——/——/——/717228/936557 /——
April 22, 2013 6:50 PM Subscribe
A new Boards of Canada release surfaced during National Record Store Day.
IDM isn't for listening, it's an investment. Autechre's Quaristice will be putting my kids through college.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:02 PM on April 22, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:02 PM on April 22, 2013 [9 favorites]
Given the voracious nature of Boards/Warp nerds, I'm a little baffled that nobody has yet managed to turn up any of the other editions. (Also, dude has a serviceable turntable setup. Can't he capture better audio than that?)
posted by mykescipark at 7:08 PM on April 22, 2013
posted by mykescipark at 7:08 PM on April 22, 2013
I like their music, but Jesus, what wankery.
posted by uosuaq at 7:11 PM on April 22, 2013 [9 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 7:11 PM on April 22, 2013 [9 favorites]
I have no idea what you all just did here but now there's a creepy girl crawling out of my television. Ok, gotta go.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 7:13 PM on April 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 7:13 PM on April 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
I'm gonna go ahead and call this a fake and move on.
posted by deathpanels at 7:13 PM on April 22, 2013
posted by deathpanels at 7:13 PM on April 22, 2013
Ugh.
I follow a certain Boards of Canada message board, and there's a lot of nonsense going on there. People are noticeably skeptical this actually exists, given A: the large amount of theories about the new BoC album that have never been borne out (the most infamous being the black square that showed up on their website in the album covers section, and was later thought to be part of a promo that instead got postponed for one reason or another) and B: the uncertainty contained within the videos of this particular thing (fifthrider's video does not make it clear whether there's actually any audio coming out of the vinyl itself; we don't get a look at mixer levels, the needle does not appear to be moving closer to the center rapidly as you might expect on a record with only twenty seconds of audio, and that particular synth noise has been well duplicated by many people aping BoC).
Collaboration from Other Music and BoC's profile on the Record Store Day website suggests -something- is happening but lordy I'm not going to venture a guess at what is real and what's not. I'll wait until I see a CD, thank you.
posted by solarion at 7:18 PM on April 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
I follow a certain Boards of Canada message board, and there's a lot of nonsense going on there. People are noticeably skeptical this actually exists, given A: the large amount of theories about the new BoC album that have never been borne out (the most infamous being the black square that showed up on their website in the album covers section, and was later thought to be part of a promo that instead got postponed for one reason or another) and B: the uncertainty contained within the videos of this particular thing (fifthrider's video does not make it clear whether there's actually any audio coming out of the vinyl itself; we don't get a look at mixer levels, the needle does not appear to be moving closer to the center rapidly as you might expect on a record with only twenty seconds of audio, and that particular synth noise has been well duplicated by many people aping BoC).
Collaboration from Other Music and BoC's profile on the Record Store Day website suggests -something- is happening but lordy I'm not going to venture a guess at what is real and what's not. I'll wait until I see a CD, thank you.
posted by solarion at 7:18 PM on April 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
If I found one of these in the local shop I'd buy it, take it home, and put it on a shelf forever.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:24 PM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:24 PM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't understand why this is wankery. To me, this is a very interesting and far from unprecedented way of building interest in what they've made. Like I Love Bees or the stealth launch of Portal 2, accomplished through an unannounced game update that added hidden sound recordings that had to be put through a spectrum analyzer, which even then only yielded coded info. These things were discovered and unraveled by a passionate fanbase and did more for anticipation than the biggest billboard or most over-the-top Superbowl ad.
If this is real, and I see no reason why it should not be so, then it is smart and awesome.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 7:36 PM on April 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
If this is real, and I see no reason why it should not be so, then it is smart and awesome.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 7:36 PM on April 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
BlackLeotardFront: "I don't understand why this is wankery."
It is wankery because people are enjoying themselves, and that is uncool.
posted by Bugbread at 7:48 PM on April 22, 2013 [19 favorites]
It is wankery because people are enjoying themselves, and that is uncool.
posted by Bugbread at 7:48 PM on April 22, 2013 [19 favorites]
I think the wankery is fun and I think this is real. And exciting.
posted by mintcake! at 7:49 PM on April 22, 2013
posted by mintcake! at 7:49 PM on April 22, 2013
So... did anyone successfully buy and listen to this album?
posted by filthy light thief at 7:58 PM on April 22, 2013
His account of the product lets us know that the packaging dates this as a Warp 2013 release and contains 20 seconds of audio on one side of the vinyl that says a six digit number one time, then cuts out.A top comment from YouTube:
IP Address 93.6.5.57 is an Internet Protocol assigned to France, with a geographical location at BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT, France, at latitude 48.8333 and longitude 2.25.Let the theorizing begin!
posted by filthy light thief at 7:58 PM on April 22, 2013
Boy we're all going feel dumb when the hidden picture in the music waveform is decoded and it's a QR Code that leads to the website http://www.pepsiblue.com/
posted by Nelson at 7:59 PM on April 22, 2013
posted by Nelson at 7:59 PM on April 22, 2013
I guess it strikes me as wankery because it's just a super-exclusive, vinyl-only (of course -- you can't be a real music fan unless you own an expensive record player and tube amp, right?) release designed to generate "buzz". If it turns into something that people can actually participate in directly (like the things BlackLeotardFront mentioned), then at least it'll be fun for people who like viral marketing.
Oh and Bugbread, stop reading my mind! You know me too well.
posted by uosuaq at 8:00 PM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh and Bugbread, stop reading my mind! You know me too well.
posted by uosuaq at 8:00 PM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
uosuaq: "I like their music, but Jesus, what wankery."
