The Boards of Canada are an IDM/downtempo duo from Cullen, Moray, Scotland consisting of Marcus Eoin & Mike Sandison. Their 1998 full-length debut Music Has the Right to Children under Warp Records would quickly become amongst the most celebrated releases throughout the label’s canon with the sophomore effort Geogaddi & The Campfire Headphase both receiving similar praise. Over a decade later however, the Music70 founders are reforming for their 4th studio LP & what could easily become the darkest collection of material they’ve ever conceived.

“Prophecy at 1420 MHz” after the “Introit” intro begins with a stellar opener mixing downtempo, synthwave, progressive electronic, darkwave, hauntology, ambient & gothic rock whereas “Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan” makes me feel like I’m watching the introduction of an apocalyptic sci-fi flick. “Age of Capricorn” gives off a more majestically optimistic sound to it incorporating some elements of spoken word just before “Father & Son” gives off early Aphex Twin vibes.

As for “Somewhere Right Now in the Future”, we have the Boards of Canada reminding everyone they haven’t lost a step bearing the response Sean Booth of Autechre had when he was asked about Inferno leading into “Naraka” calling back to “Come to Dust” off Tomorrow’s Harvest at a few certain point. “Memory Death” after the “Acts of Magic” interlude however reminds me of something I would’ve heard on 9 Inch Иails’ soundtrack for Gone Girl when I was in high school.

“The World Becomes Flash” ends the 1st leg of the album taking it back to BoC’s earlier output with the sampling & increasing the layers of musical ideas for 5 minutes while “Into the Magic Land” kicks off the 2nd half with a composition reminiscent of The Campfire Headphase era. “Blood in the Labyrinth” sensationally continues by taking every characteristic of Geogaddi & evolving them while “Tape 05” combines ambient, hauntology, progressive electronic, drone, new age, chamber music & dark ambient.

Influences of Aphex Twin as well as 9 Inch Иails & Andy Stott all get blended for “All Reason Departs” up until an infernal arpeggio while “Arena Americanada” takes it back to the mid/late 80s when Miami Vice was one of the most popular crime dramas on television. “The Process” hits us with the musical equivalent of passing through death into heaven & after “You Retreat in Time & Space” makes one’s life flash in front of them, “I Saw Through Platonia” sends it off in the most breathtaking way conceivable.

Up until this point, I’ve made it clear a couple times already that Flying Lotus’ 7th EP Big Mama was the best IDM I’ve heard & the Boards of Canada have already topped it nearly 3 months later with an album that I would put in the top 3 of their discography with Music Has the Right to Children & Geogaddi. Their signature IDM & downtempo sounds are being retained except there’s an increased use of samples, hints of live-instrumentation & masterful secondary influences of ambient, hauntology, neo-psychedelia, progressive electronic & synthwave.

Score: 4.5/5

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