Artist: Boards Of Canada Album: Geogaddi

Year: 2002
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of the Album Geogaddi by Boards Of Canada

Boards Of Canada, a Scottish electronic music duo, released their second studio album Geogaddi in 2002, which was highly anticipated after their critically acclaimed album Music Has The Right To Children. This album, with its subtle textures and intricate rhythmic patterns, is considered one of the defining albums of the IDM genre, which stands for Intelligent Dance Music. Being a fan of the band for years, I decided to dive deeper into this masterpiece and share my insights with you all.

To start with, let's have a brief history of the band. Boards of Canada was formed in 1986 by brothers Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin. Their sound fuses together elements of ambient, downtempo, and IDM genres. They use a variety of analog and vintage equipment to create nostalgic soundscapes and tape loops that take the listener on a journey through time and space.

Now let's get back to Geogaddi. What makes this album so special is its use of mysterious samples, obscure field recordings, and haunting melodies. The tracks on this album evoke nostalgic memories and emotions of times long gone, but also generate a sense of foreboding. The album flows in a way that the listener feels as if they're wandering through a dystopian landscape.

One of the best songs on this album is Music is math, which has an extensive use of broken beats and textured atmospheres. Similarly, 1969 has a subtle use of backward melodies and eerie samples of children's laughter, invoking a sense of both nostalgia and creepiness. Sunshine Recorder features a hypnotic analog melody over a slow lumbering beat and field recordings of birds and bees, creating a lush and summery atmosphere.

The album's most innovative parts are its unpredictability and use of obscure samples. The songs on this album aren't structured in a traditional sense, but rather they flow intuitively and take the listener on a sonic journey. The use of obscure samples of religious chants, animal sounds, children's voices, and snippets from old instructional tapes offers a unique listening experience that is unparalleled in electronic music.

While there's no denying the creative use of sound and intricate production on this album, it can be argued that the album lacks a coherent narrative and feels more like a collection of soundscapes than an album. The lack of traditional song structures and the abundance of obscure samples can be overwhelming for some listeners, and the album's themes can be difficult to decipher.

In conclusion, Geogaddi is a truly innovative and groundbreaking album that pushed the boundaries of electronic music. The album offers a unique listening experience that is hard to come by in modern music. The use of obscure samples, unpredictable structure, and intricate production is a testament to the creativity of Boards of Canada. However, due to its lack of coherence and overwhelming themes, it may not be an album for everyone. If you're a fan of IDM genre or experimental electronic music, this album is worth checking out as it's a defining moment for Electronic music.