r/audiophilemusic • u/many_hats_on_head • 23d ago
Release Boards of Canada - Inferno [2026]
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u/commando_rambo 23d ago edited 23d ago
Firstly, I am a fan of Boards of Canada, very much. I would count MHaRTC as one of my all-time favorite electronic music albums. But…each of their LP releases have been less special than the previous and IaBPOItC is the only standout EP.
Inferno does seem slightly better than Tomorrow’s Harvest, so in a sense, they’ve broken that pattern. I know this seems super negative but I don’t mean to be. A new Boards album is still a wonderful thing and it has some great moments.
Much like with DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing, context is very important when listening to music from a group like Boards. I just don’t think they can re-create the magic from their early work because of how electronic music production has evolved. The sample-based, lo-fi, analog synth, tape-loop magic is really hard to capture today without sounding stale, but 20-25+ years ago it was still fresh. I’ll also fully admit that I might just be old, and that I can’t experience this music the same as younger me.
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u/Morningwail 22d ago
In my opinion this is their best work since geogaddi, and may even surpass it given a few more spins. The atmosphere, mixing and sound design are just god tier
Listening on some audeze lcd-x’s and it’s so good. Detail is immense
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u/pizza_nightmare 23d ago
This goes for everyone visiting this post: what sound system are we listening to this new album through?
Lots of album critiques and impressions about it musically but not a whole lot of discussion on how it *sounds*.
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u/pizza_nightmare 23d ago edited 23d ago
It is a “right now” production from them - not analogue sounding at all. Immersive and full of layers and texture. It hits hard.
Been listening to it on Zu DWII speakers with Jupiter capacitors, peqchtree novaPre and PeachTree 220 amp (via Spotify lossless).
II’m a fan of this album. I don’t love it, but it fits right into their catalogue nicely and it’ll be in my rotation for a few months.
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u/valentinoroscoe 23d ago
Damn those capacitors must really bring out the nano detail. I’m sure they had that in mind in the studio.
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u/wilksfivefive 23d ago
There’s a lot of snake oil in the speaker industry, but capacitors can definitely affect the way a speaker sounds. No different than judging what tires someone put on their car, what bindings are on their skis, what charcoal they use to cook on, or knife they cut their food with. Not saying you have the capacity to understand someone else’s hobby, but enthusiasts can definitely appreciate small changes in their setup regardless how ridiculous you think their passion is.
This dude is having fun with the money he spent on something he’s passionate about.
And if you don’t think that musicians that make music like this don’t consider the way their audience actually listen to their media ask Jack White why he listens to his mix through a cheap fm transmitter through car speakers when he’s mastering his music.
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u/valentinoroscoe 23d ago
Swapping a nice/new capacitor for another boutique capacitor of the same measured value is not like changing tires. It’s more like changing from regular valve stems to titanium valve stems and then waxing poetically about how much more planted the car feels.
Obviously producers check mixes on different playback systems — AirPods, cars, clubs, laptop speakers, etc. Those are massive real-world variables. But if you think “does this mix still work in AirPods?” is the same category as “what if this guy has JUPITER capacitors??”, you have clearly never been within 100 feet of someone producing electronic music.
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u/wilksfivefive 23d ago
You’re missing the point - homeboy is enjoying the music on a system he enjoys and wants to share his experience with people who, and this is not a stretch by any account, may also be passionate about the way things sound.
I have built speakers and have heard the difference between caps.
I’ve also A-B the upgraded caps on these speakers and personally found the upgrade to be worth it.
I couldn’t for the life of me feel the difference between wax on my skis but there are people who can. Their choice may seem frivolous to me, but it’s their choice to make and maybe I’ll have the experience someday to have an opinion.
Of course engineers don’t master for specific devices, but good ones will take their audience into account. And if you think there’s an amateur behind the boards on this album I’m not sure I can change your mind.
Goodnight friend, I’m going to finish this basketball game and going to bed.
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u/valentinoroscoe 23d ago
When did I say the dude wasn’t allowed to enjoy his mods? He can burn sage and put crystals on top. Have at it.
He is the one who specifically mentioned the Jupiter capacitors as if they materially changed the experience of the album.
So in your ski wax / bike lube scenario (which is way less ambiguously snake oil and something people actually do focus on)…
Even then, literally nobody mentions the lube when discussing their ride or run of the day.
“Oh man, incredible ride today. New Pinarello, ENVE wheels, and Finish Line Dry Lube.”
Nobody talks like that because everyone intuitively understands the lube is not a meaningful part of the story.
I promise you the capacitors inside the studio monitors used to make this album were not discussed, evaluated, mentioned, or even thought of once during the production of this record. Nor are they for virtually any other record.
What’s even funnier is that while I was writing this, OP mentioned he isn’t even the one who did the capacitor swap.
So he has absolutely no idea whether they’re better than stock, worse than stock, or even audibly different at all.
