LP5 - Inferno

[Waterbagel]

this is so very much their most 'alive' album. it's so directly about life and death and birth. we got heartbeats throughout. songs breathe (think of how often drum beats fall out just for the leads to 'whoosh' back in - prophecy, blood in the labirynth, ...)

[Samplehunter]

Finally listened to it entirely.

It's obviously not bad, but it sounds a little too clean and lacks the weirdness of the first two albums (and even TCH at a certain level).

The cover art and the title can remind Geogaddi, but it's miles below it.

Also, in fact, while adding his own stuff (that synthwave influence and the sitar), it reminds all their albums (expect TCH maybe), but it can only rival TH for 4th place overall.

Obviously an event as it's a fucking new BoC release, something we believed would never happen, but in itself, nothing to get excited about.

[steeldancer-x]

Death is an interesting theme. Someone on the survey mentioned that Deep Time sounds like embers burning… I’m gonna take that one step further, feels like a cremation (or a viking funeral if you’re hard) while listening. Turning to ash and falling with the wind.

Then you have Memory Death which seriously makes you feel like a bloated corpse with maggots and flies crawling their way through you.

Blood in the Labyrinth feels like it gets erased (not to mention its sample choice). And Acts of Magic feels like “making something disappear”.

[TaoTapeTao]

Finally listened to it entirely.

It's obviously not bad, but it sounds a little too clean and lacks the weirdness of the first two albums (and even TCH at a certain level).

The cover art and the title can remind Geogaddi, but it's miles below it.

Also, in fact, while adding his own stuff (that synthwave influence and the sitar), it reminds all their albums (expect TCH maybe), but it can only rival TH for 4th place overall.

Obviously an event as it's a fucking new BoC release, something we believed would never happen, but in itself, nothing to get excited about.

Couldn't disagree harder. This has some of their best songwriting to date. Extremely detailed drums and percussions, tons of wonderful textures everywhere.

[steeldancer-x]

Death is an interesting theme. Someone on the survey mentioned that Deep Time sounds like embers burning… I’m gonna take that one step further, feels like a cremation (or a viking funeral if you’re hard) while listening. Turning to ash and falling with the wind.

Then you have Memory Death which seriously makes you feel like a bloated corpse with maggots and flies crawling their way through you.

Blood in the Labyrinth feels like it gets erased (not to mention its sample choice). And Acts of Magic feels like “making something disappear”.

One more I forgot. The beginning of The Word Becomes Flesh also sounds like you’re being rolled thru a morgue. Muhahaha

[Helios]

Finally listened to it entirely.

It's obviously not bad, but it sounds a little too clean and lacks the weirdness of the first two albums (and even TCH at a certain level).

The cover art and the title can remind Geogaddi, but it's miles below it.

Also, in fact, while adding his own stuff (that synthwave influence and the sitar), it reminds all their albums (expect TCH maybe), but it can only rival TH for 4th place overall.

Obviously an event as it's a fucking new BoC release, something we believed would never happen, but in itself, nothing to get excited about.

It’s interesting how BoC fans have such different feelings on what sounds they think are BoC’s best. I’m the total opposite, I think Inferno is crazy good and their best work yet. And it keeps getting better with repeated listens.. a lot to unravel.

[mc10101]

Undisturbed, repeat listens on decent over-ear headphones is a must.
I consider this album to be a rich addition to their catalogue, and remember that it is an 'addition'. All the other albums still exist, releasing 'Inferno' doesn't erase them.
There is a unique musicality to this record which is highly immersive whether you pay much attention to the 'theme' or not.
And one very important thought - the boys are in their mid fifties now and 'Inferno' is a mature piece of work. You wouldn't expect Radiohead to suddenly knock out another 'Bends'

[Samplehunter]

You wouldn't expect Radiohead to suddenly knock out another 'Bends'

Suddenly knock out another album would be good to begin with, especially when you know that they reunited last year for a short tour.

Also, I know what you mean by that, but the changes in BoC's music were never as drastic as Radiohead's.

[obuno]

Hi all,

First post ever here -- thanks for the community feels good.

I just literally wanted to say that my 1st listen of "Inferno" wasn't very pleasant nor satisfying somewhat -- had the same kind of feeling on TH. I almost dropped the record on my shelves and leave it at that.

