LP5 - Inferno

[skunkman]

probably a good idea. the only interview i really want from them involves going back in time and talking about all their theories with Art Bell

[akirako]

For whatever reason I've watched a couple of reaction videos to this album (with the sound off, and captions on, I'm interested in the opinion but don't really wanna interact with the album in that way).

I dunno if this is a thing YouTube auto caption always does, but on both of these reaction vids I've seen it keep popping up the word "Heat" in the captions over and over. Obviously it's hearing some sound and it's just on the threshold of what it can decide is speech.

But that's a fascinating word for it to pick out, in an album called "inferno". Obviously if this is a common failure that happens on other music then you know, it's nothing. Still I thought it was interesting

Yeah, I've noticed it tends to do this with electronic music specifically. Other genres get other words from time to time. I reckon it might be electronic hi-hats maybe? I've always liked it, it's kinda spooky.

[Seat of Consciousness]

I think it's now safe to say that through a strange set of circumstances I got to hear this album all the way back in April.

To keep it general, I work for an events space in a coastal city. Warp have hired us in the past for album playbacks for Music Press in the past, so when they reached out to book a couple of days after the VHS tapes surfaced, I knew immediately what it was going to be. I didn't sign an NDA but the manager did, but I still had to play it very cool and pretend I did not care about BOC at all as they were very anxious that nothing was revealed ahead of time.

On the actual playback which I prepared, we had the same visuals as eventually used for the official listening events. I have a lovely recording of the moment it was announced what the album would be (cue gasps from attending press, presumably not as clued in as the rest of us on the tapes etc).

I swore I wouldn't listen to the album from the back room, but after everyone left that night I smoked a joint and played it back for just myself in the completely empty venue one time. A pretty magical experience, I remember hearing what I now know to be age of capricorn and Naraka and being so excited, not just knowing I was one of the very first to hear it, but also for everybody else to hear them and feel what I was feeling in that moment.

So all in all it's been pretty weird seeing everyone speculate about the album, what each track might be, while knowing very well what is was. After my solo listening party I was left with the feeling that this was geogaddi meets tomorrows harvest, which still makes sense to me.

As someone who was on this forum during the TH rollout there was a part of me that felt deflated to hear it so early, I couldn't share in the anticipation in quite the same way, but it's been so lovely seeing all those same people from back then sharing in the excitement this time around, and its also been lovely to see all the anticipation safe in the knowledge that the album would not disappoint. I've been so tempted to drop into threads and tease some inside knowledge but stopped myself, because at the end of the day this communal excitement is what we're all here for. What a joy this whole thing has been, and what a joy to have the record in my hands to listen to without that guilty feeling in the back of my head!

Awesome story, man. Thanks for sharing! It's cool to think of all the people like you along the way who heard/worked on this album but never said anything out of respect for the music. Not many artists on earth whose new work is so eagerly anticipated but with a fanbase equally respectful of maintaining that crucial sense of mystery.

[The Other]

I have had a chance to listen to the album a handful of times now. On different speakers and on headphones. The vinyl a couple of times, the cd a couple of times and lossless with the best headphones I have at least 3 times.

I was fully prepared to be brought back down to earth after my first listen. 13 years is quite some time between releases. I feel in love with the teaser tracks but, still I thought there is no way it could live up to the hype I had built up in my head.

I was wrong with every bit of doubt I had. There is not a single track on the album that disappoints. It is absolutely everything I wanted it to be and so much more. As a matter of fact it’s everything I wanted TCH and TH to be.

Don’t get me wrong BoC’s entire catalog is on heavy rotation for me and always has been. There hasn’t been a release of theirs that I didn’t like. TH was the closest to “let down” for me. While I still enjoy it… it took me several listens to peel the layers back of that album and it is one that didn’t stand the test of time NEARLY as much as every thing else they have released.

Inferno instantly has planted itself near or at the very top of my list of any of their work. It is journey of the mind that takes you to some dark places but, honestly not as dark as the title would infer no? (see what I did there…I’m lame)

Even when the album turns it darkest corner at some point you are shown the light just around the corner. Whether in the following track or in some moment with in the song. Albeit faint in some cases. I fully believe that is intentional. After all that is what spirituality and religion is supposed to bring to your life. However both can also be weaponized unfortunately. That within itself is dark. Guess I wasn’t expecting that sort of yin and yang from the record. Just assumed it would all be in the Inferno.

This is without a doubt the most polished and mature that they have ever sounded. There are so many textures and layers. They all have room to breathe. While we get the classic BoC sound degradation it doesn’t totally define the album and wash out its many complex layers.

Don’t get me started on the vocal samples. I was hoping for lots of them and my goodness I was not let down. They do not over take the album or outstay their welcome or feel overly used by any stretch… at least for me anyways.

There is still much more to be discovered on this album for me. I am currently listening to it while typing this yet again and will sad when the journey is over and ready to listen again. I will have to take a stab at a top three songs from the album…however I will find that extremely difficult. My wife asked me what mine were yesterday and I had a hard time even knowing where to begin show I could play them for her.

As a few have said previously. I was not expecting this to be an instant BoC classic. They have given us something truly special and feel like they are on top of their game. Let’s hope they sustain it and bring us even more music in the future. In the sad reality they never did release anything else (unlikely IMO) this album would serve as a testament to what masters of their craft they have become. That’s saying a lot because in the late 90s when I heard Hi Scores and then MHTRTC I already felt they were among the most talented and unique musical acts around.

Can’t wait to jump into more of the single track discussions with everyone.

Sorry for the long post.