I remember when Information Society releaed their last album, they had snippets of modem noise as their last track. Play that into a modem, and it gave you a web address and u/p information. That url provided a fragment of a multipart archive, along with a pointer to the next fragment. There were maybe 15 or so archive parts, across different websites and even CDs that the band released. That was back in 1997 or 98.
Finally hearing that song was a sublime, transcendental experience. Maybe the BoC code will lead to something similar.
posted by boo_radley at 8:01 PM on April 22, 2013 [7 favorites]
I remember when Information Society releaed their last album, they had snippets of modem noise as their last track. Play that into a modem, and it gave you a web address and u/p information. That url provided a fragment of a multipart archive, along with a pointer to the next fragment. There were maybe 15 or so archive parts, across different websites and even CDs that the band released. That was back in 1997 or 98.
Finally hearing that song was a sublime, transcendental experience. Maybe the BoC code will lead to something similar.
posted by boo_radley at 8:01 PM on April 22, 2013 [7 favorites]
Aha! Information Society - White Roses.
posted by boo_radley at 8:04 PM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by boo_radley at 8:04 PM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
with a geographical location at BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT, France
damn robots are manipulating the music-time-space-continuum again
posted by pashdown at 8:10 PM on April 22, 2013
damn robots are manipulating the music-time-space-continuum again
posted by pashdown at 8:10 PM on April 22, 2013
Never mind The Knife, this is surely the most important release of 2013.
posted by Flashman at 8:28 PM on April 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Flashman at 8:28 PM on April 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
I'm gonna go ahead and call this a fake and move on.
...said fans of My Bloody Valentine and Kate Bush, until the day it wasn't. One day it'll happen, but this is just a fun little puzzle in the meantime. Even if it turns out to be a dead end, why not?
posted by mykescipark at 9:07 PM on April 22, 2013
...said fans of My Bloody Valentine and Kate Bush, until the day it wasn't. One day it'll happen, but this is just a fun little puzzle in the meantime. Even if it turns out to be a dead end, why not?
posted by mykescipark at 9:07 PM on April 22, 2013
Please be real, please be real, please be real.
Please.
God, how I love BoC.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 9:59 PM on April 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
Please.
God, how I love BoC.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 9:59 PM on April 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
It is real. I have no doubt that there is going to be a release this year of *some* sort. Peter Serafiniwicz was very certain they were releasing something... That's not a guarantee, of course. He claimed it was going to be a double album. I will shit my pants if that happens (NOT LITERALIST!)
I was very very very pissed on April 1st when FACT mag said there was a new album this year and I was utterly irate. You do NOT fuck around with a BoC release. EVER.
And here, what do I find out from... FACT mag? This bit of info.
It was a beautiful glorious start to my day and the thing that kept me going.
I just know that there will be a need for certain chemicals to be ingested at some point this year and I cannot fucking wait to experience the new album.
I almost feel bad for like... autechre or squarepusher. The buzz around BoC due to their lack of releases is insane. I used to feel that way about AE. I still look forward to their releases, but they seem to not take forever like they used to.
I enjoy Bibio and Lone and Tycho, but as great as they are, they will never ever ever be BoC.
Heaven, to me, is dying and being reborn as an eternally shifting BoC soundtrack, forever and ever...
posted by symbioid at 10:21 PM on April 22, 2013 [5 favorites]
I was very very very pissed on April 1st when FACT mag said there was a new album this year and I was utterly irate. You do NOT fuck around with a BoC release. EVER.
And here, what do I find out from... FACT mag? This bit of info.
It was a beautiful glorious start to my day and the thing that kept me going.
I just know that there will be a need for certain chemicals to be ingested at some point this year and I cannot fucking wait to experience the new album.
I almost feel bad for like... autechre or squarepusher. The buzz around BoC due to their lack of releases is insane. I used to feel that way about AE. I still look forward to their releases, but they seem to not take forever like they used to.
I enjoy Bibio and Lone and Tycho, but as great as they are, they will never ever ever be BoC.
Heaven, to me, is dying and being reborn as an eternally shifting BoC soundtrack, forever and ever...
posted by symbioid at 10:21 PM on April 22, 2013 [5 favorites]
Although not a follower of sucraM 'n ekiM. I'm a devoted Board Canadian....
posted by symbioid at 10:29 PM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by symbioid at 10:29 PM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, that April 1st prank was ... wrong on many levels.
posted by Sonny Jim at 10:56 PM on April 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Sonny Jim at 10:56 PM on April 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
I remember when Information Society releaed their last album, they had snippets of modem noise as their last track. Play that into a modem, and it gave you a web address and u/p information.
I wouldn't have thought this was possible. I'm guessing it worked because it was 300 baud and there was no handshake/protocol negotiation phase?
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 11:46 PM on April 22, 2013
I wouldn't have thought this was possible. I'm guessing it worked because it was 300 baud and there was no handshake/protocol negotiation phase?
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 11:46 PM on April 22, 2013
Seems dreamy to me. I hope it is all real and leads to a proper release of new material.
posted by Faintdreams at 12:38 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by Faintdreams at 12:38 AM on April 23, 2013
Pruitt-Igoe: Correct. In fact, the "handshake" for a Bell 103 modem is just listening for a specific tone. If you hear it, another modem is assumed to be on the other side and you're free to just send data. Here's video of someone playing a different Information Society 300 baud track into a modem that was made in 1964.
posted by zsazsa at 12:54 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by zsazsa at 12:54 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Even if it's fake I hope it's real.
posted by retronic at 1:04 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by retronic at 1:04 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
I have the other 5 but am not telling anyone.
posted by dobbs at 4:25 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by dobbs at 4:25 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I want this to be true. The new Autechre and Emeralds have been in heavy commute rotation and a new BoC would be a welcome addition.
posted by vkxmai at 7:20 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by vkxmai at 7:20 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I guess it strikes me as wankery because it's just a super-exclusive, vinyl-only...release designed to generate "buzz". If it turns into something that people can actually participate in directly (like the things BlackLeotardFront mentioned), then at least it'll be fun for people who like viral marketing.
