177 Giraud's Mirror (Hexagonic Flexi-Disc)

[Widmerpool]

The benefits of Christianity are FAR FAR outweighed by its absolute barbaric and nightmarish behaviors. Its hypocritical nature is a fervent reminder of its insidious and bastardized influence. The darkness is real.

I wouldn't be so sententious on Christianity as a whole. Of course those who have suffered under its hubris (and I would maybe include the brothers here) can hardly let go, but we are talking about immensely far-reaching phenomena. Easier to condemn a moribund faith these days. Darkness seeps everywhere regardless of creed and institution.

[monochrome]

The "To your brother" loop, from a nostalgic McDonalds training video in conjunction with this being a Music70 release only kind of leads me to believe a couple of things:

1. The notion that they were under a 5 LP contract from Warp and that they fulfilled it for this one is true.

2. It is possible too that they were waiting to do the BOCSet until they got out of their contract. If the flexidisc confirms they've been released, they KNOW the BOCset will make them bank, so they'll do it now under Music70 and will barely have to do a thing to promote it.

3. They hate each other. It just sounds spiteful to me.

*goes to crosspost this in general speculation*

Honestly I interpret the bonus track and the use of the sample completely differently. They've created something that sounds like a cursed nightmarish chant, really one of their more unsettling tracks. On top of that they've shrouded it with mysterious info about the MBI, an ascension in 1983, and placed it on their weirdest format ever. Almost like bait for the fans who go the deepest into analysis and numerology.

But when you peel back the layers, you find the source of the chanting is actually an upbeat training video singing the "greatest gift is the smile you give / To your brother". To me it feels meant to unsettle, but to ultimately be a wink to the audience that BoC has always been about one thing above all else: Two brothers who like making weird music together

I kinda doubt they thought the sample origin would be found so quickly though.

[davey0110]

I’m new to vinyl and I can’t figure out how to play this on my AT-LP70. It came with an adapter for smaller records meant for 45 rpm, but if I use this the flexi sags down and the stylus won’t reach. If I don’t use the little adapter/raiser, the flexi disc won’t even fit on the turntable. Is anyone else running into this?

[Electronic Dave]

I’m new to vinyl and I can’t figure out how to play this on my AT-LP70. It came with an adapter for smaller records meant for 45 rpm, but if I use this the flexi sags down and the stylus won’t reach. If I don’t use the little adapter/raiser, the flexi disc won’t even fit on the turntable. Is anyone else running into this?

The hole in the middle of the flexi disc is too small and tight to get it on the spindle / platter...I had to carefully coax it into my turntable's spindle and it was still quite tight. I had to be careful to remove it after playing.

You won't need an adapter as its treated as a normal 10" or 12" record straight onto the platter and is played at 45rpm (or 33rpm for something different). You shouldn't need a weight on this once its on the spindle as its quite tight.

[Stavorius]

I’m new to vinyl and I can’t figure out how to play this on my AT-LP70. It came with an adapter for smaller records meant for 45 rpm, but if I use this the flexi sags down and the stylus won’t reach. If I don’t use the little adapter/raiser, the flexi disc won’t even fit on the turntable. Is anyone else running into this?

The hole in the middle of the flexi disc is too small and tight to get it on the spindle / platter...I had to carefully coax it into my turntable's spindle and it was still quite tight. I had to be careful to remove it after playing.

You won't need an adapter as its treated as a normal 10" or 12" record straight onto the platter and is played at 45rpm (or 33rpm for something different). You shouldn't need a weight on this once its on the spindle as its quite tight.

I don't know what it is with BoC presses, the holes in the 2013 Hi Scores repress were too tight as well.

[dana]

This hits me in a way only corsair did before, but even better.

[DFD21]

Wondering if the "The greatest gift is the smile you give to your brother" is a cryptic message to the fans that this is the end for BOC, assuming they remain on different continents. I sincerely hope not, but what a way to go out if it were.

Agree this sounds even more messed up - in a good way - at 33rpm.

So glad I bought the deluxe edition as well as the standard.

[davey0110]

Thanks for the info! I was so confused why it wasn’t fitting on my turntable, and since I’m new and this disc feels more fragile, I didn’t want to force anything. Maybe I’ll keep this one sleeved until I’m a bit more comfortable with playing records

[Wildfire]

After reading some more in Giraud's book.... I really wonder if Metis blood flows in the veins of BoC. There is a good section in this chapter talking about the, and I quote: "Scottish half-breeds." And it seems The National Film Board of Canada has very much been a big help for the native community. I think they promise to ensure a certain amount of budget allocation of resources towards native culture and also just love the native culture because its awesome. That may be the kind of organization that's worthy to want to honour. The incredible, creative, spiritual nature of their music may have the mixed roots in the similarly incredible, creative, and spiritual nature of Native American and Scottish culture. Both roots feel celebrated in their catalog, What a beautiful mix we end up with,
That is entirely just speculation after a small amount of research, of course. I could easily be wrong and talking out of my arse.

