The Campfire Headphase, by Boards Of Canada (Double LP on Warp)

 

This record left our Clint feeling unmoved.

The long awaited Boards of Canada album is here and as we work in a record shop we have already had hours and hours of discussion about its triumphs and pitfalls. So I'm virtually all talked out about it already. The initial impression was of something blander and more mainstream than their previous releases. But I thought this about "Geodaddi" at first but that just grew and grew on me so I was prepared to give new this one a lot more time before drawing to a conclusion. After a few weeks I'm still not sure. It ticks all the right boxes but you tend to find yourself nodding off or (worse still) not realising it's still on. It is delicious background music but I expect more from a Boards of Canada record. They have been experts in introducing amazing hidden melodies and clever touches into their records which keep you coming back time and time again. The pre-programmed beats on this one are a problem in themselves, being very lightweight and just sort of ticking along with the music without adding any dynamics to the tunes. Boards of Canada are not moving on   - they are honing their near perfect sound until it becomes a pale washed out pastiche of itself. I'm loathe to criticise a group who have made such brilliant records in the past but although this is a decent enough record that will file itself quite snugly into the Chill Out section of your local HMV, it has very little more to offer and that on past form renders it  something of a disappointment.

Geogaddi by Boards Of Canada (CD, £14.99)

Geogaddi by Boards Of Canada (CD, £6.49)

Geogaddi by Boards Of Canada (CD, £4.49)

In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country by Boards Of Canada (CD single, £4.49)

Music Has The Right To Children by Boards Of Canada (CD, £6.49)

The Campfire Headphase by Boards Of Canada (CD, £11.99)

Trans Canada Highway EP by Boards Of Canada (CD, £8.49)

Twoism by Boards Of Canada (CD, £11.99)