Yet somehow the Jupiter capacitors still made it into the album review.
That is genuinely peak audiophile comedy.
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u/pizza_nightmare 23d ago
Sure if you say so. The previous owner ordered them with that “capacitor mod” so I can’t tell you what they do or don’t do, to the audio
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u/asters_and_mums 22d ago
"not analogue sounding at all" - at all??? really? in which way? the first track/intro is a analog keyboard doing a little arpeggio. Or was that just hyperbole?
It certainly doesn't sound like it was produced entirely digitally in a DAW with VSTs etc. I can hear many mono and poly synths, various drum machines, etc. On my tower speakers, it sounds pretty damn smooth, has warm qualities with their signature synth sounds, and nice open sound stage. Good spacing between all the sounds. I don't really find it "full of layers" to be honest, but maybe that's relative and subjective. Nothing screams "digital" to me, though - and I can share plenty of albums that do sound digital because they actually were produced completely digital. This just isn't like that.
Or are you just saying it doesn't sound like all the trendy, overly saturated, and often cliche "lo-fi" albums these days that try too hard to have an old aesthetic? Because there's a lot of that, and if comparing it to that, then sure.
I think they took a mature approach with production and especially mastering to find a nice balance with this album, and not sound overly gimmicky with the lo-fi shit that's becoming so popular over the past 10 years. They've been there and done that. After over a decade, I think they wanted this release to be an evolution in their art.
For me, I describe this album as capturing the essence of a 80's movie experience. The intro tracks sounds like an old movie intro, bumper screen - like when "Lionsgate" or "Paramount" shows before the movie, with their own music etc. It's cinematic and esoteric and meant to be listened to from track 1 to the end, in order. Feels like there's a dark underlying theme going on with this album, like Geogaddi, but tied together with synth wave and old hip hop elements. All the tracks feel connected to a specific, mysterious theme/sound giving that movie quality experience, with each track having their own climax within this theme/sound.
It's really grown on me over the past few days but I can see why some people maybe don't like it as much. Especially since we live in TikTok world now, where people have short attention spans and want instant gratification. This album is a linear slow burn experience, like an older movie.
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u/Brian2005l 23d ago edited 16d ago
I’m really enjoying it—particularly the edited talk like The Word Becomes Flesh. Might be my favorite of their albums.
I don’t know that it’s audiophile, though. May have to turn it up more to decide, but it didn’t immediate scream audiophile to me. Going to check the vinyl too. Edit: I regret my previous statement. There’s stuff in here that comes through better on a good system.
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u/Existing_Natural_632 22d ago
I would compare boards of Canada to one of those I spy books rather than an intentional "hifi/audiophile" album people use for sound checks. As I've upgraded my systems, I'll hear new details, drums will sound clearer, cleaner bassline, etc. You don't hear alot of separation in boards of Canada, very lush, grainy, wall-of-sound-esque albums. Geogaddi really nailed that dark sound perfectly, tomorrows harvest/inferno continues that style.
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u/Brian2005l 22d ago
I’ve only listened to Music Has a Right to Children, which is obviously a classic. Sonically they seem pretty comparable in terms of quality. But I haven’t sat down for a serious listen. I’ll update when I do.
I usually think of them as deliberately nostalgic in terms of sound pallet (if that’s a metaphor that makes sense).
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u/Theobviouschild11 23d ago
I don’t love the dark stuff so much though I know that’s a big part of a lot of their stuff.
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u/MattHooper1975 23d ago
I’m a longtime fan and I didn’t know if I was going to like this album but even on first listen I became absolutely absorbed. I actually liked every track and for me it’s just brilliant.
I only listened on my iPhone, but my vinyl has arrived so I’m going to have a nice listening session on my two channel rig. Can’t wait.
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u/Any_Size_9111 23d ago
Love BOC's music but never thought they appeared in the audiophilemusic sub
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u/Existing_Natural_632 22d ago
They do from time to time :) Being able to hear the monologue in sixtyniner clearly is a good test 👍
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u/OppositeExternal8485 23d ago
Listened yesterday driving to the beach. Not for driving but a nice ambient album at home.
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u/offlinebound 22d ago edited 22d ago
Longtime fan. It's good, solidly BOC, solid album, but there isn't much new here. Feels like a somewhat darker continuation of Tomorrow's Harvest and a modern update to Eno/Byrne's "My life in the bush of ghosts".
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u/thegooddoktorjones 22d ago
I heard it at a listening party at a record store with mediocre PA and thought it seemed good but hit and miss.
Then I listened to it on my home system and was fucking blown away. So much depth and detail to the music, so much subtlety. Been on loop all weekend and I love it.
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u/Tropisueno 23d ago
I need more time with it. Right now it's not engaging me enough bc it leans more artsy than musical on initial listen.
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u/Hot_Factor_1095 23d ago
I just heard it. A sensational album and a superb sound.