If you're unfamiliar with the Scottish duo that is Boards of Canada, they are arguably one of the most important electronic groups of all time. The band formed all the way back in 1986 and has only made five studio albums (Inferno being the latest). The group has been on the legendary Warp Records label, which has given the world albums by legendary electronic artists like Aphex Twin and Flying Lotus. Boards of Canada flies a bit more under the radar but is right up there with those heavy hitters.
The sounds that Boards of Canada craft are instantly recognizable, and create of feeling of nostalgia through offering a futuristic soundscape that transports the listener to what scientists in the '70s must have thought the future would sound like. Imagine that weird nature film you watched back in science class in eighth grade, but somehow you're sucked into the television screen and living in that world — that's kind of the vibe that Boards of Canada creates.
Inferno is the duo's first album in 13 years, and simply put, Boards of Canada has not lost any of their power. Tracks like "Into the Magic Land," "Naraka," "Arena Americanada" and "Prophecy at 1420 MHz" are classic Boards of Canada and are right up there with some of the group's best older songs.
A word of caution if you're new to Boards of Canada: This isn't the kind of record you put on for easy listening. This album is a journey. It's best taken in full from start to finish, and at one hour and nine minutes you need to have time and mental space available before you buckle in for the long ride. Once you're ready to listen from beginning to end you'll experience the same feeling as watching a really good sci-fi film. Think Blade Runner, Dark City, Annihilation, Stalker or even Metropolis. Fun fact: Though they've never done a soundtrack for a movie, if you've seen the 2012 horror film Sinister it used their track "Gyroscope" in a very tasteful/creepy way.
The themes of Boards of Canada records are generally up to the listener, but there's one track on Inferno that makes clear that religion/the occult is present. The track is "Father And Son," and overall it was my least favorite song on the album. I don't listen to Boards of Canada for that much talking. Some talking is fine, and it can add to the vibe. But this track felt more like a haunted audio book (which admittedly sounds kind of cool, but it doesn't really work here).
But overall there's lots more good to talk about!
The track "You Retreat In Time And Space" is a beautiful song that represents everything I enjoy about Boards of Canada. It has lush synthesizers, a great drum beat and an overall feeling like I just took off in a rocket ship and am looking at Earth from space. Classic Boards of Canada.
"Naraka" is darker than "You Retreat In Time And Space" but still conjures up the vibe of a place you'd like to check out. It made me think of seeing a volcano erupt and being in one of those silver heat resistant suits watching the lava flow. These are just the kind of thoughts that occur while listening to Boards of Canada, and it's why I love them.
Right now, the strongest (and my favorite) track on the album is the single, "Prophecy at 1420 MHz." This track got me so excited for this album. I crave the big beats and epic synth lines that this song supplies in full. It transported me to Hell's VHS section, and I wanted to take my time looking around!
If you're in the mood for something a little different or a more lowkey soundtrack to the apocalypse, Inferno is a must listen.