I opened up the album today, and the hexagon flexi-disc is placed inside the booklet between the double-page spread of people on horseback. The Métis were horseback riders. I think you are spot on.

Can someone else let us know if the flexi-disc was placed within the same pages in their record?

Yes my disk was in the centre spread also.

[Helios]

Haven't listened to this yet (want to on the actual flexidisc), but why is the copyright 1983, and what is Ascension?

[Redd Panderson]

Haven't listened to this yet (want to on the actual flexidisc), but why is the copyright 1983, and what is Ascension?

That's a Blue Rose case.

[The Other]

I’m new to vinyl and I can’t figure out how to play this on my AT-LP70. It came with an adapter for smaller records meant for 45 rpm, but if I use this the flexi sags down and the stylus won’t reach. If I don’t use the little adapter/raiser, the flexi disc won’t even fit on the turntable. Is anyone else running into this?

The hole in the middle of the flexi disc is too small and tight to get it on the spindle / platter...I had to carefully coax it into my turntable's spindle and it was still quite tight. I had to be careful to remove it after playing.

You won't need an adapter as its treated as a normal 10" or 12" record straight onto the platter and is played at 45rpm (or 33rpm for something different). You shouldn't need a weight on this once its on the spindle as its quite tight.

I had the same experience with the flexi disc. The center hole is very snug on the spindle. What I did to make it easier to remove was place another record underneath it in order to make it easier to remove. It played fine and didn't slip while playing in my experience. I suppose lifting the slip mat up as well would do the same in order to make it for an easy removal. I wasn't nearly as concerned making the tight fit work putting in on my record player as I was removing it. I felt like I would severely bend it while removing it if I didn't have something to stabilize it when I took it off.

[The Other]

Haven't listened to this yet (want to on the actual flexidisc), but why is the copyright 1983, and what is Ascension?

I was wondering about the copyright date as well. Still a mystery to my knowledge. I still think there is more to this flexi hexi disc but...I could be over thinking it.

[deadfly]

I though I'd mention that flexidiscs aren't as durable as normal vinyl so probably best not to play it too many times

[The Other]

I though I'd mention that flexidiscs aren't as durable as normal vinyl so probably best not to play it too many times

Very good point. Though imagine what a very degraded one of these would sound like somewhere right now in the future

[Den]

After reading some more in Giraud's book.... I really wonder if Metis blood flows in the veins of BoC. There is a good section in this chapter talking about the, and I quote: "Scottish half-breeds." And it seems The National Film Board of Canada has very much been a big help for the native community. I think they promise to ensure a certain amount of budget allocation of resources towards native culture and also just love the native culture because its awesome. That may be the kind of organization that's worthy to want to honour. The incredible, creative, spiritual nature of their music may have the mixed roots in the similarly incredible, creative, and spiritual nature of Native American and Scottish culture. Both roots feel celebrated in their catalog, What a beautiful mix we end up with,
That is entirely just speculation after a small amount of research, of course. I could easily be wrong and talking out of my arse.

I opened up the album today, and the hexagon flexi-disc is placed inside the booklet between the double-page spread of people on horseback. The Métis were horseback riders. I think you are spot on.

Can someone else let us know if the flexi-disc was placed within the same pages in their record?

Yes my disk was in the centre spread also.

I am confident that we’ve found the right Giraud.

[GeoDose]

How the fuck did they find the sample this fast? Holy smokes.

According to YouTube user 'maloriesmith8466,' who discovered the McDonald's sample:

"Employee training video binge one late night "

Now THAT's an interesting hobby! And I agree, you guys seem to have found the correct Giraud! Nice work.

[Redd Panderson]

Pet hypothesis that just popped into my head:

Perhaps Giraud's Mirror contains material that one or both brothers recorded in 1983, before they even took the name BOC. Inferno possibly finished production in 2025.

That would, technically speaking, make Inferno an album 42 years in the making. What is Inferno about?

In the words of Douglas Adams: "life, the universe, and everything!"

[Den]

How the fuck did they find the sample this fast? Holy smokes.

According to YouTube user 'maloriesmith8466,' who discovered the McDonald's sample:

"Employee training video binge one late night "

Now THAT's an interesting hobby! And I agree, you guys seem to have found the correct Giraud! Nice work.

Thank you! I only confirmed 747’s discovery. 747, please send a signal if you’re there. I will get around to writing a note about this on bocpages.

[Altruizine]

Worth noting that it's the Canadian war museum in the background too but the picture is photoshopped to feature a field and a horseback person in front of it. I'd say that's an important clue to include in the theory that it has to do with that particular Canadian history book. I think it would be silly to assume that just being "Boards of Canada" means they're obsessed with always alluding to Canadian matters