177 Giraud's Mirror (Hexagonic Flexi-Disc)

[rd1994]

I still wonder, considering the audio sample is from like 1973 or something if the "liner notes" in the middle are either a red herring or a clue of something else that is to be uncovered.

[Redd Panderson]

Marcel Giraud mirror: 6 sides (hexagon, akin to the flex-disc) and 5 loops (5 BoC albums) with and beginning and ending place for the candles but connected overall. This bonus disc is like a bookmark / reset and unifies the whole discography together. It’s “everything” self-contained in one journey. The candles illuminate the mirror. The mirror is what the listener gets from their music reflected back on them.

I gotta say I'm feeling pretty impressed with the connection by way of Giraud to both his turquoise-framed, 6-sided, 5-looped mirror and to page 177 of his book "The Metis in the Canadian West" that 747music dug up. Very fascinating!

[Den]

Page 177 of Marcel Giraud’s book is the first page of the chapter, “The Civilizing Role of the Church.”

[Redd Panderson]

More interesting details. Anyone notice that the Métis flag is an infinity symbol? Also from the Wikipedia article on this flag:

"The Métis flag predates the Flag of Canada by at least 150 years, and is the oldest patriotic flag that is indigenous to Canada."

Source: Métis flag - Wikipedia https://share.google/0dJSnttpYsYNdiu5w

Also: "The first flag of the Métis was long forgotten among the other flags adopted and flown by the Métis at various points of their political and national growth. In the mid 1970s, the Métis flag being flown by the Native Council of Canada had a green background, and on the flag was a ring of alternating shamrocks and fleur-de-lys around a bison."

The emphasis added is my own. The fleue-de-lys symbol represents the holy Trinity, which Dante's Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso) is structured around.

No further notes for now. Just putting some more connections on the table.

[Den]

I did notice the infinity symbol and laughed. I really appreciate the attention they give to Native American history and culture. There is so much to learn from it all.

[Redd Panderson]

Another idea around this

If the structure of their mainline discography is around Giraud's Mirror, maybe the 5 pre-Twoism albums were like an early iteration or blueprint of this idea. Two mirrors:

Giraud's Mirror 1:
Catalog 3
Acid Memories
Closes Vol. 1
Play By Numbers
Hooper Bay

Middle Releases:
Twoism
Hi Scores

Giraud's Mirror 2:
Music Has The Right To Children
Geogaddi
The Campfire Headphase
Tomorrow's Harvest
Inferno

Between mirror 1 and 2 we have leaked materials--the old tunes tapes et al--that amount to compilations and demos, some tracks of which are known to maybe be in the first "mirror" of releases.

Then of course Twoism and Hi Scores are the official middle releases between these two mirrors, with the other EPs just a place for A-side outtakes. I find it interesting that these two "middle" EPs then both imply a mirroring, splitting, or dualism (Two-ism, note that in various spiritual traditions "sin" or "evil" comes from forgetting that we are all one/interconnected // the sometimes-thought-of-as Hell Interface Scores).

Here's some related quotes from interviews with BOC:

"Like the intro on 'Julie and Candy' for example, we just played the melody on a couple of whistles and then we bounced it back and forward between the internal mics of two tape-decks until the sound started disappearing into hell. Like when you look at an image reflected within two mirrors forever, in the distance it gets darker and greener and murkier." -Mike

"I think we try to subtly imply that Geogaddi is the world. A warm mixture divided on the concept of chaos. As if you are viewing something in a state of furious drunkenness, with that particular gaze. Fish and Humans help to form the hexagonal mirror image of the world, as does the presence of birds and all wildlife." -Mike

"We create music that seems to have its own universe and time. That place is another reality. It always exists just around the corner, or beyond the mirror."

