Board of Canada's discography is a source of consternation for their fans. Several of their releases only quasi-exist- no one has heard them. Twoism for many years has only been around in the form of low quality mp3s. The poor fidelity of the sound only served to augment the listening experience. A seminal, obscure album of broken sounds further degraded by poor reproduction that still took resourcefullness to track down.

Hearing the proper release has been a bit of a revelation. For the most part I knew what to expect. (some of the songs here have been been recycled on subsequent BoC releases) However, there are new levels of detail present in the sound. That being said nothing about Twoism is overly polished. The synthesizers used sound as if they are drawing their last breath. The melodies are distant and suffocated.

Boards of Canada at this point in their career were even more minmalist then they are now. The signature Boc formula was already perfected on these tracks. Vintage synthesizers spitting out chilhood melodies over slow breakbeats. The melodies are happy, but they evoke a fake, drug-induced happiness that enhances the distance and detachment.

Probably the two most interesting tracks on Twoism are "Oirectine" and "Basefree". They sound unlike anything else Boards of Canada ever released. There's a definite industrial influence, interpreted as only the boys could. "Basefree" sounds like it should have been on Autechre's "Tri Repetae", but I think "Basefree" is actually predates that album. "Oirectine" features a severaly damaged, overly sinister, melody. "Twoism" and "Sixtyniner" are the prototype early Boards of Canada tracks.

Twoism is essential for any Boards of Canada fan and any fan of electronic music. Twoism was ostensibly a demo which got them noticed by Skam records. The rest is history.

Twoism is such a great little treat from Boards of Canada. The name of this EP really could be called "Dualism" and/or "Dichotomy". Why you might ask, because this 8 track EP really is both dark/mellow and catchy/foot tapping. The collection of songs on this EP is some of the best BOC has put out. As a general statement, the music of BOC isn't really poppy or light, but the mood on this EP seems much more sullen and dim than any of their other releases. I always found it amazing that BOC sound has both elements of minimalism and convoluted cacophonies. This is a great CD to listen to when you would like to relax, or drive down an autumn road with a tapestry of leaves descending around you.

i got into BoC about three years ago, and my listening habits have never quite been the same. BoC has this insane way of making one addicted to their sound...to their vibe. Twoism is the latest addition to my BoC catalogue...i now have all albums by this wonderful duo out of Scotland. Twoism is very complex, yet very simple. it does sound like an early release, but don't let that fool you. Twoism carries quite a dark underlying tone...the second track, Oirectine, is my favorite. the whole album is phenomenal....if you like BoC at all, you owe it to yourself to get this collection of music. put on some headphones, play track two, close your eyes, and drift...

peace,

cic

Boards of Canada are a duo I've previously reviewed twice, there is something brilliant about them that words can't describe. Boards of Canada are on the electronic/ambient/IDM label Warp (or Skam). If you are familiar (and are a fan of this label)you'll no doubt enjoy them.

Being a much earlier album from their rather hidden catalog the duo hasn't built up their thematic curtains yet. Twoism is more their free flier, this album is spacey and warm like their later release "Music Has The Rights to Children". Being the shape shifters they are you also find passages similar to their darkest (again later) album "Geogaddi". You wont find any guitars though which was the make or break for "Campfire Headphase". So what makes this one stand out? It doesn't it's the right mixture of down tempo relaxation that you thank it for being so easy going.

The reviewer Thomas Aikin is absolutely right in mentioning Boards of Canada's semi-official releases. Much of their earlier work is shrouded in mystery, so if one would like to peer back in time this is undoubtedly the best vantage point. Fans of the group should snag this for we can't promise you BoC wont try to purge their past again.

This album is a minimally invasive work, tries not to puncture reality on behalf of its otherworldly simplicity. Synthetic bouncing electronic beats washed away by waves, smoothed out and sent to your ears.

I own the vinyl copy and have just ordered another one (as my first was used and had some moderate wear). I enjoy this album enough to gladly track down this rare gem. Most vinyl copies can range from a feeble 14$ mark to a jaw dropping 200$+. Don't be fooled the high price wont make it sound any better, and in fact the audio CD version is just as good. I simply enjoy owning vinyl (beware of bootlegs many copies can pose as authentic but are simply picture disk), the CD copy comes in a digipack and definitely holds that BoC aesthetic.

Pros: Great concise song selection, now available on CD, great nostalgic look back on the 90's and the group, the opening track "Sixtyniner" is immensely euphoric, another great BoC album.

Cons: Of decent length but maybe a bit too short, probably not the best album of theirs to start with (not really a con) still accessible but somewhat modest, some effects may sound too washed out and inaudible on certain set ups.

This is a classic. Everything before this album by BoC, you can not get, from catalog 3 - boc maxima, and if so? Only MP3's, and good luck with those! This is where you need to start out! If you wanna know who BoC is? Listen to this first then go get Music Has The Right To Children and Geogaddi, come back to get Hi Scores then everything else. This is a really classic album with great synth lines. Tape tracking on the synths/organs adds a 1970's/80's PBS feel to it, just like the rest of the albums they have. Great Stuff!