Boards of Canada - Inferno

One of the most anticipated releases of the year. News of the Scottish electronic duo’s first new album in 13 years sent ripples throughout our collective social media spaces. A niche behemoth like Stereolab, they may not shake the world, but those in their sphere certainly would have had their worlds shaken.

Perhaps a sign of the times, this album has travelled further down the dark trajectory that Tomorrow’s Harvest began and far from the sun-bleached brightness of their acclaimed Music Has the Right To Children. For those whose excitement was twinned with trepidation, the 35-second opener ‘Introit’ would have felt like a warm embrace. Its familiar, detuned retro-futuristic loops may as well have said welcome to the new BOC album. ‘Prophecy At 1420 MHz’ provides a first glimpse of the darker ethos. A chilling electronic voice with a god complex is perhaps a warning of an A.I.-controlled future. The similarly themed ‘Age Of Capricorn’ comes across as a sinister life coach. ‘Father And Son’ is one of the most innovative advances in their sound. The stilted voice samples intertwine with the beautiful synth pads and warm bass tones. ‘Naraka’ too chops up the well-known Hare Krishna refrain, bringing it into an entirely different realm. ‘Memory Death’ is utterly absorbing with its quindar tones and Sigur Rós vibes. ‘Blood in the Labyrinth’ is another standout.

While it may not hit the individual highs of previous records, it is arguably their most consistent release yet and comfortably extends their “marvelous” legacy.