BOARDS OF CANADA - Music Has The Right To Children

Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin are the two brains behind Boards Of Canada. Although Music Has The Right To Children was the first album from the band to benefit of a wide release, it was not their first record. In fact, the story of BOC started back in 1976, while the boys were still at college. Eoin only joined the band in 1986, as a bass player. By the end of the eighties, BOC was reduced to three members, and, by then, the characteristic melancholic sound of the band was maturing nicely. Beside the musical project, BOC were also experimenting with imagery, enhancing their live performances with films and photos. By the mid nineties, they started releasing Eps and albums on their own Music70 imprint, only to be noticed by Manchester based label Skam, for which BOC would record the Hi-Scores EP.
The release of Music Has The Right To Children, in April 1998, jointly by Warp and Skam, would receive much critical acclaim, being voted album of the month in many dance-orientated magazines. The typical blend of breaks, quirky melodies and clever samples would also meet public success. With Wildlife Analysis and An Eagle In Your Mind, BOC instantly introduce the listener to the sound that is so intrinsic to the album: a deluge of luxurious layers of synthetic waves, amazingly complex heavy hip-hop beats and clever voice samples, intricately woven into the rhythm patterns, or surfacing when least expected. The music created by Sandison and Eoin always sounds so effortless and easy-access, but is very elaborated indeed, and very often work on many different levels, not always immediately perceptible. This means listening to Music… is a continuously renewed experience. Sandison and Eoin also insert little interludes between “main” tracks, to give more breathing space to the listener. It is difficult to isolate one track from Music…, as all the songs interact with each other, creating a patchwork of psychedelic dreams, surrealism and abstraction.
By projecting sonic imagery into the mind of their audience, Boards Of Canada have imposed their colourful style in the subconscious of many musicians. It is not uncommon to find traces of Music Has The Right To Children in many tracks released within the last three years. Boards Of Canada are currently working on the follow-up to this monumental record, and expectations are high indeed.