If you're doing this sort of thing right, you have some sort of seeding mechanism to get things going. The ARG community calls this the "Rabbit Hole" from Alice in Wonderland. As it stands, this looks like they've thought it through because they've set up a thing where, at first, they're only going to get interest from serious fans, but, there's no way that any one person (or even small team of people) can hope to solve.
I would not be surprised if the six sections represent six distribution regions so that you couldn't just hit every place that deals in vinyl in YOUR BIG CITY HERE and assemble the whole set without outside help.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 7:57 AM on April 23, 2013
If you're doing this sort of thing right, you have some sort of seeding mechanism to get things going. The ARG community calls this the "Rabbit Hole" from Alice in Wonderland. As it stands, this looks like they've thought it through because they've set up a thing where, at first, they're only going to get interest from serious fans, but, there's no way that any one person (or even small team of people) can hope to solve.
I would not be surprised if the six sections represent six distribution regions so that you couldn't just hit every place that deals in vinyl in YOUR BIG CITY HERE and assemble the whole set without outside help.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 7:57 AM on April 23, 2013
I'm really happy to see Exai getting love in here. It's wonderful.
posted by mintcake! at 8:00 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mintcake! at 8:00 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I figure when there is actually a new Boards of Canada album, it will be obvious to everyone, no need for the cloak and dagger routine.
posted by anazgnos at 8:12 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by anazgnos at 8:12 AM on April 23, 2013
"Call your local 4H chapter to find out how you can do your part."
posted by pianoblack at 8:47 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by pianoblack at 8:47 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
BoC have always hidden weird cult-like messages and cryptic transmissions in their music and imagery so this doesn't strike me as wankery so much as more intriguing stuff in the mysterious mythology and cosmos they're creating around themselves. Fuck yeah.
posted by naju at 9:06 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by naju at 9:06 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
I love the photo that Rough Trade posted to their twitter account when the second vinyl was bought. Seems real to me! (as real as a faceless woozy mystery vinyl purchaser can be...)
posted by horopter at 9:17 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by horopter at 9:17 AM on April 23, 2013
horopter: "I love the photo that Rough Trade posted to their twitter account when the second vinyl was bought."
How startling was that for the buyer, do you suppose? All giddy from a rare new release and then BAM! Sombody's taking kirlian photographs of you.
posted by boo_radley at 9:29 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
How startling was that for the buyer, do you suppose? All giddy from a rare new release and then BAM! Sombody's taking kirlian photographs of you.
posted by boo_radley at 9:29 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
His account of the product lets us know that the packaging dates this as a Warp 2013 release and contains 20 seconds of audio yt on one side of the vinyl that says a six digit number one time, then cuts out.
posted by retronic at 9:51 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by retronic at 9:51 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
horopter: "I love the photo that Rough Trade posted to their twitter account when the second vinyl was bought. Seems real to me! (as real as a faceless woozy mystery vinyl purchaser can be...)"
Hrmm, 2020k seems to say this:
"The xxxxxx’s are in the same spot as the first vinyl sold."
So this is the third album sold? I wonder why an overlay. Hmm...
posted by symbioid at 10:31 AM on April 23, 2013
Hrmm, 2020k seems to say this:
"The xxxxxx’s are in the same spot as the first vinyl sold."
So this is the third album sold? I wonder why an overlay. Hmm...
posted by symbioid at 10:31 AM on April 23, 2013
I tried to explain to my ladyfriend why I would occasionally just say the word 'Orange!' and then crack up giggling, but she just stared at me with those 'this is some nonsense' eyes. And then I just said 'orange!' again, and giggled some more.
posted by FatherDagon at 11:30 AM on April 23, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by FatherDagon at 11:30 AM on April 23, 2013 [8 favorites]
I was very very very pissed on April 1st when FACT mag said there was a new album this year and I was utterly irate. You do NOT fuck around with a BoC release. EVER.
Even worse ... I didn't see the article on April first. I just happened to Google "new Boards of Canada" on April 2nd, because that is a phrase I Google somewhat often, and I found the story and got very excited and then noticed the date on the article and then I got sad.
posted by Bookhouse at 1:19 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Even worse ... I didn't see the article on April first. I just happened to Google "new Boards of Canada" on April 2nd, because that is a phrase I Google somewhat often, and I found the story and got very excited and then noticed the date on the article and then I got sad.
posted by Bookhouse at 1:19 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
I wonder why an overlay. Hmm...
Redundancy? Not every buyer is going to open the record and play it.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 2:22 PM on April 23, 2013
Redundancy? Not every buyer is going to open the record and play it.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 2:22 PM on April 23, 2013
New stuff from BBC: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/radioassets/snippets/isrc/z3/p01836z3_noisrc_unknown_xxxxxx.mp3
So, now we have ——/——/717228/936557/——/519225
posted by bdz at 2:39 PM on April 23, 2013
So, now we have ——/——/717228/936557/——/519225
posted by bdz at 2:39 PM on April 23, 2013
boo_radley you've just sent me off on an internet wormhole with that reference to kirlian photography, amazing!
posted by horopter at 2:41 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by horopter at 2:41 PM on April 23, 2013
So one thing I'm thinking of is that 6 is half a year, so what if instead of them being 6 digits, they're split somehow.
