BOARDS OF CANADA THE CAMPFIRE HEADPHASE ALBUM WARP, BORDER RELEASE: OCTOBER 12, 2005 (JAPAN), 17 (UK), 18 (USA) REVIEW: NOVEMBER 8, 2005

To the uninitiated, Boards of Canada produce a very distinctive form of downbeat listening music. Also like comparatively few unique artists, their pieces can, on the whole, be instantly recognised within seconds of hearing. Signed to Warp Records, and commanding huge respect from all who hear them – is it possible that more than three years after their last release “Geogaddi”, we could have finally outgrown their formula?

The answer has to be a firm "no"…, from the outset, the ”damaged sound” that Boards of Canada have made their own, is fully in evidence. ”Into the Rainbow Vein” is kicking things off, leading to a set of typically Boards music. There is one big difference this time around though – the noticeable shift towards a more guitar-based and ”real” instrument sound, which helps to add something to their repertoire – giving a new and exciting direction to their sound.

Tracks such as ”Chromakey Dreamcoat”, ”Hey Saturday Sun” and ”Constants Are Changing” perfectly show some of these new qualities, alongside the more familiar elements. The best track though has to be ”Dayvan Cowboy”; with its melancholy atmosphere created through slow guitar, strings and finally it all turns into an electronic fest.

All in all there are no great surprises here, apart maybe from the increased use of traditional instruments, giving a more lazy, melancholy, acoustic feel to many of the tracks. It is bound to please fans of the Boards, and is a pleasant listen for the unfamiliar alike. The key thing here is not based around them creating something different, but just doing what they usually do. And what great music that is.

MIKE WHYTE