"Probably 'a soundtrack to a place like the other side of the mirror'. Listening to it, you can dive into an alternate version of the world you know, where history branches off and everything heads in a strange direction." -Mike

"When I was a kid, about five or six years old, a relative of mine had one of those tacky ceramic owls on their mantelpiece, and it had multifaceted diamante eyes. I as totally obsessed with those sparkly glass eyes, for ages. I felt like looking into them was like looking sideways though everything, right through time. That's what we're trying to do with our music." -Mike

[Ottomatik]

What an interesting thread. I was afraid that Inferno having a more straightforward approach it'd miss some of the mystery we all know BoC for. I'm so glad to see they haven't stopped being cryptic. The fact that it's only affiliated to music70 without Warp being mentioned makes it even more exciting.

[Redd Panderson]

I'm cooking today, I hate my job and have a lot of downtime so forgive me for all the theorycrafting, but one of the earliest (1997) BOC interviews gives precedent to the Giraud's Mirror-as-discography-framework idea. It looks like it wouldn't be the first time they had a grand project in mind involving a framework of 5 entries:

Mike Sandison: We have a small company called Music70 and it also produces Super 8 and video films, many of which are quite experimental. I myself am also doing some of these film works and we will soon be shooting our first Super 8 film in feature film length, complete with our own music.
What is the theme of this film?
MS: It will probably be a road movie, but also in a rather broad concept. It is supposed to be a road movie in five parts and that is all we know at the moment.

So Giraud's Mirror shouldn't be thought of as a sixth release I think, but rather a hint at the grand structure they're working with.

Following that, this could be evidence of a fifth EP coming (assuming Aquarius is a single and Peel Sessions is a "live" album). Who knows!

(Not sure where else to pin these two thoughts, but also consider:

-Introit's 5 beats per measure melody is palindromic
-Trans Canada Highway, EP 4, involves a single road going through all of Canada, which feels like the single track of the 5-looped hexagon frame of the mirror)

[GeoDose]

I'm cooking today, I hate my job and have a lot of downtime so forgive me for all the theorycrafting, but one of the earliest (1997) BOC interviews gives precedent to the Giraud's Mirror-as-discography-framework idea. It looks like it wouldn't be the first time they had a grand project in mind involving a framework of 5 entries:

Mike Sandison: We have a small company called Music70 and it also produces Super 8 and video films, many of which are quite experimental. I myself am also doing some of these film works and we will soon be shooting our first Super 8 film in feature film length, complete with our own music.
What is the theme of this film?
MS: It will probably be a road movie, but also in a rather broad concept. It is supposed to be a road movie in five parts and that is all we know at the moment.

So Giraud's Mirror shouldn't be thought of as a sixth release I think, but rather a hint at the grand structure they're working with.

Following that, this could be evidence of a fifth EP coming (assuming Aquarius is a single and Peel Sessions is a "live" album). Who knows!

(Not sure where else to pin these two thoughts, but also consider:

-Introit's 5 beats per measure melody is palindromic
-Trans Canada Highway, EP 4, involves a single road going through all of Canada, which feels like the single track of the 5-looped hexagon frame of the mirror)

I love this, and MAN do I hope you're right!

I would love another EP. Maybe in 2027?

Also, I won't post a bunch of links but the results are interesting when you Google Search 'Angel number 177.' A lot of super-crazy stuff related to angels, numerology, and the devil. Weird stuff!

[Wildfire]

Thoroughly enjoying this thread, top work to all involved!

[Altruizine]

Good call about numerological meanings. ”Angel numbers” may have not existed in 1983 but other systems definitely did

Google AI gave this

In numerology, 177 is a powerful, highly spiritual number blending the pioneering energy of the 1 (new beginnings, independence, ambition) with the heightened, double vibration of the 7 (intuition, inner wisdom, spiritual awakening). It serves as a reminder to balance your drive for success with moments of reflection.

Goes well with the original Giraud interpretation ITT

[momatt]

Calling Christianity barbaric is hilarious.

Christianity is probably the sole reason why we have any freedom or peace anywhere on earth.

The Bible, churches, perversions and corruption of power are what caused atrocities throughout history. Not the fucking teachings of Christ.