And notice, if you split them into 3/3 the rightmost set are always doubles for the first 2 digits, and then, the last digit seems to countdown...22 8; 55 7; xx (I'm guessing 6); 22 5
We'll see if this pattern holds up on the rightmost triplets. I do like the idea of it splitting up into a set of 12/year representation of some sort.
posted by symbioid at 3:06 PM on April 23, 2013
And notice, if you split them into 3/3 the rightmost set are always doubles for the first 2 digits, and then, the last digit seems to countdown...22 8; 55 7; xx (I'm guessing 6); 22 5
We'll see if this pattern holds up on the rightmost triplets. I do like the idea of it splitting up into a set of 12/year representation of some sort.
posted by symbioid at 3:06 PM on April 23, 2013
What about some kind of hash?
Somone wrote that 24/06/13 is the meaning of the numbers.
I don't know how he got that but sounds good to me (:
posted by bdz at 3:12 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Somone wrote that 24/06/13 is the meaning of the numbers.
I don't know how he got that but sounds good to me (:
posted by bdz at 3:12 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
-
-
717228 -> 7+1+7+2+2+8 = 27 -> 2+7 = 9
936557 -> 9+3+6+5+5+7 = 35 -> 3+5 = 8
-
519225 -> 5+1+9+2+2+5 = 24 -> 2+4 = 6
posted by bdz at 3:53 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
-
717228 -> 7+1+7+2+2+8 = 27 -> 2+7 = 9
936557 -> 9+3+6+5+5+7 = 35 -> 3+5 = 8
-
519225 -> 5+1+9+2+2+5 = 24 -> 2+4 = 6
posted by bdz at 3:53 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Leaving 5 4 3 2 1 0, or 24/05/13
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:01 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:01 PM on April 23, 2013
But what about the missing 3 codes? I mean your date only works if no more codes will be released.
posted by bdz at 4:08 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by bdz at 4:08 PM on April 23, 2013
What if:
The remaining numbers are 7 5 4 3 2 1 0
3 more codes will be added.
Keep 7 3 and 1
7/13
Remaining numbers are 5 4 2 0
Take out zero as a non existing day
Leaving
5/7/13
4/7/13
2/7/13 as a possible release date
posted by bdz at 4:22 PM on April 23, 2013
The remaining numbers are 7 5 4 3 2 1 0
3 more codes will be added.
Keep 7 3 and 1
7/13
Remaining numbers are 5 4 2 0
Take out zero as a non existing day
Leaving
5/7/13
4/7/13
2/7/13 as a possible release date
posted by bdz at 4:22 PM on April 23, 2013
I'm assuming that the other three will add up to 11, 10 and 7.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:34 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:34 PM on April 23, 2013
5 4 3 2 1 0 makes for a lame pattern, though. I'm probably totally wrong.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:50 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:50 PM on April 23, 2013
Hmm, so wee have a 699742? which seems to be a reverse of the dual numbers at the end...
I hope it isn't the second to last, then it throws my theory off a bit. Though I'm not sure how it fits at the start until I see more numbers. (anybody got any haldol? Cuz I think I might need some soon).
posted by symbioid at 5:13 PM on April 23, 2013
I hope it isn't the second to last, then it throws my theory off a bit. Though I'm not sure how it fits at the start until I see more numbers. (anybody got any haldol? Cuz I think I might need some soon).
posted by symbioid at 5:13 PM on April 23, 2013
699742 -> 6+9+9+7+4+2 = 37 -> 3+7 = 10
raihan_, which part of the show is it?
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:21 PM on April 23, 2013
raihan_, which part of the show is it?
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:21 PM on April 23, 2013
weird cult-like messages and cryptic transmissions in their music
I blame it on what listening to shortwave is like growing up in a small town in N. Scotland. Because that's what it's like being the only one listening to shortwave growing up in any small town. Specially those chirping forests of maritime Ute signals that nobody really *listens* to *except* we chosen ones.
posted by Twang at 5:37 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
I blame it on what listening to shortwave is like growing up in a small town in N. Scotland. Because that's what it's like being the only one listening to shortwave growing up in any small town. Specially those chirping forests of maritime Ute signals that nobody really *listens* to *except* we chosen ones.
posted by Twang at 5:37 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
you guys there's going to be a new boards of canada album, first bowie then mbv now this i swear to god this is awesome you guys
posted by mintcake! at 7:04 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by mintcake! at 7:04 PM on April 23, 2013
forget the album, I WANT ALL THE NUMBERS!!! (ok, no, don't forget the album, please, bring it...) BUT GIVE ME THE NUMBERS!
Some things make a pattern, but others just don't fit, and I want to see them all to see it pieced together. (Maybe this is like chafe, you know, the bits of metal they throw behind so a heat seeking missile gets distracted? Or like when you throw rice to protect yourself from vampires and they have to stop and count every piece before they can attack? Maybe they're saying we're a rabid mob, and they're doing everything in their power to slow us down before we get too close?)
I also know, as I said in a private blog post, that instead of numbers, I must obtain letters in various combinations to consume mentally. Usually triplets. Dig.
posted by symbioid at 7:12 PM on April 23, 2013
Some things make a pattern, but others just don't fit, and I want to see them all to see it pieced together. (Maybe this is like chafe, you know, the bits of metal they throw behind so a heat seeking missile gets distracted? Or like when you throw rice to protect yourself from vampires and they have to stop and count every piece before they can attack? Maybe they're saying we're a rabid mob, and they're doing everything in their power to slow us down before we get too close?)
