Boards of Canada — Geogaddi

🐐ElectronicIDM
Written By Akhil Srivatsan
 
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Boards of Canada are among the best at what they do, which is making smoky downtempo electronica. Geogaddi is widely considered their second best album, which is saying a lot, considering their best is widely considered to be Music Has The Right Children, often spoken of in glowing terms in relation not only to electronic music, but also to all of western popular music. But there’s something about the range of Geogaddi that makes it my favourite Boards Of Canada album.

More than Music… and more than Tomorrow’s Harvest, both worthy contenders, to me this album is special. Why? Because it captures a wide range of complex emotions, none of which oppressively dominate its soundscape. What’s more, there’s as much depth of meaning in its quieter moments as there is in its more rhythmic moments. As much in its darker moments as there is in its lighter moments. There’s neither an overreliance on quiet-loud dynamics, nor the staleness common in albums that lack them. 

The human voice plays a fascinating role, dubbed and echoed until its words are almost entirely indiscernible, and it just becomes one kind of sound within a menagerie of sounds. Even more fascinating is the role drones play, sometimes serving as counterpoint, sometimes as bedrock. After so many years of being in love with this album, I can make little criticism of its musical choices, even of its 66-minutes-and-6-seconds runtime, usually a turn-off. Every one of those 3966 seconds is essential in putting together the experience that is this album; it’s an economical mammoth. 

Listening to Geogaddi is that rare musical experience: an aural journey that’s unique through each traversal. Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

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Akhil Srivatsan
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