It's not that complicated.

Christianity should be a religion of peace and love,
But countless absolutely horrific things have been done in it's name (Spanish inquisition, witch trials, forced conversion of indiginous americans etc...). These horrors still occur today, but people calling themselves Christians.
That's a fact.

So I would say calling Christianity barbaric is quite reasonable.

[momatt]

maybe the "6th" album is just listening to their discography again

The real 6th album is the friends we made along the way...

[magrathea_ultima]

Calling Christianity barbaric is hilarious.

Christianity is probably the sole reason why we have any freedom or peace anywhere on earth.

The Bible, churches, perversions and corruption of power are what caused atrocities throughout history. Not the fucking teachings of Christ.

It's not that complicated.

You GOTTA be fucking kidding me... really?

Ok, I will go on the record: religion (all) is the scourge and cancer of humanity and the downfall of it. If as a species we cannot evolve past the mumbo jumbo, we're done.

Check the body count, Christian related violence has at least 130 million deaths associated to it, by far the leading religious dogma in the deaths recorded.

Your argument is basically "it's not the gun that kills..." well, it is the gun that kills. You can hide that the instrumentalization of religion is the problem, but just like the gun, that is hiding behind the fact that, the religion IS the problem. It gives you a tool to decimate, just like the gun.

Sorry for the rant, this crap is a huge trigger.

[Waterbagel]

i still haven't listened to this yet! i've given inferno a few listens on various formats but not yet vinyl, so when i do give it that first wax listen, we'll be sure to throw on the flexi too. love how the discussion around all this so far has been pretty interesting - i have no idea what we'll be in for when it spins

[Wildfire]

Anyone know if keeping in the PVC wallet will destroy it over time? I hear they slowly offgas horrible chemicals that fuck vinyl, or is this not vinyl?

[WATER_CAN-_-]

So my father has a book titled The Metis in the Canadian West by Marcel Giraud. It is about the history of the Metis people. When French settlers came to canada, they had children with the native people. These French/Native offspring are known as the Metis. (pronounced may-tee)

Page 177 of this book marks the beginning of a chapter entitled: "The Civilizing Role of the Church"

I quote from the end of the first paragraph: "...and in spreading among the nomads the basic notion of Christianity, it was able partly to neutralize the effects of their way of life and of their association with the native people."

It goes on to talk about the "civilizing process" the church forced upon the people. You likely already know of the absolute atrocities performed by the church to destroy their way of life through crimes like forceably abducting native children from families, abusing them, killing them, and more. Canada now has Truth and Reconciliation day to honor and remember these ones every September 30th. You can read info on this day here.

I think this is BoC pointing another finger at the churches for their horror show that is Inferno. The church provides the horror, BoC is just putting it on display.

Marcel Giraud's book is the mirror. Perhaps BoC wants people to peer into it and take a look at themselves and what they are potentially supporting.

You can find the book by Marcel Giraud here: https://archive.org/details/uap_9781772121377/page/177/mode/2up

[GeoDose]

Anyone know if keeping in the PVC wallet will destroy it over time? I hear they slowly offgas horrible chemicals that fuck vinyl, or is this not vinyl?

I would like to know about this, as well!

Someone on discogs is insisting that even keeping this thing in the Inferno packaging is a mistake.

[Redd Panderson]

You know, it just occurred to me. It's interesting that the earliest BOC release is:



...and the latest is now:



BOC "opens" with Catalog 3, no one has heard it, Catalog 1-2 are even rarer than that (if they even exist, and there's absolutely no evidence they do). Then we close with Volume 4. No word on volumes 1-3 or 5 yet, right? That one is still a hanging question mark?

No hypotheses around this, I just think it's neat.

[2020k]

Honestly, I'm still holding out for more flexidiscs. The VHS tapes hinting at more than one... and I'm still not UNCONVINCED that nothing is hiding in the inside of those VHS tapes lmao.