I also know, as I said in a private blog post, that instead of numbers, I must obtain letters in various combinations to consume mentally. Usually triplets. Dig.
posted by symbioid at 7:12 PM on April 23, 2013
Pruitt-Igoe, the end. Here's a Soundcloud clip of just that segment.
And because there's not a lot of BOC music to share at the moment, here's Machinedrum's edit of an untitled BOC tune, from Live @ Warp10 (full show on Soundcloud, to stream or download).
posted by filthy light thief at 7:42 PM on April 23, 2013
And because there's not a lot of BOC music to share at the moment, here's Machinedrum's edit of an untitled BOC tune, from Live @ Warp10 (full show on Soundcloud, to stream or download).
posted by filthy light thief at 7:42 PM on April 23, 2013
2020k has a run-down of the news and rumors to date, including the claim of an album release in June, and boosted images of screenshots from this three second clip. You can see some of that image by sliding the time bar back and forth.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:53 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by filthy light thief at 7:53 PM on April 23, 2013
Imho this is the best number theory yet.
And the new numbers well fit in the decreasing order
- 10 9 8 - 6
And to listen something: my two fav BOC tracks:
XYZ (they played it live on the John Peel show, and then they not released it on the EP... )
Audiotrack 04B (from the Random 35 tracks tape)
posted by bdz at 2:41 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
And the new numbers well fit in the decreasing order
- 10 9 8 - 6
And to listen something: my two fav BOC tracks:
XYZ (they played it live on the John Peel show, and then they not released it on the EP... )
Audiotrack 04B (from the Random 35 tracks tape)
posted by bdz at 2:41 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
So I take a day off Mefi, and this happens.
There is literally nothing that gets my attention as hard and as fast as a decent BoC rumour. Except, it turns out, a decent BoC rumour WITH NUMBERS STATIONS! AND THE WHALESONG STATION!
The young Devonian lived in a huge, drafty, effectively unheated rural 18th century house. Somewhat solitary and possessed even then by strong geek drives, he soon discovered shortwave and the existence of old military radios at affordable prices, which permanently changed the appearance of his bedroom in a startling, parentally baffling and (to date) permanent way.
Shortwave repaid the interest, providing two essentials for a growing lad: mysterious noises that had to be patiently stalked, and broadcasters that had occasional forays into electronic music. Which, in the late 70s and early 80s, was going though something of an interesting growth spurt itself. I recorded some German number stations on my piano-key cassette device and played them to a German teacher at school: "Only you, Devonian," he sighed. I also recorded some very early Human League and played that to the music teacher: result, identical.
And now... now... this. A la recherce du temps perdu? I should cocoa. I do not care how wanky some may find BoC's unique approach to teasing its audience, I am openly and shamelessly enthralled.
There is just one thing that could finally reduce me to a large blob of pure blissboy, and that's if the new album - THE NEW ALBUM. I believe. I believe. I believe - also has a sample of the radiosondes I used to listen to late at night on the 11 metre band. That band was usually utterly quiet after nightfall, when propagation closed, with just the occasion crash of static and unlistenably distant carriers atop the noise. But the radiosondes were there - equipped with a basic valve transmitter and a set of weather sensors, they encoded their data by rotating a wheel to connect all the sensors in turn to an audio oscillator, transmitting a repetitive yet constantly changing set of tones of about half a second each, in a 13 note phrase with a strangely catchy beat.
As the radiosondes drifted up country, the sound faded in and out over maybe half an hour before going out of range, and I can never forget - nor, alas, can I find recordings of - those dark hours in a silent house, communing with cold war hardware, with a distant robot singing "dah-dah-DAH, dah-dah-DAH, dah-di-dah-di-DAH-di-DAH" - each note changing independently of each other, but only a little each time, as temperature, pressure, humidity and who knows what else were washing past, before disappearing into the low sussurations of static.
If that is on the album, I shall take off all my clothes, paint my genitals bright blue, and stand on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square shouting IT IS OVER. TAKE ME NOW. ORANGE!
posted by Devonian at 8:14 AM on April 24, 2013 [17 favorites]
There is literally nothing that gets my attention as hard and as fast as a decent BoC rumour. Except, it turns out, a decent BoC rumour WITH NUMBERS STATIONS! AND THE WHALESONG STATION!
The young Devonian lived in a huge, drafty, effectively unheated rural 18th century house. Somewhat solitary and possessed even then by strong geek drives, he soon discovered shortwave and the existence of old military radios at affordable prices, which permanently changed the appearance of his bedroom in a startling, parentally baffling and (to date) permanent way.
Shortwave repaid the interest, providing two essentials for a growing lad: mysterious noises that had to be patiently stalked, and broadcasters that had occasional forays into electronic music. Which, in the late 70s and early 80s, was going though something of an interesting growth spurt itself. I recorded some German number stations on my piano-key cassette device and played them to a German teacher at school: "Only you, Devonian," he sighed. I also recorded some very early Human League and played that to the music teacher: result, identical.
And now... now... this. A la recherce du temps perdu? I should cocoa. I do not care how wanky some may find BoC's unique approach to teasing its audience, I am openly and shamelessly enthralled.
