Championed by John Peel, and often cited as one of the pioneers of electronica, BOC – a pair of brothers called Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin - hail from Scotland. “Music Has The Right To Children” from which this track comes was their album released in 1998 after sending out countless demos to labels.
“Aquarius” has the trademark reworked samples and loops plus the vocal repeats of “orange” and children’s voices or laughter, not to mention some counting of numbers! My memory is of hearing it – or at least a part of it - first on a Tom Middleton mix “The Trip” which sent me scurrying to the local shop in search of more. Rather like their Scots counterparts “The Blue Nile” BOC are reclusive, rarely giving interviews or performing live. As a result they’ve gained something of a cult following and their works are reckoned to be underlined with subliminal messages…something they’ve done little to dispute.
Their recognisable “sound” comes from layering and blending sounds using a blurring of old tape machines and analogue recordings. A natural fit for this curation.
You can learn more about Boards of Canada here:
About the Curator: Richard Parsons
I grew up listening to music from the late 60’s onwards. Pirate pop radio; swapping LP’s with friends; exploring genres; daydreaming over the latest woofer and tweeter.
In reality I spent thirty years imparting imperfect knowledge of English literature and drama to young minds in school. Regrets? No. I loved teaching; loved the interaction with the pupils, and made lifelong friends as a result. And what better way to keep up to date with music? I always played stuff in my lessons, and as a result, I’d be bombarded with suggestions from my flock! “Sir! Have you heard…?”
Latest Posts
Breathe It In – Ambient Jazz Ensemble
6 February 2019
I love it when a musical connection is made! I’ve been banging on about Zero 7 and then their offshoot, Fragile State, on this curation and then what happens? I come across someone new with a name that sounds like I should like them – Ambient Jazz Ensemble – and who’s central to them? None other than Neil Cowley…
Big Time – Hardage feat. Peter Gabriel
30 January 2019
I can barely believe that I’ve let this curation go so long without more than a passing reference to the legend that is Peter Gabriel – though Genesis feature here with “Cinema Show” from “Selling England By The Pound” which has him on lead vocals…
The Suns of Afterlife – Bliss
22 January 2019
In keeping with the “world” themes of this curation, Bliss hail from Denmark, though their collective owes as much to influences from Guinea and Sweden! They first appeared in the early 2000’s which really was the halcyon period for ambient chill stuff it seems – a golden age? …
