Tomorrow's Harvest
Boards of Canada return to album-making with a meticulously realized creation that both fascinates and disturbs—often simultaneously. *Tomorrow’s Harvest* marks how far the Scotland-bred duo has come since starting on the fringes of ‘90s electronica. Dark shadings and ominous textures have largely replaced the more pastoral atmospherics of earlier releases like 2002’s *Geogaddi*; the tone of these tracks suggests sinister forces hovering behind the facades of a futuristic cityscape. “Gemini,” “Collapse,” “Nothing Is Real,” and similar cuts unfold with a sense of mounting tension conveyed by jittery keyboard figures and furtive pulsations. At times—especially in “Palace Posy”—the duo achieves a Teutonic pop grandeur. There are lighter moments too, such as “Jacquard Causeway” (built around a woozy loping beat) and “New Seeds” (almost cheerful with its funk-tinged groove). More typical, though, are moody, insinuating pieces like “Telepath” and “Uritual,” which suggest soundtrack excerpts from long-lost sci-fi films. Boards of Canada render these aural visions with cool intelligence and hints of deadpan humor.
Long in the making, Boards of Canada's fourth full-length is their darkest and moodiest record. Clearly inspired by film soundtracks, Tomorrow's Harvest is heavy on atmosphere and richly textured drone.
As with the recent secretive, supremely hyped release of Random Access Memories by fellow electronica legends Daft Punk, long-time ambient innovators Boards Of Canada took clandestine and cryptic marketing to new lengths for Tomorrow’s Harvest, their first full-length record in eight years. With anonymous samples…
Thomas Hannan explores the moments of grandeur in 'Tomorrow's Harvest' and wonders whether the drip-feed marketing campaign fuelled fan fare is justified.
Daft Punk’s austere image is at least somewhat in contrast to their hyper-reverent Eurodisco, Boards of Canada’s sudden…
With long-awaited returns by David Bowie, My Bloody Valentine, the Knife, and Daft Punk in just the first few months, 2013 was already the year of the comeback when Boards of Canada resurfaced.
Tomorrow's Harvest finds the Sandison brothers turning their backs on the halcyon warmth of 2005's The Campfire Headphase to deliver an album which speaks the language of trauma and uncertainty whilst still managing to luxuriate in both texture and tone.
Despite being on vastly different planes of popularity and genre, there are a number of parallels between Daft Punk and Boards of Canada in 2013.
Honestly, you probably already know if you like Tomorrow's Harvest, the new album from Scottish brother-duo Boards of Canada.
Clash reviews 'Tomorrow's Harvest', the new album by Scottish electronica duo Boards Of Canada
With its elegant rhythms and crackly samples, the cult Scots' cryptic fourth album was worth the eight-year wait, writes <strong>Kitty Empire</strong>
Boards of Canada’s knack for charming, even moving, melodies hasn’t dulled in the many years since their last album.
Boards Of Canada "Tomorrow's Harvest" reviewed by Northern Transmissions, "Tomorrow's Harvest" will be released on June 11 via Warped Records.
<p>Boards of Canada gave Daft Punk a run for their money in the elaborate album campaign stakes, and there's lasting pleasure in its music too, writes <strong>Dorian Lynskey</strong></p>
Scottish pairing adhere to and update Warp Records' original electronic ethos. CD review by Thomas H Green