There is just one thing that could finally reduce me to a large blob of pure blissboy, and that's if the new album - THE NEW ALBUM. I believe. I believe. I believe - also has a sample of the radiosondes I used to listen to late at night on the 11 metre band. That band was usually utterly quiet after nightfall, when propagation closed, with just the occasion crash of static and unlistenably distant carriers atop the noise. But the radiosondes were there - equipped with a basic valve transmitter and a set of weather sensors, they encoded their data by rotating a wheel to connect all the sensors in turn to an audio oscillator, transmitting a repetitive yet constantly changing set of tones of about half a second each, in a 13 note phrase with a strangely catchy beat.
As the radiosondes drifted up country, the sound faded in and out over maybe half an hour before going out of range, and I can never forget - nor, alas, can I find recordings of - those dark hours in a silent house, communing with cold war hardware, with a distant robot singing "dah-dah-DAH, dah-dah-DAH, dah-di-dah-di-DAH-di-DAH" - each note changing independently of each other, but only a little each time, as temperature, pressure, humidity and who knows what else were washing past, before disappearing into the low sussurations of static.
If that is on the album, I shall take off all my clothes, paint my genitals bright blue, and stand on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square shouting IT IS OVER. TAKE ME NOW. ORANGE!
posted by Devonian at 8:14 AM on April 24, 2013 [17 favorites]
If that is on the album, I shall take off all my clothes, paint my genitals bright blue, and stand on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square shouting IT IS OVER.
Well, you know the last 90 seconds of "Slow This Bird Down" is pretty much nothing but shortwave noise, right?
posted by mykescipark at 9:10 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Well, you know the last 90 seconds of "Slow This Bird Down" is pretty much nothing but shortwave noise, right?
posted by mykescipark at 9:10 AM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I do, and there are other examples in BoC's oeuvre, and more than plenty of others elsewhere (if I had to pick just one). Some avant garde musicians practically made a career out of the idea, especially in the early days of experimental electronic/tape music when there weren't many sources of weird electronic noise to choose from.
But this is different. You'll see. We'll all see. For it... it is nigh...
posted by Devonian at 10:14 AM on April 24, 2013
But this is different. You'll see. We'll all see. For it... it is nigh...
posted by Devonian at 10:14 AM on April 24, 2013
(Devonian, you should totally check out what Mykescipark does, I think you might appreciate it :))
(mykescipark, I hope you don't mind me sharing your works here)
posted by symbioid at 1:15 PM on April 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
(mykescipark, I hope you don't mind me sharing your works here)
posted by symbioid at 1:15 PM on April 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
symbioid, I'm honored. :-)
(Also, yeah, I've pretty much written the shit out of everyone who's used shortwave in music from the beginning of recorded tape.)
posted by mykescipark at 2:59 PM on April 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
(Also, yeah, I've pretty much written the shit out of everyone who's used shortwave in music from the beginning of recorded tape.)
posted by mykescipark at 2:59 PM on April 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
Chaps - this is extremely relevant to my interests. I must slink off and digest it, not unlike a python with a belly-load of antelope that's perhaps just too big for comfort.
If I had two favourites to bestow...
posted by Devonian at 5:13 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
If I had two favourites to bestow...
posted by Devonian at 5:13 PM on April 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
An antelope indeed. There's over 30 hours' worth of shortwave recordings alone up there. Have fun. :-)
posted by mykescipark at 8:46 PM on April 24, 2013
posted by mykescipark at 8:46 PM on April 24, 2013
If anyone is still checking, they updated their twoism video on youtube, ppl speculated it was for twoism.org, and now, apparently warp/boc has a Kittinger banner (ad banner?) on there, and there's a post about the latest number/sequence.
http://www.twoism.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10469
http://www.twoism.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10469
Recap of the whole incident: http://bocpages.org/wiki/Record_Store_Day_incident As it stands: _ _ _ _ _ _ / 6 2 8 3 1 5 / 7 1 7 2 2 8 / 9 3 6 5 5 7 / _ _ _ _ _ _ / 5 1 9 2 2 5 Code confirmed: 6 9 9 7 4 2 (From NPR) positioning unknown yet. http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/04/22/178464083/new-mix-cyborg-love-heartbreak-and-a-mystery http://pitchfork.com/news/50454-listen-two-more-boards-of-canada-snippets-air-on-bbc-and-npr/ Other Possible Arrangement (Thanks Techboy): 1 2 3 4 5 6 - - - - - - 6 2 8 3 1 5 7 1 7 2 2 8 9 3 6 5 5 7 - - - - - - 5 1 9 2 2 5 Proof: -Slot X: NPR / Twoism detective work revertedhexagon wrote: NorthcutTAmnestY wrote: @revertedhexagon: The latest string of integers could be placed in the second area out of the six we have, based on the NPR broadcast mentioning "snow" several times. In the Atalanta vid description, the word "snow" is in that slot. @NEUROMUTE: It all makes sense now, and yeah, I am inclined to agree with you. agree with both of you -Slot 2: The Twoism.org Kittinger banner -> -Slot 3: The YouTube videos (from Balloon -> csch) http://hosting.earthshine.it/~mark/3-717228.mp3 -Slot 4: The original record (lilcakey / Reddit / RSD) http://hosting.earthshine.it/~mark/4-956557.mp3 -Slot 6: The BBC Radio 1 http://hosting.earthshine.it/~mark/6-519225.mp3posted by symbioid at 11:58 AM on April 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
As it stands: 6 9 9 7 4 2 / 6 2 8 3 1 5 / 7 1 7 2 2 8 / 9 3 6 5 5 7 / _ _ _ _ _ _ / 5 1 9 2 2 5 -Slot 1: NPR Broadcast / Rough Trade record store projects first slot x's and then plays the NPR BroadcastOne more to go! Then to figure out just what in tarnation it means!
posted by symbioid at 10:44 PM on April 27, 2013
there's a pretty good summary here for anyone interested and playing catch-up.
posted by juv3nal at 12:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by juv3nal at 12:52 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Minute and a half long commercial aired on Toonami last night.
