Geogaddi

Infobox Album |
Name = Geogaddi
Type = Album
Artist = Boards of Canada


Released = February 13, 2002 (Japan)
February 18, 2002 (Europe)
February 19, 2002 (USA)
Recorded = Hexagon Sun studio
Pentland Hills, Scotland
Genre = Ambient
IDM
Length = 66:06 (Standard)
68:14 (Japanese)
Label = Warp Records WARP101
Producer = Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ggogtq7zpu46 2002]
*Pitchfork (8.6/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15572-geogaddi 2002]
*PopMatters (favorable) [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/13517/boardsofcanada-geogaddi/ 2002]
*"Rolling Stone" [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/89163/geogaddi 2002]
*Stylus Magazine (B+) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/boards-of-canada/geogaddi.htm 2003]
*"URB" Rating|4|5 April 2002 (p. 119)
Last album = "In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country"
(2000)
This album = "Geogaddi"
(2002)
Next album = "The Campfire Headphase"
(2005)

"Geogaddi" is the second album by Boards of Canada. It was released in February 2002 on three different days for each regionCite web|url=http://boardsofcanada.com/discography.html|title=Boards of Canada Discography|accessdate=2006-11-24|year=2006] to a large degree of anticipation.Cite web|url=http://fredd-e.narfum.org/boc/interviews/#hmv|title=The Colour & The Fire|accessdate=2006-11-24|publisher=HMV|year=2002|author=Mark Pytlik] Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ggogtq7zpu46|title=Geogaddi Overview|accessdate=2006-11-24|publisher=All Media Guide, LLC|year=2002|author=John Bush] Cite web|url=http://fredd-e.narfum.org/boc/interviews/#nme|title=The Most Mysterious & Revered Men in Electronica|accessdate=2006-11-24|publisher=NME|year=2002|author=John Mulvey] It presents a darker sound than its predecessor "Music Has the Right to Children". The title of the album has no conclusive meaning; the intention is that it should be decided on by the listener. It is the most commercially successful album by the band.

Overview

Geogaddi revisits the innocent, child-like melodic and harmonic structure found throughout the band's previous album, "Music Has the Right to Children". This album, however, explores motifs considered by some to be quite dark, while to others they appear very innocent. For example, some fans interpret the song titles as having various dark/occult connotations: references to horned gods ("You Could Feel the Sky"), Branch Davidian cultism ("1969"), backmasking ("A Is to B as B Is to C") and hypnotism ("The Devil Is in the Details"): these are of course interpretations, unconfirmed by the band and open to further analysis. Though it retains Boards of Canada's trademark soundscapes and melodic vignettes, the album can be unsettling and fraught with paranoia to some.

The album received mixed reviews the year of its release from jaded critics who were unimpressed by the lack of "development" since 1998's "Music Has the Right to Children". However, it has since become considered a classic of the genre.

The duo and its record label, Warp Records, announced "Geogaddi" with little fanfare. The album premiered in six cities around the world: London, New York, Tokyo, Edinburgh, Paris, and Berlin. They provided only one press interview for the "NME" via email.

The album is available in three formats: Standard jewel case CD packaging, limited edition hardbound book packaged with a CD and extra artwork enclosed, and a triple record package. Side F of the vinyl package, with the track "Magic Window", is uncut and contains a visible etching of a nuclear family. Note that "Magic Window" is a track of pure silence in all three formats.

The artwork of the album carries a distinct kaleidoscopic motif. The limited edition version comes with a 12-page booklet exhibiting artwork.Cite web|url=http://www.warprecords.com/ography/release.php?cat=WARP101|title=Warp Records; Geogaddi|accessdate=2006-11-24|publisher=Warp Records|year=2002|author=Warp Records] The triple record set holds inner-sleeves that feature artwork on either side. In fact, a kaleidoscope was originally for sale when "Geogaddi" was first released and can often be found floating around online auctions.

The band received the idea to make the track time total 66 minutes and 6 seconds from Warp Records president Steve Beckett, his reasoning being to joke around with the listeners and make them believe that the Devil had created the album.Cite web|url=http://www.earplug.cc/mailer/issue54/feature/index.html|title=Stirred Up the Ashes|accessdate=2006-11-24|publisher=Flavorpill Productions LLC|year=2005|author=Heiko Hoffmann] The track "Gyroscope" contains samples of a numbers station sampled by Sean Booth of Autechre, as confirmed by a representative of Hexagon Sun on the WATMM forum. [http://forum.watmm.com/index.php?showtopic=19680]

The Japanese edition of "Geogaddi" features an additional track titled "From One Source All Things Depend". This short track contains many samples of children praying and explaining who they believe God to be. Some of the same children's audio samples can be heard in the song "I Can Feel Him in the Morning'" by the American rock band Grand Funk Railroad on their 1971 album "Survival". The original source of these samples is unknown.

Track listing

# "Ready Lets Go" – 0:59
# "Music Is Math" – 5:21
# "Beware the Friendly Stranger" – 0:37
# "Gyroscope" – 3:34
# "Dandelion" – 1:15
# "Sunshine Recorder" – 6:12
# "In the Annexe" – 1:22
# "Julie and Candy" – 5:30
# "The Smallest Weird Number" – 1:17
# "1969" – 4:19
# "Energy Warning" – 0:35
# "The Beach at Redpoint" – 4:18
# "Opening the Mouth" – 1:11
# "Alpha and Omega" – 7:02
# "I Saw Drones" – 0:27
# "The Devil Is in the Details" – 3:53
# "A Is to B as B Is to C" – 1:40
# "Over the Horizon Radar" – 1:08
# "Dawn Chorus" – 3:55
# "Diving Station" – 1:26
# "You Could Feel the Sky" – 5:14
# "Corsair" – 2:52
# "Magic Window" – 1:46
# "From One Source All Things Depend" – 2:10 (Japanese edition only)

Personnel

Boards of Canada

* Michael Sandison – performer
* Marcus Eoin – performer

Technical

* Peter Campbell – cover photograph
* Michael Sandison – producer, artwork, photography
* Marcus Eoin Sandison – producer, artwork, photography

amples

Notes

External links

* [http://www.warprecords.com/ography/release.php?cat=WARP101 "Geogaddi"] at the official Warp Records discography (features audio clips).
*
* [http://fredd-e.narfum.org/boc/comments/#geogaddi Analysis of the meaning of "Geogaddi" titles, with quotes]