However, since that I thought "hey give it time, listen again and in different situations, different moods etc". And a few days in now, I did not count the iterations of the full LP i did though the only thing I can say is that it grew on me extremely -- I can't stop listening to it now =) I'm even trying to sneak "off" for an hour or two to get my "Inferno" time out a day =)

Anyhow, just thought to share my experience because I read some comments on presumably bad reviews etc -- I tend to think that this record needs digestion time and you may come with wrong conclusions provided you listened to it in poor conditions or did a rushed up listen.

Finally, played the LP in the car with both of my son's in the back seats and they literally chanted "Boards of Canada" the whole day. What can be better than that as a review =]

Cheers,
o.

[Redd Panderson]

Aww, that is adorable. Raising a new generation of Boards of Canada fans!

I feel what you mean about needing to digest and time and place. I wasn't big on Prophecy the first time I heard it, but on my second listen a few days later my feel for it changed drastically. There's just so many details across all of Inferno that it has a miegakure kind of vibe, revealing new things to you with each pass.

[Den]

I’ve found myself able to listen to Inferno freely in different contexts without being too precious, which is my usual way. I have also been thinking how its mixtape qualities do not at all get in the way of its expression as a unified album.

[Den]

in itself, nothing to get excited about.

Yes it is.

[magrathea_ultima]

I find it kind of mind blowing when people go... TH was such a departure from MHTRTC and Geogaddi

Consider:

Code: Select all

BOARDS OF CANADA — DISCOGRAPHY TIMELINE (1998 - 2026)
====================================================

1998 [MHTRTC] -------- (266 days)
     |
1999 [Peel Session] -- (686 days)
     |
2000 [In a Beautiful Place...] - (443 days)
     |
2002 [Geogaddi] ------ (1,342 days)
     |
2005 [The Campfire Headphase] -- (224 days)
     |
2006 [Trans Canada Highway] ---- (2,569 days)
     |
2013 [Tomorrow's Harvest] ------ (4,736 days)
     |
2026 [Inferno]
====================================================


So I know that lots of people have this personal, almost fusional connection with BoC, but ask yourself, how much have you changed in the last 28 years, and then would you behave the same, do you like the same kind of food, or drink, or art, etc.

People change, and I get it that BoC pulling strong on the nostalgia creates that time crushing compaction of lifelines but everyone saying "this ain't like ... " is just really pinging to go back in time to the simpler days of youth.

Inferno is the present, but it is also the result of that life run, and if you have taken that run with the artists here, well it has been a long and deeply evolving one for kids that have evolved into teens, young adults, adults, parents, beyond... seen the world, etc.

I look back at what and who I was 28 years ago and today. As far as I am concerned those are two very different individuals.

Give yourself the grace to grow old and enjoy the path behind but not at the cost of the life today.

Because that way lies becoming an old grouch "It was better back then..., things used to be..., In my days..." you know what I mean.

[obuno]

Mate I concur with you so much on that, I changed, such a lot -- nevertheless and that's the beauty about this very Inferno LP, I can identify to this and that passion is still mine. How great of a feeling! I see BoC as a conveyor, a conveyor of introspection -- they give me the tool set to self reflect while enjoying the gift, that's cool and super rare ain't it? Or well to me only BoC has that power on myself and I embrace that with joy =)

Something else, I really hope they won't do any interview or honor any of that music bizz BS / they're beyond that IMPOV and silence, perhaps especially these days, seems so much louder.

Cheers folks, I'm so glad we have another BoC release to enjoy

[Waterbagel]

hear hear! and welcome to the forum! i wouldn't mind a good interview, i know they've always enjoyed taking interviews from Japanese magazines. that'd be cool. but i'm with you - no fluff! something real (and nothing is, after all ) or nothing at all! fine by me

[Decorah]

It says a lot about this album that it’s 70 minutes and as I Saw Through Plantonia is ending, I’m wishing it would just keep going. Not thinking it needed to be a 2lp but damn, give me an ep in the next 18 months or better yet another LP in 2-3 years. They clearly still have the touch.

[Den]

I don’t think this is the last album.

[Decorah]

I agree with you, they’re not done yet ✌️