: its moods often differ, subtly of less subtly, from earlier of Boc's works. There is plenty of suspense and darkness in their earlier work, but this one adds a sense of paranoia and desparateness to the spectre. This might make it a less pleasant listening experience to some people. This time there is no escape.

Second cause: in spite of the many great ideas that this albums carries - some of its tracks will be ranking amongst Boc's finest after the album has lost its 'newness' - it also contains tracks that are good yet imho feel like they should have been worked out better, or feel too polished, or maybe even like a manierism. Obvious examples of this are Telepath (a track I definitely like, and will be including on many compilations yet to come, yet at the same time seems a bit underachieving for BoC) and Uritual (not really unpleasant to listen to - within the context of this concept album - but , well, not really very interesting). These are two short intermezzo pieces, but in a more subtle way this 'underachievingness' is present in more tracks, yet less obvious. It is not unlikely that it has been a deliberate artistic choice made by BoC, a style feature to achieve that desperateness I mentioned under cause 1 - and in no way does this 'underachievingness' affect the flow or the concept of the album - but it still might be why some people are a bit disappointed.

Anyway this is just my attempt to profile the dislikers; take it or leave it

The only track I personally have some problems with is New Seeds: I don't like the intro and what happens to the melody at and after 3:57.

interesting take on it there. i can't think of how else they may have tried to reference the 80s video nasty vibe other than use of Arp etc, something that most would immediately get. its just how the album theme goes. theres not really much to pick on from their last 3 albums, i mean theres not really that much of an obvious influence from other artists but this one shows more of an influence i.e soundtrack composers of that time. maybe i'm saying this one is just not as original sounding as their last 3. of course theres 9-10 tracks on TH that are up there as BOC, its just those... others.

No I think you are both right, this is a really good album but it just lacks something which I can't put my finger on, perhaps it is to do with the 8 year gap and having expectations and preconceptions of what it would sound like, but for me their last 3 albums has some killer tracks that will stay with me forever, can anyone honestly say that there are tracks on TH on a par with, Olson, Open the Light, Bocuma, Julie and Candy, Dawn Chorus, sunshine recorder, Sattelite Anthum Icarus, Constants are Changing, Tears from a Compound Eye to name a few. I don't think any of the tracks on TH have that special feel, a great feel but not that strange compulsive almost cultish feel I get off some of those tracks I mentioned. I'd say the last 3 albums are pretty progressive TH has a retro feel.

[d e n]

thhhaaaannnkkkk yyyoooouuuu

[Mcm L Xix]

can anyone honestly say that there are tracks on TH on a par with, Olson, Open the Light, Bocuma, Julie and Candy, Dawn Chorus, sunshine recorder, Sattelite Anthum Icarus, Constants are Changing, Tears from a Compound Eye to name a few.

Not sure yet - I haven't reached that stage yet: Í still consider the album 'new' and 'under investigation' - but in the middle of it, I expect White Cyclosa, Jacquard Causeway, Telepath (admittedly leight-weighted as it is), Cold Earth, Palace Posy, Split Your Infinities, Transmisiones Ferox and Nothing Is Real to be admitted to my personal Timeless Present (that is, music I know I will be enjoying on a spiritual level - btw I'm somewhere between atheism and agnosticism - until I die and preferably even thereafter). They just need proper antidote from other BoC tracks - I don't like desperation to become a major theme!

The tracks i didn't mention might make it as well, but for now they seem a bit too much backgroundish and/or generic.

[m.oreilly]

well, i hope they put out a back catalog of stuff we haven't been able to hear/an EP like trans. this outing is kind of late re theme to have any impact on me, though 'reach' always affects me. since i have the mp3 download, i'll most likely give my vinyl away (that other thread here is kinda funky re selling stuff). still waiting for a 'new' album from boc...

[Cupz]

this thread = wtf

[harpoon dodger]

this thread = wtf

i hear ya

[paul]

this thread = wtf

i hear ya

plus one.

[d e n]

well, i hope they put out a back catalog of stuff we haven't been able to hear/an EP like trans. this outing is kind of late re theme to have any impact on me, though 'reach' always affects me. since i have the mp3 download, i'll most likely give my vinyl away (that other thread here is kinda funky re selling stuff). still waiting for a 'new' album from boc...

holy! dude, all three of these statements sound ridiculous.

the way you talk about the theme being too late for you seems really condescending, since that means you've now become - as we all do over and over - unconscious to these things (re theme).

this album is new. whether you like it or not one cannot honestly argue against that... everything about the way this album sounds is new. e.g the short track Sundown, hasn't affected me as much as Ataronchronon or Heard From Telegraph Lines has... take those two analogous tracks from the past two releases... Sundown is coming from a different place.

the album came out like one week ago and you're giving it away?

this thread truly is 'wtf'.

[lumpenprol]

while I agree those statements are a bit odd, there's no reason to condemn the thread as a whole.

I'm still not feeling the album very much, and I don't think I have an agenda, or was predisposed to dislike it from the get-go. It just doesn't excite me to the point where I feel hungry to re-listen to it.

[Aesthetics]

It just doesn't excite me to the point where I feel hungry to re-listen to it.

Same here, still not giving up though.. I'm always slow with digesting new music so I still hope that I will get hungry soon. Chances are slowly fading away though. If it doesn't come soon I'll satisfy my hunger with other releases like the new Daft Punk.

[d e n]

lumpen,

you're right... I'm not trying to condemn the whole thread. I think it's more interesting that some people aren't feeling it. and I understand how it may not cause that yearing to listen. For me it it's kind of like seeing that BBC movie Threads... I can't look away despite how uncomfortable it is.

it's just that hearing someone wanting to get rid of it just reminds me of someone with OCD who throws something out the minute they don't like it, and that made me think what-the-fuck.

[seanandcandy]

I'll satisfy my hunger with other releases like the new Daft Punk.

like drawing blood from a stone trying to get anything out of that mess of an album