The Xes are in the first slot, interestingly.
posted by ardgedee at 5:27 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
The Xes are in the first slot, interestingly.
posted by ardgedee at 5:27 AM on April 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
So: the April 1st "prank" in FACT mag wasn't a prank at all, and was instead part of the overall marketing campaign?
Of course, it will probably turn out there is no album. This is just BoC's way of putting out a new single.
posted by Sonny Jim at 8:13 AM on April 28, 2013
Of course, it will probably turn out there is no album. This is just BoC's way of putting out a new single.
posted by Sonny Jim at 8:13 AM on April 28, 2013
Someone pointed out that it appears the footage from Toonami/Rough Trade appeared to be near a Ghost Town, and so my latest theory is that, they're referring to a classic 70s TV Show.
Just like they initially had footage of Little House on the Prairie. In this case, while not actual footage of a show, they seem to be referencing an episode of the Brady Bunch. The one where they go to a ghost town...
----------------
Maybe BoC is the crazy old miner who has no stash of gold (album) and is keeping us (the Brady Family) locked away in prison (this puzzle) and we'll be searching and searching while they protect the non-existent album!
posted by symbioid at 8:17 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Just like they initially had footage of Little House on the Prairie. In this case, while not actual footage of a show, they seem to be referencing an episode of the Brady Bunch. The one where they go to a ghost town...
----------------
Maybe BoC is the crazy old miner who has no stash of gold (album) and is keeping us (the Brady Family) locked away in prison (this puzzle) and we'll be searching and searching while they protect the non-existent album!
posted by symbioid at 8:17 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Another interesting thing that popped up was that apparently on a phone pole near the ghost town there is a six digit number: 429899
Image
Even more interestingly, the hex color of it works out to...
Turquoise.
I'm sure that's not it, but wouldn't it be interesting if it was.
Someone else wonders if perhaps the last digit is to be deciphered by us, and won't be given to us. I don't think that's the case, but if it is, I wonder if maybe once it IS discovered, they'll finally announce the new album? GAH!
posted by symbioid at 8:20 AM on April 28, 2013
Image
Even more interestingly, the hex color of it works out to...
Turquoise.
I'm sure that's not it, but wouldn't it be interesting if it was.
Someone else wonders if perhaps the last digit is to be deciphered by us, and won't be given to us. I don't think that's the case, but if it is, I wonder if maybe once it IS discovered, they'll finally announce the new album? GAH!
posted by symbioid at 8:20 AM on April 28, 2013
Photos from an abandoned gas station that's in the video (theoretically).
posted by symbioid at 8:25 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by symbioid at 8:25 AM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
PREDICTION: new codes to reveal that BoC have not been silent since 2006 as everyone had assumed, but have been writing and releasing new material under the name "Ke$ha."
posted by Sonny Jim at 10:15 AM on April 28, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Sonny Jim at 10:15 AM on April 28, 2013 [4 favorites]
Don't you even.
posted by symbioid at 1:14 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by symbioid at 1:14 PM on April 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
there's now a new site, asking for a password.
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 9:44 AM on April 29, 2013
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 9:44 AM on April 29, 2013
And, in the source code:
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ ------ / ------ / ------ / ------ / XXXXXX / ------ \
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\ /
\______________________________/posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 9:54 AM on April 29, 2013 https://bleep.com/boards-of-canada-tomorrows-harvest
posted by cell divide at 10:30 AM on April 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by cell divide at 10:30 AM on April 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
...well, gee, that kinda takes the fun out of it, dunnit?
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 10:51 AM on April 29, 2013
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 10:51 AM on April 29, 2013
From someone I follow on Tumblr:
What a rush. Long story short, the javascript for the terminal input page had a base64 line in it that converted to the missing 6 digit number (allegedly; I’m so confused right now/too pumped to find it). When all the numbers were input into the terminal page as a password, you get to watch this video, which has the reveal at the end.
Outstanding.
IMMEDIATELY ORDERED, IN B4 SITECRASH
so much adrenaline right now
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 11:03 AM on April 29, 2013
What a rush. Long story short, the javascript for the terminal input page had a base64 line in it that converted to the missing 6 digit number (allegedly; I’m so confused right now/too pumped to find it). When all the numbers were input into the terminal page as a password, you get to watch this video, which has the reveal at the end.
Outstanding.
IMMEDIATELY ORDERED, IN B4 SITECRASH
so much adrenaline right now
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 11:03 AM on April 29, 2013
Oh look, a band is selling me music for cash instead of making me play some twee game. Yay! The Warp site is overloaded; here's the key bits. ("spoilers", as the kids say, but I left out the American Apparel t-shirt)
posted by Nelson at 11:08 AM on April 29, 2013
WARP257 - Released 10/06/2013 (USA 11/06/2013)I think there's a copy of the mentioned video here on YouTube.
Both CD and Vinyl purchases come with MP3 download delivered to your account on release date
USA customers will have their orders shipped from within the USA
1 Gemini
2 Reach For The Dead
3 White Cyclosa
4 Jacquard Causeway
5 Telepath
6 Cold Earth
7 Transmisiones Ferox
8 Sick Times
9 Collapse
10 Palace Posy
11 Split Your Infinities
12 Uritual
13 Nothing Is Real
14 Sundown
15 New Seeds
16 Come To Dust
17 Semena Mertvykh
posted by Nelson at 11:08 AM on April 29, 2013
Huh. The cover art is the skyline of San Francisco as seen from the runway at the old Alameda Naval Air Station. For comparison.
posted by zsazsa at 11:29 AM on April 29, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by zsazsa at 11:29 AM on April 29, 2013 [7 favorites]
So - it's not a double album? Phooey on you Peter Serafinowicz.