[Josh]

Has anyone else's subwoofer decided that waiting 13 years was too big of an ask?

RIP my subwoofer.

[Gazebo4]

Has anyone else's subwoofer decided that waiting 13 years was too big of an ask?

RIP my subwoofer.

RIP

But well at least you can use one, my neighbours would murder me so it's just my focal aria's.

However I find that this record sounds much better suited on my intimate headphones setup.

[TaoTapeTao]

Third listen now, and I can easily say this is my favorite record of theirs. Maybe the memories associated with Geogaddi and MHTRTC are stronger and therefore the two records may be more significant in that way at this point in time for me, but this record is dripping with beauty and death. So much texture, mixed with much more upfront eastern influence and nightmarish (and catchy af) vocals. Not a dull moment in the entire thing.

Memory Death is such a beautifully tragic song. Similar vibes with Deep Time of course. All Reason Departs is truly terrifying when I listen against the backdrop of the current state of the (Western) World and its imminent death.

If they had any statements about their views or outlook on humanity and our world, I feel like the record speaks for itself better than any interview could. That's just a personal takeaway from me. I could just be projecting though

[seaburn]

Just listened to my flexi disc and that was incredibly cool, dare I say a better closing track? Maybe not but strong bonus piece.

[Waterbagel]

aghh my record still isn't in! can't wait to unwrap it and unravel the whole thing. I want to get into the track-by-track threads, but I haven't even totally built up how I feel about each song yet! I can only 'hear' prophecy and capricorn in my head so far. it's so fun - i'm enjoying relishing getting to 'map' out each song in my head. i can hear every other BoC song, and it's fun to have something new to chew on like this

[Helios]

Listened who knows how many times, and it's shocking how there isn't a single track I don't love. No other record has ever done that to me. This is their best release, imo.

[sowhereareyouliving?]

Has anyone else's subwoofer decided that waiting 13 years was too big of an ask?

RIP my subwoofer.

RIP

But well at least you can use one, my neighbours would murder me so it's just my focal aria's.

However I find that this record sounds much better suited on my intimate headphones setup.

Lol same, the production has such huge dynamics it needs to be cranked to get all the detail - at which point my neighbors better also be BOC fans! This might finally justify getting the HD800S's I've been perving over for years

[squid]

Has anyone else's subwoofer decided that waiting 13 years was too big of an ask?

RIP my subwoofer.

RIP

But well at least you can use one, my neighbours would murder me so it's just my focal aria's.

However I find that this record sounds much better suited on my intimate headphones setup.

Lol same, the production has such huge dynamics it needs to be cranked to get all the detail - at which point my neighbors better also be BOC fans! This might finally justify getting the HD800S's I've been perving over for years

This album is motivating me to upgrade earlier than planned to some HD660S2 headphones just gotta justify it somehow to my wife, hmm...

[Ottomatik]

RIP

But well at least you can use one, my neighbours would murder me so it's just my focal aria's.

However I find that this record sounds much better suited on my intimate headphones setup.

Lol same, the production has such huge dynamics it needs to be cranked to get all the detail - at which point my neighbors better also be BOC fans! This might finally justify getting the HD800S's I've been perving over for years

This album is motivating me to upgrade earlier than planned to some HD660S2 headphones just gotta justify it somehow to my wife, hmm...

I did buy a pair of Denon D5200 specifically for the upcoming album release. First listen of the album on those made it such an experience. And I also think my wife prefered this over me blasting it at full volume on the living room speakers haha

[Wildfire]

Listened who knows how many times, and it's shocking how there isn't a single track I don't love. No other record has ever done that to me. This is their best release, imo.

Agreed 100%

[RVeldhuis]

I swore I wouldn't listen to the album from the back room, but after everyone left that night I smoked a joint and played it back for just myself in the completely empty venue one time. A pretty magical experience, I remember hearing what I now know to be age of capricorn and Naraka and being so excited, not just knowing I was one of the very first to hear it, but also for everybody else to hear them and feel what I was feeling in that moment.

Exactly what I would've done, from the swearing I wouldn't listen to it, to smoking a joint and caving in. Followed up by the slight disappointment of not being able to share it with anyone. It'll be a memorable night for years for you (:

I'm just glad I have my brother to geek out over Boards of Canada stuff with.

[Moloch]

Still waiting for my LP to arrive. I've decided that my next listen of the album would be on vinyl, so this is a tad annoying.

[sowhereareyouliving?]

This album is motivating me to upgrade earlier than planned to some HD660S2 headphones just gotta justify it somehow to my wife, hmm...

I did buy a pair of Denon D5200 specifically for the upcoming album release. First listen of the album on those made it such an experience. And I also think my wife prefered this over me blasting it at full volume on the living room speakers haha

Good work fellas! The wives will understand.

FWIW I'm currently using a pair of HD600 with a +3db bass shelf <=100Hz and balanced cables. Sounds pretty great but I know it can be better... and what else frivolous things would I do with the money - eat?

[Quadrivium]

I have to say, I'm disappointed in the pressing of my red vinyl. Lot's of imperfections on the record with pops, clicks and surface noise as a result. First time this has happened with a Boards record...

[Ottomatik]

Still waiting for my LP to arrive. I've decided that my next listen of the album would be on vinyl, so this is a tad annoying.

No sign of it either
Why bother being among the first to order on Bleep if it can't guarantee an ontime delivery... Let's just hope customs are being slow and the parcel isn't actually lost.

[akirako]

I just got my special edition LP! I couldn't find it anywhere, the shop I bought it from has got only one left now and the normal edition is nowhere to be found.