I love that it's June 10th. I had to listen to June 9th to celebrate.
Some of those song titles are veering close to autechre...
8 years. EIGHT MOTHER FUCKING YEARS YOU GUYS.
I can wait to order until traffic dies down. It's not like ordering will make June 10th come any closer, nor will it be 8 years to order (unless bleep really can't handle the stress!)
posted by symbioid at 11:50 AM on April 29, 2013
I love that it's June 10th. I had to listen to June 9th to celebrate.
Some of those song titles are veering close to autechre...
8 years. EIGHT MOTHER FUCKING YEARS YOU GUYS.
I can wait to order until traffic dies down. It's not like ordering will make June 10th come any closer, nor will it be 8 years to order (unless bleep really can't handle the stress!)
posted by symbioid at 11:50 AM on April 29, 2013
Also - apart from the numbers being passwords - anybody think maybe there's still some deeper symbolism hidden in it? I can't imagine that's it. Kind of weaksauce if it is...
posted by symbioid at 11:57 AM on April 29, 2013
posted by symbioid at 11:57 AM on April 29, 2013
Words cannot describe how happy this makes me.
2013.
New Boards of Canada.
It has all been worth it.
posted by PROD_TPSL at 2:25 PM on April 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
2013.
New Boards of Canada.
It has all been worth it.
posted by PROD_TPSL at 2:25 PM on April 29, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm wondering now whether the audio on that transmission is one of the actual songs from the album. It's near the same length as "Reach for the Dead".
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 5:45 PM on April 29, 2013
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 5:45 PM on April 29, 2013
I was wondering that, myself, OSBA, but I hope not, because it means one less new song. Not that it wasn't beautiful, but I want all 100% brand new never heard before. Also - I'm sad that it seems to clock in, if I counted correctly, at under an hour.
Also. Dr. Albert Hoffman died last night. It is too early and I don't have the gumption to make a post worthy of the man, but thought this was a good thread to point that out.
I like to think that maybe he was just waiting for this to get resolved before kicking the bucket. You know how they say old people sort of "will" themselves to live past holidays to have one last moment with their families? I think he wanted to see the announcement of one of his children's releases. It was also the 70th anniversary this year. And just a scant 10 days after bicycle day.
RIP Dr. Hoffman, may the BoC news have reached your ears, may they have brought you solace in your own days of living as you have brought novelty to ours.
posted by symbioid at 3:28 AM on April 30, 2013
Also. Dr. Albert Hoffman died last night. It is too early and I don't have the gumption to make a post worthy of the man, but thought this was a good thread to point that out.
I like to think that maybe he was just waiting for this to get resolved before kicking the bucket. You know how they say old people sort of "will" themselves to live past holidays to have one last moment with their families? I think he wanted to see the announcement of one of his children's releases. It was also the 70th anniversary this year. And just a scant 10 days after bicycle day.
RIP Dr. Hoffman, may the BoC news have reached your ears, may they have brought you solace in your own days of living as you have brought novelty to ours.
posted by symbioid at 3:28 AM on April 30, 2013
NVM fuck me I'm an idiot. I forgot he died in 2008. Someone mentioned it over on Facebook, and then I saw the NYT Obit and the date, but not the year. They were recognizing the anniversary. But... Well , maybe the boys released the announcement on that date for a reason?
posted by symbioid at 3:36 AM on April 30, 2013
posted by symbioid at 3:36 AM on April 30, 2013
Also - apart from the numbers being passwords - anybody think maybe there's still some deeper symbolism hidden in it? I can't imagine that's it. Kind of weaksauce if it is...But there's a new Boards of Canada album behind that page, symbioid. A new Boards of Canada album. "Weaksauce" would be if the password led to the website of a new ski resort in Colorado.
posted by Sonny Jim at 3:37 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Aye, Sonny Jim, what more could one hope for than that.
posted by symbioid at 3:38 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by symbioid at 3:38 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
SNOWBOARDS OF CANADA!
posted by symbioid at 3:43 AM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by symbioid at 3:43 AM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
If the new one's even half as good as Geogaddi it will be one of the greatest albums of the year.
Campfire was a disappointment but I could not possibly be more pumped for this.
ORANGE
posted by porn in the woods at 9:38 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Campfire was a disappointment but I could not possibly be more pumped for this.
ORANGE
posted by porn in the woods at 9:38 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Campfire was a disappointment but I could not possibly be more pumped for this.
I agree, although some of it has grown on me: Satellite Anthem Icarus, '84 Pontiac Dream, Dayvan Cowboy, and Constants are Changing are all keepers, and Slow This Bird Down is a stone cold fucking classic.
posted by mykescipark at 1:55 PM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
I agree, although some of it has grown on me: Satellite Anthem Icarus, '84 Pontiac Dream, Dayvan Cowboy, and Constants are Changing are all keepers, and Slow This Bird Down is a stone cold fucking classic.
posted by mykescipark at 1:55 PM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Damn it, Japan. For decades you get bonus tracks and lyrics and OBI strips and all sorts of other crazy stuff. Now you get cool posters too. *sulk*
posted by mykescipark at 3:17 PM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mykescipark at 3:17 PM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
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